You can make winter sowing containers out of recyclable items that you throw out every day, like milk jugs, 2 liter bottles, or plastic buckets.
There are so many good options, but there are also ones that won’t work – so how do you choose what’s best? In this post, I’ll tell you the rules to follow so you’ll always have the most ideal mini greenhouses possible.
Types Of Winter Sowing Containers You Can Use
Below is a list of some of the most popular options to get you started. Everyone has their own favorites, so you should experiment with several different ones to see what you like.
- Large milk, soda, juice, or water bottles.
- Old food storage containers (look for these in the free bin at garage sales).
- Disposable food containers (I like the larger 64 oz size, or the 48 oz size for shorter seedlings).
- Ice cream buckets.
- Restaurant take-out containers (these are some of my favorites).
- Food containers from the grocery store deli (I like these).
- Containers from bakery goods.
Rules For Choosing Winter Sowing Containers
There’s really no limit to the type or shape of the containers you can use for winter sowing. But there are a few important rules you need to follow to choose the best.
- They should be made out of plastic or foil.
- At minimum they must have transparent lids so that sunlight can shine through, but ideally the whole thing would be transparent.
- Each one needs to be deep enough to hold 2-3 inches of soil.
- They should also be tall enough to allow for at least 4″ of headspace so the seedlings have plenty of room to grow.
Related Post: Winter Sowing Seeds: A Quick-Start Guide
Pros & Cons Of Various Containers
Like I said, there are tons of options when it comes to choosing containers for winter sowing, and by now your head might be spinning.
So, if you’re still not sure how to choose what’s best, below I’ll break down the pros and cons of the various options to help you decide.
Related Post: How To Prepare Containers For Winter Sowing
Large Bottles & Jugs
Hands-down the most popular type of containers for winter sowing are one gallon milk or water jugs. They are great, but they’re not necessarily the best choice for everyone.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t drink much milk (or soda, or juice for that matter), and when I do, I usually buy small jugs of it. So, the one gallon size isn’t as readily available to me.
One thing to keep in mind here is that many manufacturers are making milk jugs opaque these days, because light is apparently bad for the milk.
But the opaque jugs won’t work for winter sowing because they don’t let light through. So be sure to use transparent ones.
Benefits of milk jugs:
- You can reuse them for multiple years.
- They’re plenty tall enough.
- The caps come off, allowing for the perfect amount of ventilation.
Things to look out for:
- They aren’t dishwasher safe, so you’ll have to hand-wash them.
- It’s not always easy to find them, unless your family drinks milk, juice, or soda.
- You have to cut them in half to plant them, then tape them back together, which is more work.
Food Storage Containers
I have tons of these types of containers in my stash. I’ve purchased some of them, but most I’ve saved and reused.
In addition to disposable ones, old Tupperware (and other name-brand) containers can work great too. I find them in the free bins at garage sales. It seems they’ll last forever.
Benefits of food storage containers:
- They’re dishwasher safe.
- You can use some of them for multiple years.
- The lids fit on tight, and won’t blow away.
Things to look out for:
- Some types will start to disintegrate after only one season.
- The smaller containers aren’t deep enough for winter sowing.
Large Buckets
Ice cream, and other large buckets, are another one of my favorites. But I have found that 1/2 gallon sherbet containers are more durable than one gallon buckets.
Benefits of large buckets:
- Deep enough, and allow plenty of headspace for seedling growth.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Tight-fitting lids that won’t blow away.
Things to look out for:
- Most ice cream buckets I’ve used only last one season before they start to crumble.
Grocery Food Containers
There are tons of potential winter sowing containers in the deli, bakery, and produce sections at the grocery store. My favorites are the ones that salad greens come in.
Disposable deli and produce containers are generally more durable, and last longer than the types that baked goods come in. Just be sure to choose ones that are deep enough.
Benefits of grocery containers:
- There are many sizes to choose from.
- Most deli containers are dishwasher safe, and you can reuse them for many years.
Things to look out for:
- Containers from the bakery section are usually not dishwasher safe.
- Many can be flimsy and start to crumble after only one use.
- Some don’t have removable lids (they fold over), making them harder to work with.
