Cool. Makes me want to go get a saw. Maybe I'll just have my boyfriend hold the bottles and I'll use my circular saw.

Saw your other videos too. I, of course, don't do that anymore, so my boyfriend will be safe.

Great way to prepare your containers. Wish I had a band saw.

I think I paid about $80 for my saw. It's a hobby sized saw, not meant for anything large. I use it for my work, but I had to find a quicker way to make these containers. I really like the fact that the soil stays in the containers better and there's side drainage rather than just holes in the bottom. With all the rain we've gotten lately, I think that's been a good thing.

cool video and I loved your blog - thanks for sharing. Have you used that method for preparing containers in previous years? I'd love to hear some of things you've already planted. Newbie here looking for ideas.... Nikki

This is my first year wintersowing. So far I've done hardy perennials and biennials: rudbeckia, echinacea, columbine, hollyhocks, shasta daisy, larkspur. I've done a lot more than that, but I can't remember off the top of my head all the others. Lots of my containers are repeats because I had so much seed and didn't want to sow heavy. Each container has about 20 seeds in them for larger ones. I did sow some nicotiana, and I didn't bother counting seeds, but put a pinch in each container.

I'm also using this method to cut containers for rose propagation in the basement. It's working out really well so far.

Tom,

That is wonderful what you did. That will help many people. : )

I LOVE this! We just got a bandsaw it needs a bolt or something? I'm going to have Hubby get it going ASAP!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pokeberry Kitchen and Garden

Token, this was super. I know my DH has a band saw hidden somewhere in the mess he calls his shop. I will be looking to commandeer it. LOL Too bad there is a 10 cent bounty on pop bottles here in MI they look great to use.

Blessings,
Dea

LOVE IT!

the only thing I would caution is that may be too many drainage holes. 2 liters dry out pretty fast - I had 300 last year. So get a sprinkle with a timer and go to town!

It goes a lot faster when I cut all 5 of the slits on the bottom, then the bottle in half. I usually remove the label first in one piece. And after they're filled, I cut the slit opposite where I put the mini-blind plant marker. The slit in the side makes it easier to slide the top down over it. Plus, it lowers the center of gravity and keeps it from toppling over.

The slits are pretty narrow, about the thickness of 10 sheets of paper. I also invested in really good soil mix. I tried last fall to use regular potting soil, but the sticks and twigs got in the way of the seeds.

Token, your video was great, I think you've got a method of prepping 2 ltr bottles in record time!

I like to use the 2 ltr bottles too, but cut them a little differently. I cut them in half too (boy your band saw works great for that) and then put two 1-1/2 inch slits on opposite sides of the top half of the bottle. This lets the top spread out a little and slide over the bottom nice and snug. No tape required. This maintains the integrity of the bottom section, which is where your want your seeds and seedlings in solid soil. With winter-sowing, it all seems to work though! :)

PS Has anyone else noticed, men really love to use power tools to prep containers? Band saws and drills and even table saws! LOL It makes short work of container prep though.

terrene, I had thought of that AFTER I made all of mine. I still have a 55gallon trash bag full of bottoms and another with the tops. There's about 100 more to fill with dirt and sow. I'll be waiting til March for that. Our weather is just too unpredictable for me to try some of my seeds.

And yes, we love our power tools. I don't know what I would do without them. I build models professionally, or did before the economy tanked, so I like to make repetitive tasks like that as easy and as quick as possible. I can't imagine sitting down with scissors to do this. I'd be there all week.

Well I don't use scissors, although some people use electric scissors. I use the small blade on my Swiss Army Knife, and yes that is tedious not to mention I could stab myself! ;) The great thing is, I've got 50 2 ltr bottles from last year that are already prepped, rinsed, and stored, ready to be re-used. That is one nice thing about the 2 ltrs and much less work for me.

This summer I raised Monarch butterflies in some of the winter-sowing containers, the large salad boxes. I had used both an awl tool and a drill to make ventilation and drainage holes in the containers and they both leave sharp edges, which could be dangerous to the Monarch caterpillars. Those little buggers crawl all over the containers, so of course, I fretted over this.

So I bought myself a soldering iron this fall which I haven't tried as yet, but figure will melt the plastic and make smoother edges around the holes. And that it will make the holes pretty quickly too.

That is so cool. Neat and tidy and super fast! :-)
I like 2 liter bottles too. I cut with scissors, though and use a awl to make holes in the bottom. And I make slits on the upper part of the bottle instead of the bottom part. I want to make the bottom as deep as possible.

Token,

I know the video has been out for awhile, but it is still providing benefit! Thank you! Two quick questions:

1 - What is the purpose of the single slit in the side of the bottom half of the soda bottle? To give it some flexibility when putting on the top? In your video, is the entire rim of the top half slid inside the bottom half?

2 - In your second photo of your blog, it appears that there are no caps on your bottles. Do you wintersow without caps on the bottles?

Thanks!

Carol in Jacksonville

I haven't seen Token posting for awhile so will answer your questions.

Yes, the slit helps putting the top on and off as breaks the air seal between the two sections after the top half goes on outside the bottom half.

You may recycle the little white or yellow cap right away as it is not used. The neck opening allows air and moisture into the containers. Same thing with a plastic milk or water jug.

Yeah, Tom/Token hasn't posted here since 2/5/2011. He hasn't even posted to his own blog since 4/29/2012 (a reply in the Comments section). Odd... I wonder what happened to him?!