I was thinking about using the tops of two-litre bottles as mini greenhouses to get an jump on spring. I have the top third of about 20 of these leftover from a project.

My question is--Do any of you use these? Don't they blow away? Are mine too small to be beneficial? Must you have the caps on them? Do you remove during the day (under what conditions?) Where do you store them during the day for easy access later?

Thanks in advance.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002

Answers

Ive used milk jugs witht eh bottom cut off,, sometimes they blow away,,just have to put them back on,, last about a year,, then the plastics degrade,, I keep the screw cap off,, so I dont cook the plants. They work,,till the plants are large enough so the late frosts dont hurt them

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 15, 2002.

Re: Using milk bottles. Do not remove the bottom entirely. Leave a hinge like piece and bury that in the soil or place a rock on the flap. If using as a hot cap be sure to remove bottle's cap during the day. With a 2 litre bottle, remove label, mark line around bottle above the 1/2 way point; a rubber band helps to mark it. Cut thru. Cut parallel slits in top 1/2. Squeeze top half and it will push into lower half. put water in bottom, starter mix in top. Plant seeds. Spray with weak tea, 2drps ammonia, 2 drops liquid dish soap. 1 drop whiskey per quart. Shake gently. Use fine spray. The height can be adjusted by varying lengths of the bottle. To encourage germination use the weak tea method: make cup of tea. Drink or throw away. Use same bag to make 2nd cup. Place paper towel in saucer, wet with weak tea, place seeds, cover with another paper towel, place another saucer on top to retard drying out. Place in refrig' overnight. I'm not sure how much space I have here but I'll be glad to answer more fully if anyone wants more information.

-- John H. Steiler (pilgrims@jasper.yournet.com), February 15, 2002.

I use the top 3/4 of the two ltr. bottle. Push them down in the soil a couple of inches and there has not been any problem with them blowing away. I usually plant from seed directly in the dirt. I never take the cover up until the danger of frost is over. Watering is done from the outside of the two ltr. Usually I leave the screw top off of the bottle unless I am real concerned about frost, in which case I just set the top on the bottle but do not screw it on. This gives the little greenhouse the ability to breathe. When I am ready to remove the cover for good, I do it when the soil is wet. Do a quarter turn either way and lift it off. I have used some covers for several years.

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.

If the wind blows them over than you will not have to worry about frost. You only recieve frost when the air is still and calm. So the bottles will work up until the plants get to big. If the plants are touching the sides than it is time to put something bigger over them. If the plant is touching the sides and it frost, that part of the plant that was touching will freeze and die.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), February 16, 2002.