WINTER JUG SOWING



SUPPLIES NEEDED

1.) Rinse & save translucent milk jugs, large coconut oil containers, vinegar jugs (tall one from Costco are great for taller seedlings), large soda bottles like 2 or 3 liter, large yogurt containers with clear lids, etc.  As you can see..it doesn't HAVE to be a jug if you are just starting out and don't have much.  It needs to be able to hold 3 inches of potting mix and have some growing room however! Ask your friends...they will likely be happy to bless you with some! THROW AWAY JUG LIDS. You won't use them for this project.

2.) A big bag of quality 'fine' potting soil such as Happy Frog, Black Gold, Scott's Hyponex, or Dr Earth's Pot of Gold.If you buy cheap junk it will be too chunky and seedlings might dry out fast or not sprout at all.

3.) Plant markers.  Save $$$ by cutting plastic strips from old jugs or plastic cups!

4.) Paint pen. Or a good permanent marker but paint pens work better in the weather.

5.) Roll of duct tape.
6.) A drill with a small bit.


INSTRUCTIONS

** Pick a time in winter...doesn't matter..could be Dec/Jan or in early Spring if you have a late planting date for your area. (ours is June so I usually prep my jugs in early March)
1.)  Drill several holes in bottom of jug/container. Also drill a 2-4 drainage holes about 1 inch up the sides.  If you are using wide lid containers drill larger holes in the lids for air circulation (no need to do that for jugs since they already have a hole)

2.)  Cut jugs with knife or scissors, just under the level of the handle..about 3 1/2 inches up. DO NOT CUT THE HANDLE AREA but leave it in tact so the top stays connected!

3.)  Fill 3 inches deep with potting soil.
4.)  Place in sink and spray with water to drench the soil. Let drain for a while til it stops dripping.
5.)  If desired, move to table and place on a towel to absorb any water still coming out.
6.)  Sow seeds to the appropriate depth...about 4-6 seeds per container depending on size of seed.  

DONT SOW BY THE HANDLE or your seedlings may grow up into it, haha.

7.)  Label a plant marker and place in the jug. This helps to know what the plants are later on after you have opened the jugs                  again. It also is a backup in case you have a lame pen and outside label wears off.
8.)  Close jug w a small piece of tape, then use duct tape all the way around to seal the cut.
9.)  Label the duct tape with plant name and date
10.)  Sit jugs outside IMMEDIATELY in a place they won't get blown away/down...in the garden bed, on your deck/patio in a cluster, along a garage wall, etc. Pick a spot they will get rain & sun.  








TENDING JUGS
There really isn't much to do now.

Check them every once in a while to make sure you see condensation in the jugs. If they are drying out just spray over them for a bit with a hose sprayer. They don't need tons of water but do need condensation.
IF the weather warms up enough that you get sprouts, you'll need to throw a blanket over them at night if temps are gonna be near freezing.  Especially protect warm weather stuff like tomatoes. Here in the plains of Colorado, Spring can be 80' one day and snowing/freezing the next, causing things to sprout early sometimes. No biggie! Just protect with a blanket as needed until your frost free date!
If you live in a place that gets blazing hot, you can throw a shade cloth or sheet over your jugs in the heat of the day.


PLANTING TIME
Once you get to your frost-free date, you may want to plant your plants into your garden beds. However, if the plants are still small, you can leave them in their happy place (aka jug) til they get bigger and stronger.You can replant jugs for succession planting or later planting if desired! If it is too hot by then, you can find a place with a bit of shade/protection from hottest part of the day.

Anyway,  to acclimate your plants for the garden.....

DAY 1 - Open jugs half way. (or partially open lids on non jugs)
                  Check after 30 min to see how plants are doing and if they are still happy with the reduced humidity.  
                  If not, close jug to just a crack til they get used to the lower humidity.
DAY 2 - Open jugs all the way.  Remove lids rest of the way from containers. 
                  Check after 30 min to an hour to see if plants are still happy.  
                  If not, close jug more til it gets used to the lower humidity.
DAY 3 - If plants are happy without cover, plant them with some compost in your garden/deck pots/beds by scooping them out with a spoon (including their dirt/roots, haha).

This is a great time to put
a bit of blood meal and bone meal in the hole 
then water with some compost tea or kelp water!

Article printed from www.getoiling.com/essentialcomfortsmama/blog