Erv's Complete Milk Jug Gardening Guide

In 2018 I tried out something called Winter Sowing or Milk Jug gardening. This is where you plant your seeds inside a milk jug and leave it out in the cold and snow. It's amazing, check it out!
I am in Zone 6B Cincinnati and have a growing season that (roughly) runs from May through October most years.
Other videos on Milk Jug Gardening:
• Milk Jug Gardening FAQ... - Frequently Asked Questions
Go to / ervsgarden for all the latest updates and videos!

[@donnacocanour5062]

I use vinegar in my laundry. After rinsing the gallon bottles, I use them for winter sowing. That is a great idea to plant in the garden and just cover with the top of the bottles. Arthritis keeps me out of my big garden, so my husband bought a lot of large pots for me to use on the deck. We also use large plastic buckets. I planted seeds that I saved from an apple that we ate in a vinegar bottle, and they are growing very well!

[@bikerider76058]

We have done similar in Texas all my life. We used to take the very bottom off all the way around, plant directly in the ground, and build dirt up around the jug outside. This holds the jug in place during winds. Another way we use is cut the bottom in half and then cut around the bottom edge and leave about two inches making a flap. Again sow directly in the ground. Cover the flaps with dirt to hold them in place. When, it is past frost, the plants are usually to the top of the jug. Then we just pull the jugs off and grow naturally in the ground

[@cheryltang2724]

Where do you live in TX? I live in Austin and I’m going use this method this year

[@johoney5458]

Thank you. I had not thought of that. I did try them to plant my herbs this year. So far so good and a lot cheaper than buying planters. I also painted them with some kiltz as I did not want the roots against the walls to burn since I am using them as planters. Used as seed starters I would not paint the jug. I will try this next year to get my plants going and have them set on the porch. I am in Texas and will try to remember and plant early girl. Thank you again and look forward to your next video.

[@AcornHillHomestead]

My mom planted one Early Girl in zone 5 in the midwest in 2019. She had so many tomatoes she ended up canning several pints, giving fruit away and they kept on going and going well into fall. It was an amazing plant. She said they were so tasty and just the right size for one person. So I planted 12 of them in 5 gallon buckets this year in zone 4 because I like to can. They are growing like crazy! So excited. Going to try some of my crops using this method! TFS. 😉

[@ErvsGarden]

Awesome!

[@diananoonen2262]

Im looking for winter lettuce! Thankyou.

[@gigiskitties499]

This is a genius little mini greenhouse! I love it !!

[@dbeaumontresident847]

Fantastic video. I'm going to try this tomorrow, thank you Erv! Be well during these times.

[@ErvsGarden]

You too!

[@HansOellerich]

I am about to use this method for the second time as I had success following your instructions to sew tomatillos. I grew them in the jug from a slice of a tomatillo. It has yielded 4 plants. I'll be growing various types of peppers this time. Thank you, sir for sharing this with us.

[@ErvsGarden]

You're welcome!

[@joan-lisa-smith]

Winter sowing is mainly for brassicas and perennial flowers, warm climate plants like peppers and tomatoes dont do as well and once sprouted will die when the frost returns a night or two.

[@obtusemage2262]

This is excellent! Will give this a try and share with my friends. Love the sense of humor. Than you greatly for sharing! 🌱❤️🤘🏻

[@Guruc13]

This is great! I was going to make milk jug skulls for Halloween before I realized melting plastic was pretty toxic. Now I've gt a great use for a garbage bag full of tmilk jugs! Thanks Erv!

[@mariannesouza8326]

This is perfect for porch/patio gardening! Thank you! 😀

[@MinkesMom]

God Bless milk jug garden growers as our temps here in Downeast Maine have been downright chilly! Iplant all my seeds into jugs, with my top starting above the handles (means more manure/dirt). Cabbages, everything works with some plants growing out of the top of jug. The best thing is all plants are hardened, far better to plant than purchased greenhouse plants that need to be hardened.

[@ErvsGarden]

I agree. This year my garden is all volunteers... believe it or not. They seem to know exactly when to start growing!

[@denisekleeman6856]

That’s a great way to start a garden. Thanks for the video and wonderful idea 👍

[@ricoviselli]

Well Erv that presentation was brilliant enough to get me to subscribe! Thanks, instant mini greenhouses, WOW!

