Growing coke bottles

Just bumping this thread for anyone that hasn't read it and wants to winter sow. I can't wait to get started.

You can also use containers like
what cool whip comes in. Just poke
holes in the bottom and cut out a
large circle in the lid. Put
plastic wrap or some kind of
clear plactic over the container
and replace the lid. The lid will
hold the plastic in place. Poke
some small holes in the plastic.
This works good,right along
with the coke bottles.

Question here - as usual, I am way behind everyone else.

We have way too many cans here, not enough bottles. What about (and they're usually only a few dollars) - using the semi-clear plastic containers and bins that are sold. Not the rubbermaid, those are colored plastic, but the clear ones? Could those be half filled, seeds planted, then put out in the yard?

like this, but cheaper:

http://store.yahoo.com/organizeeverything1/sweatstorbox.html

This message was edited Friday, Jan 24th 7:24 AM

Sandra - those will work fine. I used some the size of a shoe box last year, with drainage holes drilled in the bottom. The bigger ones you could set smaller pots inside. You can use just about anything that will hold soil. I've used the alluminum cake tins that have a pop on dome cover. I've also stuck some regular planting flats inside a clear trash bag.

There was another thread around with some discusion about planting your pots and using a top layer of grit or pea gravel to keep the soil in place and seeds from getting washed away. I'll see if I can find it.

Ahhh ... here it is http://davesgarden.com/t/370302/

This message was edited Friday, Jan 24th 8:48 AM

There are so many GREAT ideas in this thread.

Absolutely terrific.

Certainly this belongs in the FAQ forum.

I learn stuff here every day. Thanks to you all.

Adam.

I love this idea -- made a papa version of poppysue's using a large gallon Dannon Water Bottle (a nice clear plastic) and used it to put my small paper pots in!! Works like a charm in keeping them from drying out so fast -- and helps keep them from flopping around as much. Thanks!

Poppysue:
Great idea.. using coke bottles.
Plenty of those around and cheap!!!
Guess you could do the same thing with milk containers.
Do you do this with all seeds?
A little confused as I know you get some brutal weather.

Could I do that now in south jersey?
Forgive my ignorence, it goes with the holes in the head

sandy

Sandy: Never feel bad about asking questions around here. Everytime someone asks a "stupid question", the rest of us all gather around to hear the answer, too! Some of our best threads are like that. Everybody benefits when someone is assertive enough to ask a basic question...

Now having said all that, I'm not equipped to answer your question because I'm new to winter gardening! Poppysue or someone will pop in here soon and help you out.

Oh I love questions..........whoever learned anything without having to ask a question..........there my friend is the beginning of knowledge!!

"eyes"

Sandy, I don't do this with all seeds. Some of the annuals need a longer growing season so I start them indoors. I start tropicals indoors too. I do this with many of the hardy perennials and annuals. I just planted a ton of them yesterday ans stuck them outside in the back yard.

I planted Acer Pallatum, vibrant pink/red phlox, blue Rose of Sharon, putting outside in coldframe, temps. in teens and 20's here. First time for me to try this, sure hope they "take".

I did Japanese maples one year Gloria... it worked for them. They germinated in the spring.

Poppysue - I adapted your idea to work with my paper pots and a water bottle! :)

I have adapted your idea too! In the freeeeeeeeeezing garage:

Poppysue got your seeds today and am ready to start planting. New to this so can I use this method for them. Would be easy to mark the bottles with perment marker as to what is planted. Do you soak the seed first and lay in on the soil. I want to do this whole thing right from seed to planting in the garden. Am I asking too much?? ♫ Ted ♫

Ted - you mean the daylily seeds? They won't need any chilling. I soak mine in water until they plump up and look like they've absorbed moisture. Some seeds take just an overnite soaking. Others that are more shriveled take a few days. If the water gets scuzzy or you notice any rotting seeds, remove them, and change the water. Then I plant. I planted them in coke bottles (one cross per bottle), And I kept them inside under my lights. Some will sprout in just a few days... and others might take a few weeks.

Do you cover the seeds or just press them into the medium.
I have a PVC growlight stand I made. Once you see the seedling do you take the top off?

Yes - cover them with a ¼ inch of soil or so. I leave the cover on for a while with the bottle cap off. Once it looks like most of them have germinated I remove the cover. It just helps keep the soil moist.

Thanks and what a nice selection. Very neat also. Ted ♫

Thank you all;
The only way to learn is to ask questions all of you are great getting back with answeres.

