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Feb. 17, 2025Jefferson City, Mo. |  By: Jeremy Werner

MU Extension Office offers tips on mini-greenhouse

milk

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A creative way to get a jumpstart on your spring garden may be sitting in your recycling bin.

The University of Missouri Extension Office says gardeners can use milk jugs to start seeds in late winter through a method called winter sowing.

The milk jug acts as a mini-greenhouse, providing a protected environment for seeds to germinate.

Gardeners can start perennials, native plants, cool-season vegetables, and herbs this month, with warm-season crops following in April.

To begin, clean a milk jug, cut it open while leaving a hinge, and punch drainage holes in the bottom. Add potting soil, plant seeds, and seal the jug with duct tape before placing it outdoors to receive natural sunlight and moisture.

Gardeners should monitor seedlings closely, opening the jug during warm days and transplanting them once they reach a few inches tall.