[@dewality8768]

Great video thanks for this! I’m growing tomatoes, peppers and a few varieties of lettuce in jugs. So much better than indoor sowing and much less hassle.

[@yagirlrere7562]

I love your personality! Your videos are interesting because your not boring!

[@xuezhonglian]

like your humor and method

[@TOMMYBITESTVANDLIFE]

What a great idea, I will be doing this one day.

[@lu845carpenter]

You can cut slits in the lid caps to keep pairs of socks together in the laundry.

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Great idea! I will be sure to try. :)

[@swright1328]

Thx

[@tedbeverly6052]

lu845carpenter you could go barefoot!

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Genius!!! Thanks!

[@marawtawng2230]

O okay

[@larryshannon5035]

Thanks Erv for the tip will try. Be safe sir 🌺🙏

[@sk8queen]

This is the first video I found a couple of months ago on winter sowing. Im now doing it. Thanks!

[@ErvsGarden]

This method is real game changer! Just don't let your plants get burned once the weather starts warming up.

[@victoriassecretisluv]

You can use a 2 litre cocacola bottle instead of a milk jug

[@beaulieuc8910]

I love this.I struggle growing my seedlings.

[@ericsgranny8933]

Wow! I want to try this next spring!

[@carleneryder4360]

Thank you buddy I live in Pennsylvania and we always have white flies and those worms that like to crawl into your squash plants and live off of it while your squash dies, this seems like a really good idea, thank you very much I will try. Many blessings on your garden.

[@chalice3571]

Ingenious, Thanks for sharing. You are courageous from Indiana

[@elizabethtrammell2105]

This is a great video.

[@jadathompson6212]

really enjoyed your video. I learned allot about how to start plants. thank you.

[@lieblee3063]

Thank you for sharing. You are sooooo honest👍😂🤣(Don’t take anything I say seriously, this is my first time trying)

[@carmenchaux67]

Thank you for sharing knowledge. This is a great idea.

[@kcbabu1885]

Great Idea. Just today I planted 50 Bell pepper seeding in plastic cups. Will try this soon. Ty.

[@LIFEEVERYTHINGUNDERTHESUN20]

Love your energy new to your channel cant wait to see more

[@catherinecook2054]

East Texas here. Plant early. Fades out when temperature gets high, but second crop in the Fall.

[@SharonTrombly]

I love this method for seeds! Plus you can spy on them through the top! No bugs in the house either. Thank you!

[@bridgette-ann9021]

I live in south texas and plated those tomatoes last year and there still growing and producing this year

[@devanc1]

Great Video. I just completed my first milk jug with some herbs for my daughter's rabbits. I am hoping for great results.

[@PleasantPrickles]

Great tutorial, Erv! Thank you! I’m going to try this next Feb! 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

[@ErvsGarden]

Thanks for watching! I did this just once, but it was wildly successful.

[@micheleh5269]

Great video. We grew Early Girl here in Tampa, FL. Was indeterminate and grew about 10 ft and one plant had 30 tomatos by June 1. I would grow them again in a heartbeat.

[@nickdemesa2404]

Good video and you made me smile. Thank you.

[@mamieann701]

Now being severely limited in physical activity gardening is out of the question. Thankful you popped up with possible solution for me! Maybe after we get all moved in we can try it. Have great hope your milk jug garden will work on East Tennessee porch. 👍🏻♥️

[@StevenMiller-um2qc]

Maybe a dumb question but I don’t have time to read all the comments. What do you with them once they start sprouting or growing, leave them in the jug or plant them in the ground?

[@HoneyandMe]

So glad I haven't taken my empty milk jugs to the dump yet! We're going to have to try this. We live at a high altitude with a short growing season, but plenty of hot sun in the summer. Looking forward to trying this out! Thanks for sharing, Erv!

[@lindanoel1853]

Hope you have access to Recycling plastics where you are -- small & large milk/juice jugs are accepted!

[@apriltenney9015]

Am collecting my jugs now to give this a try!

[@udonloews1301]

Thank you for saving our environment.

[@redcurrant2023]

This year I tried indoor sowing without much luck and a lot of heartache. I was trying to bypass the garden shops and sow my own. Now I have your idea and I am good to go . Thanks

[@ErvsGarden]

I'm going to do a video about how I grow my seedlings indoors. It's a pretty low budget setup. It's not ideal, but it works. The biggest thing you have to do is pay attention to the germination temperature of your seeds, and hardening off your plants before you take them outside.

