Another way to do this is to leave an inch when cutting offf the top. That makes a hinge. I poke a hole on the bottom just below the cut and on the top just above the cut. through this I put a twistie tie. Keeps it shut when it's cold and before seeds germnate (keeps things moist) then just untwistie tie and open it up with the hinge. Can use them year after year. I bought a cheapy sodering tool to use when making bottom holes and the holes for the twistie ties. Do this outside so you don't breath the chemicals.

I thought I saw something on this forum about watering along the lines of what you've mentioned. The person takes a 5-7 gallon plastic bucket. Drills a hole in the side. Into the hole goes one end of some vinyl tubing. The other end is placed by the plant that is to be watered. The top of the bucket is covered to keep out things that could clog up the tubing. I found a couple 5 gallon buckets the day after I read the post. I then popped over to the local hardware store and picked up some 3/16 OD 1/8 ID vinyl tubing - the smallest they had. I'll be experimenting next week with the watering device on a couple of watermelon plants. In the past, I tried the 2 liter method by burying the bottle right next to the plant. Screwed up in that the hole I put in the bottle was too big and the water was all gone within a couple hours. The bucket and tube method does bear some promise however.

Crates - I got mine from corner stores and from the Coca Cola truck. All I did was ask. Four years ago they were hard to get since they required a $5.00 deposit from the vendors but that was eliminated and now - at least here - you can get them for the asking. Since they do cost the pop companies a pretty penny, don't assume they will readily give them to you. I've had some folks say no. I now have an arsenal of them so am quite set for some time. Karen, I've posted about the upside down 'V' in the past but have gotten lazy in the last year. They do work better, but the simple slits still work. Wendy, If simply placing the bottles out like that is how you create those gorgeous gardens of yours, then I'll have to try it. :O)

wendy- Hey, do you have to buy stakes separately to hold them there thingy-ma-bobbies from blowin' away? There's no holes in that bottom lippy thing. Who was the pinhead engineer that designed those?! Personally, if (IF) I were going to use a cloche of some sort, I'd use those fancy ones we have here...they look exactly like the top half of tiffy's picture up there, and look- it's even got a handy-dandy knobbie to hold onto, and it slides easily into the ground...and costs essentially nothing, and it's customizable to whatever height you need! Oh! Here's Billy now to tell us about them! Show us what you've got for the viewers, Billy! "Don't waste your money on expensive gadgets in the gardening stores! Get the "NEW SUPER-CLOCHER"...you get 1,000 for $2.97 and if you act in the next 3 minutes, we'll double your offer to TWO THOUSAND SUPER CLOCHERS for the incredibly low price of $2.97! Act fast...we can do this all day and supplies are unlimited...call in the next 10 minutes and get yours...TODAY! (pic stolen from botanus.com)