Don't Toss Your Empty Plastic Water Jugs — They Are Perfect For Winter Sowing

Who knew that empty water jug would become your best gardening weapon? You may already know that you can use old milk jugs to create a budget-friendly greenhouse for winter sowing. But other large plastic drink containers, including gallon-size water jugs, also work for the task. It just requires a few cuts to open up the jug and some holes in the bottom for drainage. It's a good alternative if you don't drink a lot of milk, but you do buy jugs of water. Water jugs might be even easier to use than milk jugs when you're making mini greenhouses. You still need to wash water bottles, but you don't have crusty dairy or stinky milk remnants in the bottom.

Either way, repurposing those gallon-size jugs in your home makes starting your plants affordable and easier. You don't have to buy special seed-starting trays or grow lights to make sure they get the right amount of light to germinate and grow. Instead, the plastic jug acts like a greenhouse to keep warmth and moisture inside, so the plants start growing outdoors long before they could grow in the ground. At the same time, they still feel the temperature fluctuations, which gives them a sturdier start than seedlings that start off indoors. 

And while this is one of many smart ways to reuse water bottles, there are some requirements for winter sowing greenhouses made from plastic containers. They need to be translucent and deep enough to hold 3 to 4 inches of soil, with room for the plants to grow. Then, you'll cut the plastic and add holes. That way, moisture can enter the jug without getting trapped to provide the right balance for your winter-sown plants.

The first step for any upcycled greenhouse is to clean the plastic water jugs well — warm soap and water work for this cleaning task. Poke or drill drainage holes in the bottom of each water jug. Remove the lid from the jug, so rain and snow can get inside the container. Then, you'll cut open the jug to gain access to the inside. There are two main ways to do this. One common option is to cut the jug horizontally just below the handle if the water container has one, leaving a small amount of the plastic connected, so you can flip the top open. If there isn't a handle on the water jug, cut it about half way down. After you add the soil and seeds, you'll use duct tape to close the jug back up. 

Another option, shared by the honesthippiehomestead TikTok account, is to cut the top portion off completely — this is best for a squared water jug with a flexible plastic handle around the rim, rather than a built-in handle. After you fill the jug, flip the top portion upside down, so the opening points down inside the bottom portion. It should look a bit like a funnel, directing water inside the jug. The creator adds a small rock inside to help keep the top in place.

Add about 3 inches of moistened potting soil in the bottom of the water jug, and add the seeds per the planting instructions. Close up the containers with tape or by flipping over the top, and put the jugs outdoors in a spot where it will be in sunlight and will get rain and snow. Don't forget to label your containers.