You can leave the tops on your jugs and just leave a hindge when you pot them. If you are using a jug top as a greenhouse, the ridges don't matter, you just don't want the leaves to touch the sides of the container or they will burn.

Do you want to use the jugs as covers for seedlings in the ground, or do you want to use the whole container-top & bottom to start seeds as most of us here on the forum do? Check out some of the posts & FAQ's here to get a feeling for the process & hit us with any questions. If you're wanting to use your gallon jugs as mint greenhouses & still have the tops, there are any number of ways to reattach them-everyone has their favorite & will be glad to share techniques. My suggestion if you still have the tops would involve duct tape or wire. If you don't have the tops left-not to worry! Got plastic bags? Just don't forget vent holes & drain holes in the bottom!

As far as my personal experience with small containers such as the single serving water bottle-they certainly can be used, but may dry out REALLY quickly depending on your sun/soi/rain conditions-just be aware, but they are a nice size to plant out HOS (see Hunk Of Seedlings in the FAQ!) As far as a problem with the ridges in the bottles-I've used them as greenhouses and as cloches & never noticed a problem. As with any cover, you just have to be alert for high heat or dryness. I say give it a try-we're all into experimentation here and bring us the rest of your questions-welcome!

whiteapple - I think you're talking about what Trudi calls "Hot Caps." There is one page of info on that on the Wintersown.org site - it's in the FAQ, from the Tomatoes link there is a transplanting tomatoes link, I've posted the direct link with this message.

I had posted a question about the same thing a week or so ago - but not many responses. My guess is that most people don't use the water bottle method here. I tried some searches of this forum, the growing from seed forum, and the vegetable forum, but found very few threads that mention it, and those that do have only brief mentions, in maybe one or two posts. I tried several variations of search terms, but maybe I didn't pick the right ones.

I'm not sure if the bottles work as mini green houses or not. They are called hot caps, but the page only mentions protection from insects, bird attacks, and animals. It does specifically cite using water bottles (looks like the 12 oz ones to me), so I doubt the ridges are an issue, and gives very specific directions on how to do it. I was curious about whether or not the bottles also trap heat, and if so, how much. I have been saving Gatorade bottles, clear 2-liter bottles, and some of those very large pretzel containers (clear) from Costco to use. I'm guessing 1 liter bottles would also work fine, pretty much any clear bottle. I'm hoping to keep my peppers and tomatoes a little warmer in the early season to hopefully jumpstart the harvest. It's my first year trying that, so I don't know what to expect, and don't have any experience to share. For the peppers and tomatoes, I plan to use larger containers (liter/2 liter) in order to keep them in place until closer to when the plant matures. I may have to cut off tops to make a wider opening to not trap too much heat. I plan to use the small containers for my early lettuce, cucumber, broccoli, spinach, corn, melon plants to give them time to get established before the rabbits come nibble. I plan to use the really big pretzel containers over my soybean plants as permanent protection from the rabbits, and also to warm them up a little earlier right after planting. I think with the really wide tops, and large diameter, they should be OK heat-wise with no risk of touching. Again, that's just my plan and I'm hoping for success. I'm going to keep an eye on it, and at the first sign of temps to high within the container or the plant outgrowing it and in danger of touching the side, they'll be removed.

Another option, which I may or may not try (weather depending) is covering an area of your bed with black plastic to pre-heat the soil. I found out about that when looking for any posts related to the water bottle hotcap greenhouses. I can't remember where, but at least a few people seem to do that. I'm considering doing that where I plan to plant the tomatoes, peppers, and possibly soybeans. I won't bother for the other fruits/veggies which were all fine last year direct sown into cold ground. It may speed up cucs and melons a little, but I don't think it will be necessary. Last year was an exceptionally cold, wet spring for me. Good luck. Whatever you decide, please share your plans and experience. I'm always on the lookout for better ideas.

Sherri

Here is a link that might be useful: Hot Caps (transplanting tomatoes) at Wintersown.org

The .5 L water bottles do dry out very quickly, as jesse said. I used a bunch of them early this year and while one or two have sprouts I think some may have dried out too much and I didn't notice. Those might be goners. I'm sticking to the gallon jugs and 2 L bottles from now on. Also, you want head room for the plants to grow and the little ones don't allow much of that.

Caryl

I do not use the water bottles as they are so small but think they could be used with tiny sprouts. I use 2L's or gal jugs so the plant has plenty of space to grow without being squished. Don't know for sure if being against the sides of the bottle would affect frost protection or burning of foliage.

When using the tops as hotcaps I make venting holes in them to help distrubute heat and have never had any sprouts fried. If the temps are going to warm one can take the tops off and leave them next to the plants to replace in the evening if necessary. I just cut a few v s in the tops so that they can be pushed shut if I want to use the tops again another year before the temps are warm.

I use these same tops in the summer/fall when transplanting to help with transplant shock and to keep critters away from new transplants They only stay on a few days.

oh, mini greenhouses is what is meant by hotcaps. Never heard them referred to as such.(and I thought I had read every page of wintersown.org)
Only heard them called cloches and occasionally referred to as growing under glass (but that includes too many things including cold frames, greenhouses, and terrariums).
I think a search for cloches may bring up more of the info you're hoping for.

MARY

This takes some time, but not much, and will give you a firm base that can be rammed into the soil.

Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: making a cloche

That cloche idea was great. It's always amazing how innovative people are.

I use the cut 2L bottles and have never had a problem with using them just being cut off. Seems like a waste of time to do the extra steps of heating and shaping them to me, but each to their own.

do you guys use this method for direct sowing seeds that state not to 'start until after the first frost'. For example: zinnia's state not to direct sow until then... can I start them earlier if I use a 2 liter top with a lid as a cloche? That should keep them nice and save under the bottle and possible allow them to germinate earlier? Am I way off base?

Thanks Mary,

I was thinking "hotcap" had to have something to do with heat. I was a little confused if they were considered cloches, because I wasn't sure if something that had a large top opening would be considered a cloche or not. It does seem most cloches (except for dead of winter or just over night/several hours use to protect delicate plants from unseasonable frosts) required some form of venting, but it seemed they were trying to trap more heat than they release. I'm curious about how much heat is actually trapped by a bottle with a open top. I did read some threads on cloches, but was really looking for specific experience with wintersown seedlings and the plastic bottles. I have to say people can be quite creative with their cloching. I guess I'll find out after trying it if just a clear plastic cylinder around a plant keeps it warmer or not, and if so how much. I'm pretty sure it will deter most pests, which is still a significant benefit.

Sherri