[@deannamoses8914]

I'm new to gardening. This looks like something I can do! I'm glad I saw this. And I like the suggestion from another comment. You should call the followers Ervlings! 😂😂 It just works.

[@patricialisowski1080]

Nice work! We never know when we will get a surprise frost!

[@ErvsGarden]

I just posted a Frost video to show how I deal with frost actually.

[@nobodyxxfooL]

You are awesome! Thank you for sharing 🙃 very helpful. Gonna go plant some things over here in Rhode island! Wish me luck🤞(attempting spinach, kale, lettuce, herbs, onions, and purple UFO shaped hot peppers)

[@luciaguity6581]

Thank you for sharing. Is well appreciated. I Like your method.lve Subscribed. Look Forward for more Innovative methods.

[@tatianarevenkov2281]

Thank you. Loved your video

[@lindawatson1779]

I just subscribed!!! Hell yes!!! Love your videos!!!

[@lawlisrn]

We used to do this as kids , 20 + years ago. Love it!

[@ErvsGarden]

I didn't do any milk jugs this year, trying a different type of gardening. I guess I need to do a gardening update for 2019.

[@davem5308]

This looks like a really good methodology and I am going to try it myself! Makes perfect sense! I might try other style food grade containers for farts and giggles! Although the square base of the milk jugs seems like a good thing!

[@Queenie-the-genie]

Dave M Good idea! Of course no pesticides either.

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Great idea for the jugs! I’ve been trying to reuse whatever I can for environmental reasons for years, but now with all this mess going on, I’m trying to reuse what I’ve got to avoid going out to the stores. So far I’ve learned that a milk jug can be: a cloche, cut a certain way it is a soil scoop or a pet food scoop, with a few pinholes punched in the bottom a milk jug can be a slow release liquid fertilizer jug. Learned that one from another KZbinr gardener who used it on his fruit trees, and I just use his idea whenever I need to water anything that’s planted on an incline or in really hydrophobic soil. It really worked on my roses that are unfortunately parked on an incline, but a double whammy it’s also heavy clay. Tried it this spring and this is the first year they’ve really taken off. The whole bush jumped a third in height in about a month. It looks like a Christmas tree with the string lights shut off since it’s just covered in buds poised to burst into bloom. Pretty exciting! I’ll be adding your milk jug mini greenhouses to my list. Thanks for your inspiring video. Keep on growing! ✌️🌱

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Ps- no one is judging you for the scissors! 😂 I have two pairs in my garage, a pair for the kitchen, and another set for my plant room. Gotta get the job done ✂️

[@s.engelsman4521]

My Grandpa born in 1900 used to do a variation of this every year to start his tomatos, esp. He put the seeds/seedlings in the ground then put the cut jug top over the plant to protect it and warm it. When the plants were big enough he then just took the jug off and his garden was set. 🙂

[@ErvsGarden]

This is still a very common practice among the people that do this. It works pretty much just as well.

[@Trakehner20]

Wow, thanks. I never thought of that! Kinda cool.

[@GrandmaSezSo]

The cut jug over the jug seems like a better way of doing it, really. I wonder if the soil warms up as well though. Inside the jug the soil would be isolated and more exposed to sun so hence, warmer. I might try both methods simultaneously with same seed and see which works best or if there is a difference.

[@sunnyseacat9232]

@@GrandmaSezSo : What happened? Thanks.

[@shirleydenton4747]

Thanks. I used one of my old alcohol bottles like that to grow some tomato plants. They did so well. Will try this, as great to grow plants in new ways. I had even left a hinged top. Worked wonderfully. Plants got so big I had to transplant in large styrofoam cup

[@ErvsGarden]

I transplanted the tomatoes that I planted in this video into plastic Solo cups.

[@shinrin-yoku-]

The French used bell shaped glass covers called cloche in the 19th century.

[@beachwanderer9486]

Thank you for sharing. I keep the lids they make good cheap feet to sit plant pots on for extra drainage.

[@edersusa2133]

Recycling! Yes save money wise! Thanks for sharing

[@HealthyLivingWithWendy]

I will try this it looks easy. Thank you

[@Ritty109]

Paint pen, also made by Sharpie, will never fade (because it's paint lol!) They can be purchased in craft stores. Also believe it or not, pencil doesn't fade.

