Milk jugs vs. 2 liter bottles

Do you have a preference of the two?

Last year I only used milk jugs and loved the ease of use. This year I ran out of milk jugs and had to start using 2 liter bottles. I grouched about how much more time the prep seemed to take and how little the sowing area seemed to be compared to the milk jugs. Then I realized how much better the germination seemed to be in the 2 liters. I also noticed how reusable the 2 liters were. I'm not willing to give up my beloved milk jugs completely but 2 liters have now earned a place in my winter sowing.

Joanne

I use gallon milk jugs (or aluminum foil pans) if I'm hoping to get a flat's worth of seedlings from the container... but I like how easy it is to look inside the 2 liter bottles. I'm not sure if one or the other is better in terms of germination success.

Critter - I think I get more of the greenhouse effect with the 2 liters which causes things to germinate a little quicker for me. The milk jugs are catching up quickly though.

Joanne

This was my first time w.s. I used 2 liter bottles because it's what I had.They worked very well for me.Edge

I've used both milk jugs and 2 liters....heck, if it's plastic, I use it. ;) My preference is the 2 liters. I find that the sides are a little more rigid than the milk jugs. The milk jugs sides are so pliable I get big gaps at the edge of the soil. That doesn't happen with the 2 liters. Another favorite is the huge 2 1/2 gallon water jugs.....the ones with the tap built in? If you're planning on doing A LOT of one kind of seed, they're great. But you have to keep them watered well cause you don't get that nice tight seal like the soda bottles.

I don't have access to 2-liter soda bottles as I rarely drink it. I use the Gallon water/milk jugs and love them.

I researched seeds that needed light to germinate and ones that needed less. Then used the 2 liter and milk jugs for each preference. I WS close to 200 jugs and only had like 6 jugs not germinate YET. Those last 6 have things that were rated as harder to germinate, so still hoping. The biggest difference I did see was the late April cold snap. The milk jugs had damage to the seedlings. Non in the 2 liter bottles. I think if I had covered the jugs during the colder nights. I would have seen no difference. I have a GH/hoop house and still saw better results from WSing.
I am sold on WS.
George

I use the Gallon milk/water jugs. That's all we have in the house.

Basically, use what you've got and what is the most convenient for you.

I still like gallon jugs best. I use a few 2 liters for things where I just want a few plants. Overall, though, I like the gallon jugs. Handles make them easy to pick up/ move and there's more surface (planting) area. Also, it gets pretty windy here and 2 liters blow over if not secured in a bin but a big heavy gallon jug has never blown over in 3 years.

Karen

I tend to agree with Karen. The handle on the gallon milk jugs is just so convenient for lifting up the jugs so one can peer into them, plus there is more surface area than in the 1 or 2-litre water bottles. (Which is good because I invariably over-sow.) Also, plastic milk jugs seem easier to prep, because the plastic used is flimsier--at least, in those that I encounter (but the sides ARE less rigid, and gaps at the edges can occur.)
So I use them both, plus any other recyclable container I come across. I've become obsessive about saving anything that seems vaguely suitable, and already have a huge stash in my basement for next year!

I agree about the gallon jugs. Definitely easier to work with and handle.

I used both gallon milk jugs and 2 liter and both have advantages. As previously mentioned, they are easy to grab and move around as well as being sturdier during high winds. The jugs are also easier to cut and when it's time to transplant I simply cut down all four corners with a pair of scissors and lift out the whole pile of dirt with all the seedlings intact until I separate them. The 2 liters while easy to see what's happening are more difficult to cut making the removal of the seedlings a mess.

JoAnn

I agree with you JoAnn - that was my experience as well.

Agreed on both (all) counts. Especially the last - I found the roots had grown all into the swirly pattern at the bottom of, say, a soda bottle, so although I could SEE perfectly clearly that I was massacring the roots, i couldn't stop from doing it!