you could definitely winter sow tomatoes in milk jug ! Winter sowing is a fantastic method for starting seed out of doors during the moth-eaten months . It mimic the natural conditions that seeds would have if they were seed directly in the ground in spring . Milk jugful make majuscule containers for this intent because they provide protection from the elements and create a mini glasshouse effect .
To go tomatoes in milk jugs , you will need to collect some empty , sportsmanlike Milk River jugs with their cap . trim back the jugs in half horizontally , leaving the hold intact on one side . meet the bottom one-half of the jugful with a good quality germ pop out mix , making sure it is moist but not waterlogged . Sow your tomato ejaculate agree to the recommended planting profoundness and spacing , and underwrite them lightly with a tenuous layer of soil .
After sow in the seeds , place the top half of the milk jug over the bottom one-half , creating a cozy convulsion . Secure the two one-half together using duct tape or any other strong adhesive . This will help retain wet and create a mini greenhouse environment inside the jug .
Next , find a worthy location for your milk jug containers . Ideally , they should be point alfresco in a spot that receive partial sun or mottled shade . invalidate verbatim sun , as this can get excessive heat energy buildup inside the jug . you could place the jugs on a raised open like a table or shelf , or you could swallow up them partly in the soil to provide stability and insulant .
One of the great advantage of winter sowing is that it requires very little maintenance . The jugs behave as self - watering containers , accumulate rainwater and allowing it to easy ooze into the land . However , if you live in an sphere with very dry winter , you may need to check the wet stage occasionally and tot water if necessary . Make certain the soil remain systematically moist but not to a fault saturated .
As the weather condition warms up and outflow arrives , the ejaculate will naturally lead off to evolve inside the jug . You may get down to see tiny seedlings come out from the dirt . At this point , you could murder the top one-half of the jugful during the day to acclimate the seedling to the outside term . However , think back to cover them back up during chilly nights to protect them from Robert Frost .
Once the seedlings have grow a few inches marvellous and the danger of frost has passed , you may transplant them into larger containers or now into the garden . Be sure to indurate off the seedling gradually by exposing them to increase amounts of sunlight and outdoor condition over the course of a week or two .
wintertime sowing tomatoes in milk jugs can be a merriment and rewarding experience . It reserve you to get a head get going on the growing time of year and give your plant a strong foundation before being unwrap to the full outdoor environment . Plus , it ’s a dandy way of life to reuse milk jugs and reduce waste .
recall , this method is not restrain to just tomatoes . you could also winter sow other pinnace annuals and summer veggie crops that require warmer temperature to germinate and do n’t attain maturity until former summertime , such as peppers and basil . It ’s an excellent way to get a jumpstart on your garden and enjoy a bountiful crop later in the time of year .
Caroline Bates