[@carlachappell6895]

Love it. Thanks Erv!

[@MrFying]

Use a Phillips screw driver. Heat on stove. Punches right through plastic with a perfect hole. Melts a hole.

[@kathyfaryon]

Do you ever need to water them?

[@MsDancingpants]

Cheap soldering iron is my favourite method.

[@mariannesouza8326]

Sunnyforever Always No way! Thank you, I never thought of that!! 😀

[@mariannesouza8326]

Edisto Joe I assume your on Edisto Island. 😀

[@_mamabev]

This is brilliant. Thank you!

[@duckrivermama66]

Love it, dude! Thank you. 😃👍

[@jackiedavies3751]

What a lovely man, I am going to have a go at this although I only have a small concreted back yard (UK terraced house), I can figure it out...

[@ErvsGarden]

Good luck!

[@ihuman7253]

Excellent video ❤

[@cro2510]

Yes, Early Girls produce well. They need a cardboard shade until over knee high or another sort such as climbing beans for shade. By experiment, planting them in groups of four, with a 3 ltr bottle with drain holes expedites watering and promotes deeper roots. Ours have crushed their cages every year, so stake poles with stretched t-shirt ties for extra support. I've heard cheap bras, but never tried that. For lower limbs organization crates can be strategicly placed to keep fruit off the ground, especially before a rain or high humidity. Thank you, from S. Tx.

[@karmakeeper2335]

I love this guy!

[@nubiansoaps]

clever. Thanks for posting.

[@misterbulger]

I'm definitely going to try this. I have over 100 water jugs to get rid of since you can't drink the water around here.

[@elizabeththompson9896]

This method conserves water. And is great to introduce children to gardening.

[@EarlybirdFarmSC]

Pretty neat idea.

[@phillisjohnsonpj]

I live in Alabama I’ve planted these for years. They are high yield. Grow great in the heat

[@Crazyaboutpaper1]

Great tutorial. Starting seeds indoors is very tricky and expensive too. Thank you.

[@ErvsGarden]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@michelelara5982]

Great tutorial! I did this for my broccoli, tomatoes, sunflowers, zinnias and sweet peas! Zone 8a Htx

[@ErvsGarden]

I had great success with this the year that I did it.

[@Crazyaboutpaper1]

Michele, I am in 8 a too, DFW. i wanted to try this, I hope i have success as you did.

[@deboraheckardt7862]

Thank you, this is way cool!

[@alainaortiz8693]

Thanks Erv! Great to know how to do this method. Happy seeding.

[@chucksmith5002]

I will try this here in Florida . We go through 3 gallons of milk a week so it won`t take long to collect some .

[@sampenny6827]

Chuck Smith gonfly model yachts

[@shaylajay190]

LOVE YOUR HONESTY...WILL TEST OUT THIS METHOD...I NEED EASY...I AM OLD...AND FROM EAST TEXAS. ❤️🇧🇯🖖

[@ErvsGarden]

I am originally from Houston!

[@shaylajay190]

@@ErvsGarden Have you heard of Cleveland ?..50 miles east of big H ? That is where I hide!

[@ErvsGarden]

Wow my granny lived in a little place called Patton Village right off of 59. We lived in Cleveland when I was in fourth grade, that was many years ago. I don't remember much about it, we only live there for about a year.

[@shaylajay190]

@@ErvsGarden That is down the road from me...I have not been there myself in 30 years..I do not go anywhere much anymore..

[@millicentowens3435]

This was GREAT !!!!

[@djtonitontonnewzealand3193]

cool idea, i just use the bases, add fine sprinkle of cinnamon on the soil, they grow on my porch, but im gna try this to help save watering time. Cheers Ervs , nice video, kia ora from NZ and also a great way to recycle.

[@helenebennie3961]

Just in case people are wondering the cinnamon has to do with preventing damping off.

[@emmapeel1075]

Soldering iron is great for putting holes in plastic. Just need to do it in a well ventilated area !

[@Thankful_.]

I am a winter sower too! We drink organic milk from carton so i have to improvise and recycle other plastic bottles/containers. 😊

[@ErvsGarden]

I used some 2 liter coke bottles. They are smaller, but worked fine.

