Sun or shade is fine. The containers should be vented or if you're using milkjugs or soda bottles the caps should be off. The venting allows for sun-heated air to escape the container. If the heated air is trapped it can warm the soil so high that the seeds will become infertile.

T

Thank you Trudi. I will just set each one in sun/shade similar to its eventual spot, then.

I place containers in all types of sun/shade. One thing to remember is once the seeds sprout those in sun need more ventilation to keep seedlings from frying. Also containers may need to be watered more often to keep mix moist, both before and after sprouting.

hmm... thanks. Tops of milk/apple juice jugs are off. How often do containers need watering before sprouting?

If you've already taken the tops off, and you don't have germination yet, you'll be okay. It'll just take longer and you'll need to make sure they get regular watering. You want the soil moist, but not soggy. The tops of the containers keep the soil moist so the seeds don't dry out. If they dry out during the germination process, they die. If you don't have the tops, put some plastic over them. Punch a couple holes for ventilation and to let in rain.

I think the above two posts result from a confusion of terms: tops and caps. I expect silver cat had the caps off the jugs, as instructed, but still has the tops on (meaning the whole jug is still present). No?

~CA

In the spring I often have containers that need to be watered before germination or after germination but before planting out stage. Usually I bottom water them in a large aluminum tub which can hold several jugs at the same time.

Last spring was cool and wet for us so containers needed little watering. Other springs have been dry and hot.
There is no way for me to know when or how often your containers will need watering. You will need to check them. When the tops are on, if there is no condensation in the container check to see if the soil is moist, if not, water. Once the tops have been removed you will be able to see if the containers need watering and water as needed.

Containers can dry out whether or not they have extra ventilation holes added or tops are removed. Containers in full sun will dry out sooner than those in shade so need to be checked more often. I keep my 2Ls in part shade as find they dry out sooner than gallon jugs. Some of my gallon jugs in full sun needed watering every day once it warmed in the spring. You will soon learn how often yours need checking. (Tops refer to the top part of the container. Caps are the lid that comes with the container that keeps the liquid from spilling out, those are not used to ws.)

I do not add extra ventilation holes as open the tops a bit as needed. Also for 2Ls I add an upside down v cut on the bottom of the top half when preparing the container. If ventilation is needed before the tops are removed completely I just lift the top a bit to add more air through those v cuts.

Okay, I'm a newbie too and I am a little confused now...

"Also containers may need to be watered more often to keep mix moist, both BEFORE and after sprouting."

Do I need to be watering my containers now in January? Or do I just need to start watering them in spring, once it warms up? Maybe I didn't read the FAQ pages correctly, or misunderstood something...

We're in Zone 6b and it was 45 degrees out today...this week we're going to have daytime temps in the mid-40s all week (above freezing) but below freezing in the 20s at night. Most of our snow here has already melted. We do have some snow and rain forecast, but not for at least 7 days, maybe around the end of next week. Do I need to start watering this week?

Sorry...confused!

topie: No, if your containers are outside in winter in zone 6, they're probably frozen solid, which is fine. Normal wintersowing, what you expect. In spring when the weather starts to warm a little, start checking them for moisture. Pay attention to their weight- you'll get to know who needs water just by feeling how heavy or light they are.

Karen

Okay, thanks kqcrna.

I wonder how warm it should get before I start watering?

Our winter weather here in PA can be kind of unpredictable...today and tomorrow we're going to have highs well above freezing, close to 50 degrees. My milk jugs are only slightly frozen at this point...last week they were like stiff blocks of ice, but now they're pretty thawed out and fairly squishy.

I noticed when it was really cold a couple of weeks ago, the jugs stopped having condensation on the inside, but now that they've thawed, some of the jugs have condensation in them again. Some of them don't have any condensation though and the seed starting mix inside looks pretty dry.

Should I water during these dry thaw periods we have, even though it's not technically spring yet? (It will probably get colder again in a few days). Also, I have my jugs in a spot that gets over 6 hours of south-facing sun...should I move them to a spot that gets afternoon shade so they don't dry out as much?

I don't want fry my seeds!