For winter sowing seeds I like to use aluminum steam table pans. Like really large lasagna pans, and they're only 99 cents at the restaurant supply store.

If you're already lining containers with plastic, could you use those plastic trays they transport loaves of bread on? Not very deep, but might work if you watched the water carefully.

One of our local nursery's recycles all of their stuff...they set them out so people can just take what they need...I din't know this and mentioned that I was saving some containers and she told me...go help yoursef...so you might just ask around..

I get bulk meats at the grocery store in big, deep plastic trays. These are about the size of a lasagna pan, frugal all the way around =)

GW

For smaller starting trays I use the rectangular styrofoam boxes I get from Chinese takeout lunches. I cut off the lids and use them for the water reservoir if needed, punch holes in the main part of the box, fill with seed starting mix, mist with water, then cover loosely with a ziploc bag.

The apples from Costco come in a plastic "gizmo" that has a section for each individual apple. It has a top and bottom. Kind of like the plastic boxes muffins come in from the grocery store. I have used these apple holders for propagation. The hole is the size of a medium sized apple. It is it's own individual greenhouse.

I work in a surgery dept. I get sterile packs of plastic containers that are bout 6 inches deep and 14 inches long
4 inches deep and 8 inch wide. I am hoping to get alot of plants out of them..

So, I was giving blood yesterday (the bloodmobile comes to my office building), and I noticed that the collection kits (bags, needle, tubing, etc.) came in plastic trays, about like cmh35 described: These were about 6 inches by 10 inches, and maybe 4 inches deep. I asked the needle-wielders what they did with the containers at the end of the day. He said they just throw them away. I asked to see an empty one. They are not marked for recycling. So I asked him to save them for me. At the end of the day, I went down and there were eight sitting on the counter for me. I looked a little disappointed. I said, "musta been a slow day, huh?". He said, "yeah". I took the eight trays. Then the fellow said, "oh, you must be thinking that there's just one collection kit per tray. Actually, each tray has four kits in it." I told him that I suddenly felt much better about our office's contribution for the day.

Anyway, each one looks good for about a dozen large cuttings. I'm currently starting rosemary, Leyland cypress, and Pacific yew.

We'll see how they do through the winter and I'll report back.

Yet another benefit of donating blood!

(I didn't ask about getting outdated blood to add to my compost pile.)

Plastic kitty litter boxes are only a dollar or two at the dollar general stores.