[@brianradio7311]

great idea

[@hippiewillow4947]

You're cool. Thank you!

[@TheArtisanbard]

I planted Early Girl here in West TX this year. We will see. YES Duct Tape isn't what it used to be!!!!

[@sandradockens9460]

I planted early girls last year in northwest Fl.hot and humid in summer,they did well

[@TheSunRiseKid]

You are hilarious! Great video! I’ve been using milk jugs all season in all different kinds of ways. I also saved all the toilet paper rolls for mini planters so the seedlings can be planted with them straight into the ground😊👍

[@johnlombardo7816]

How do you keep from the rolls of tp getting so wet? How do you water?

[@virginialeonor9697]

Thank you for sharing !😀

[@katguyot6351]

You are adorable!! I'm looking forward to trying this, thank you :)

[@gwendolyncarter5668]

Me too! Beats trying to keep the kittens out of all my indoor cups and containers of seedlings this winter. Thanks for these suggestions! In Georgia here!

[@gwendolyncarter5668]

@BuzzardFlats well if it works in Oregon. It's got to work way down here in the South! Stay safe up there!

[@rayswoodshop4467]

Thanks buddy ! you got a sub and thumbs up ! Im gonna try this.

[@ErvsGarden]

Thanks a lot Ray, please share with friends and family!

[@kandislopez1982]

The early girl tomatoes grow great here in Alabama!! We have a bunch of clay soil and they do fantastic!

[@ErvsGarden]

Oh wow!

[@dl7919]

Paint Pens work the best. Oil base ones that you shake up before you use them. They don't seem to fade. I like your yellow duct tape. It gave me a great idea on making yellow soap traps for squash bugs this year...Last year they devastated some big beautiful stands of yellow squash I had going that went flat on the ground within only a couple days. Thanks for the video!

[@ErvsGarden]

You're welcome, and thanks for watching! I totally forgot about this channel to be honest. Got a job about 8 months ago and stopped gardening. Going to have to post more Garden videos this summer.

[@MinkesMom]

Yellow Duct tape!! I will look for some tomorrow as I saw white & yellow tapes for bugs for sale in JohnnySeeds for nearly $20 US. I found Capt. Jack's organic bug spray last year as I have had millions of potato / squash / cuke bugs for years. Inexpensive & works miracles removing my bug problem. I do not spray it where my bees would access it--just in case.

[@vickiburt2676]

@@ErvsGarden actually important to make comments on your observations from last year NOW, while your video is put up for Spring planning showing this month next weekend many will do what they researched this week.

[@ErvsGarden]

Honestly, the pen I used in this video did fade, I don't recommend it.

[@jillbarrett2576]

Useful idea thanks.

[@clarefinelli2251]

Your wife is going to want her kitchen shears back! Thanks for the interesting idea!

[@ErvsGarden]

Lol. We bought new ones.

[@caroleneuok5890]

Nice informative video

[@davidgriffith6742]

Sent me a package of those seeds. I live in Dallas Texas. I put them in the ground here in January about the 25th or so I didn't think they would come up I thought it would be too cold but they surprised me. We haven't had a hard freeze down here in quite some time so when the temperatures fell I would just lay a blanket over the bed for the night and everything turned out okay.

[@marjorielanka7059]

I've used Early Girl, for yrs, in NE. They're smaller, than some, but work great, for canning. Will usually fit whole, in sm mouth, qt canning jar.

[@ErvsGarden]

If you are we using for sandwiches. My son slices him up he absolutely goes nuts over them.

[@danconstanciojr8476]

Good job.

[@connie9198]

Just stumbled across your channel, this looks amazing.. first time gardening lady here in Eastern Kentucky.. hope to try this soon.. Is this just for winter gardening?

[@nualamcgowan5842]

Great video thank you.

[@FecklessMeander]

Brilliant !

[@CoffeeCakeCrumble]

My old man is an otr trucker and he keeps bringing home his empty water jugs that just collect in a shed. I tried putting them thru the wood chipper......I don't recommend doing that. I'm really liking the lettuce idea, easily portable, easily maintained. I'm wondering if I could sell them at my roadside stand? 🤔🤔 love your channel, I'm subbing from northern lower michigan on the coast of lake Huron😁

[@ErvsGarden]

Thanks alot new subbie! I hope to have some new videos posted soon!