How To Prep Winter Sowing Planters 3 Easy Steps
Hi Flower Friends!
Below is how we prep our container we use for winter sowing! We live tiny at 684sf so we need all the space we can get and winter sowing our cold hardy annuals helps us leave room under the grow lights for our heat loving flowers!
1.) Collect Containers
We use recycled jugs from milk, tea, and water that family & friends save for us. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
I have seen others have success skipping all the prep work and using this Nursey Pot Set
2.) Cut and Deep Clean Containers
This step is essential, you want to make sure the container you are using is clean to create the best environment for your winter sowed soon-to-be seedlings!
I use a pairing knife to make the first initial cut and then go through with cutting the rest of the jug with scissors. I make the initial cut about 4 inches from the bottom, winter sowed plants tend to have strong root systems so you want to give them plenty of space to thrive! I also leave about 1 inch uncut to create a "hinge" so the container stays open easily but it also is easier to close up come planting time.
After cutting and leaving the hinge I go in with hot soapy water and a clean sponge to make sure the container gets a very deep clean.
3.) Create Drainage Holes
I find four holes is sufficient for gallon jugs and two holes is sufficient for half gallon jugs. To create the holes this season I heated up an empty hot glue gun and melted the drainage holes. I used a small sized glue gun, make sure it has a metal tip like this one!
Alternatively you could drill holes in the bottom as well!
4.) Label and Organize Containers
I write numbers on each container and then in a spreadsheet I create a chart showing what is planted in the coordinating number jug. This helps with our efforts to reuse these containers year after year without having to worry about labeling them with specific plant details.
And that is it! These jugs are all prepped for our first succession of winter sowing!
Hope these step by step instructions were helpful!
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