Sometime's I do feel like a "DUH!" I feel comfortable with all of you and I'm sure some day I'll hear,
"I don't believe you asked that?" That's when I'll know, I have learned a little....

sandy

Someone tell me what the secret is in joining the two parts back together without a fight.

LOl Ted! I sorta push in one side of the bottom to force the top over it. It will sometimes leave a gap between the two pieces but they're snug enough. You'll get the hang of it after a while.

sometimes I make a little slit in the cut end of the top, and slide it together a bit to fit in the bottom part

This is so interesting, wish I'd had you people 30 years
ago, when I was just learning and trying so........hard!

Thanks poppysue, sure hope the J. Maple grow, as I really want them.

I don't cut mine all the way around but just leave a little bit to use as a hinge. It can be opened up fully or put down (either way). When you no longer need the cover, just cut it off.

Been playing around with that old bottle. Found another way to do one. Cut off the top portion just where it starts to make a bell shape. Carefuly trim it so you can insert it edge wise and rotate it inside the bottom until it is where ever you want it. Makes a good tight fit. Cut off too much and it will fall in.

Once the seeds/seedlings have been placed in the bottles, lids on, and outside... Is there any maintenance like watering required??

I'm glad you bumped this one back up, Osteole. I was looking for it the other day and couldn't find it. Let's hope Poppysue sees this and answers your question, because I'm interested, too.

Not really. I don't have to water until it warms up and I start to vent the bottles or take the tops off.

I've been saving my large pretzel barrel plastic containers for the last year or so. DH keeps trying to throw them away. I think these would make great winter germinators. I don't think I'll get them going until later in the season, since our winters are so long....maybe after the holidays.

I start most on mine in Febuary.

That sounds about right, Poppysue. I have noticed many of the germination requirements listed on the Tom Clothier site require a week or two of warm temps (indoors), followed by some freezing temps... outside in February, followed by refrigeration... March or April around here. I've just got to find that magic date to get the whole process moving.

I use a soldering gun to burn holes in the plastic and attach a blade tip to the gun to cut the top. It is a lot easier on my hands. Jessamine

A few questions:
Poppysue, can I ask which annuals are better off sown under lights as opposed to the coke bottle method? What should Iook for on the seed pack to indicate this?

Which seeds sprout and are ready for plant out the quickest? I need a magic calendar, I'll never figure this all out!

on one of the other winter sowing threads, someone posted this faq from the 'other site' - it has a wealth of information:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/wtrsow/
and specifically:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/wtrsow/2002072837032351.html

This message was edited Nov 20, 2004 10:46 AM

I couldn't see the second link so this may be a repeat. Thompson and Morgan no longer have the original of this germination booklet in print but someone put it on the web. It is an invaluable addition to your references. http://www.backyardgardener.com/tm.html Jessamine

handhelpers - I was able to access both links

Well this is an interesting thread. Please tell me if I am correct. You use the coke bottles to start the plants that you want to sow in the spring or summer and you start them around Feb-Mar. They are planted in the bottles and left outside until the weather warms enough for them to sprout? What do you do then? Aren't the seedlings too small to direct plant outside? Do you move them to larger containers and keep the same method up?
They would probably be very hardy that way because they would be used to the cold.
Have you tried petunias? They take such a long time to germinate and grow that it would be nice to have them outside instead of inside.

I was also wondering...when you cut the coke bottle in half and then put the top back on, doesn't it just fall off when bumped? What do you do to keep it from falling all around? Tape?

Thanks for the info!

sunnyskies, I'm sure Poppysue could answer you better than me, but here's what I think. The winter sown seeds will not germinate until they have adequate warmth to do that. By that time, your soil should be ready for transplants. If not, one can always transplant them into containers and cover them... such as a coldframe.

If you cut a pop bottle in half, you can cut slits along the lower edge of the top piece so as to allow it to fit over the bottom piece. It's a pretty tight fit, but I imagine some tape wouldn't hurt. I would fit the top over the bottom so that you don't get water building up along the seam.

I start most of my annuals, petunias included, indoors. As I mentioned before, the seeds wouldn't germinate until the temp of the soil in the bottle reached germination temp... 60's or 70's. I find the best seeds to winter sow are perennials that need special cold stratification. In warmer climates, annuals may do fine outside, but I'm not sure when you cold weather is over in Idaho.

Could, Javex bottles work as well? Or, should it be see- threw plastic? I was thinking of washing them real well and placing a garbage bag as linner.
thank-you Ingrid