- The lids don’t always fit on tightly, so they may blow away.
Restaurant Take-Out Containers
Some types of take-out containers you get when you order salads or other food from a restaurant work great for winter sowing.
There’s a wide variety of options here, and some are more durable than others. For example, some “plastic” take-out containers are actually made out of corn, which is great for the environment… but not great for winter sowing seeds, unfortunately.
Benefits of food take-out containers:
- Wide variety of options, and many are reusable.
- Some are deep enough for tall seedlings.
Things to look out for:
- Most are not dishwasher safe.
- Many aren’t deep enough.
- Some are made from compostable materials, rather than plastic.
How Long Do Winter Sowing Containers Last?
Some types of winter sowing containers will hold up to the elements better than others. I’ve had some start to disintegrate after only a few months of being outside. I’ve had others that hold up very well, and last for multiple years.
I especially like ones that can withstand the heat of the dishwasher without melting. This makes the task of cleaning my winter sowing containers much easier.
I’ve noticed that if they can survive in the dishwasher, they usually last much longer, so I can use them again for several years.
You can use just about any type of plastic container for winter sowing, as long as you follow the rules above. If you’re just starting out, experiment with several different ones to find your favorites. Over time, you’ll build up a good stash that you can reuse year after year.
Want to learn more about winter sowing seeds? Then my Winter Sowing eBook is just what you need. It’s an in-depth step-by-step guide that will show you how to winter sow your seeds. Download your copy today!
If you want to learn to start all of the seeds for your garden, and how to mix the different planting methods to make it super easy, then my Online Seed Starting Course is just what you need. This fun online course is designed to help you learn how to start any type of plants you want from seed. Enroll in the course, and get started today!
More Posts About Winter Sowing
- How To Choose The Best Seeds For Winter Sowing
- When To Start Winter Sowing Your Seeds
- Tips For Winter Sowing During A Mild Winter
- Choosing The Best Soil For Winter Sowing
Share your favorite types of winter sowing containers in the comments section below.
Tanya says
Amy, I’m ignorant to winter sowing, but I’m reading and watching videos and plan to do it this year for the first time! My question is this: can you winter sow directly into containers (outdoor pots) by putting transparent plastic over time top, with a few holes punched in? I’m zone 6 and in an apartment—I have to use containers. I did a cottage garden this summer, and I want to grow lots of zinnias next year. So can I just wait till after winter solstice, plant seeds in moistened pot soil, cover with clear, taped plastic with a few water holes, and let them germinate in the same pot they’ll eventually grow in? Thanks in advance for your expertise on this!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, that will work for winter sowing, as long as the plastic you use to cover the containers is rigid enough to withstand being covered by snow. However, zinnia seeds aren’t a good choice for this method because they are not cold hardy. Here’s a list of seed for winter sowing to help you be more successful. 🙂
Gretchen Hawley says
I’m in zone 7. This is my second year winter sowing. I didn’t think to use my dishwasher to clean my containers! This will be such a time saver this winter. Thank you for the heads up. Also, I am going to use my kitty litter containers (I have one elderly adopted cat plus 2 one year old kittens) experimenting with just a few.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome, glad I could help save you some time. 🙂 Have fun experimenting with different winter sowing containers.
Mary says
We don’t drink milk so no jugs in my house to reuse. Could I use an aluminum food tray with a clear plastic lid for winter sowing? The kind you can buy at the dollar tree store and make lasagna in.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, as long as the bottom of the container you want to use for winter sowing is deep enough to hold a few inches of soil, and the top is clear and tall enough to allow for 3-4″ of seedling growth, then it will work.
Joyce says
Is it possible to use a clear, shallow tote?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes. Any clear container with a tight fitting lid should work great for winter sowing. Just make sure you poke holes in the bottom and top though.
GaGirl says
I am in Zone 7, if that makes a difference. Would planting my seeds in the ground and covering with a plastic dome (such as a cloche or one of the seed starting domes) give the same results as winter sowing in a container?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never tried doing that myself, but you could certainly experiment with it. As long as you can somehow secure the plastic dome so it doesn’t shift under the snow, or get blown or washed away, then I would think that your results would be similar to winter sowing in containers.
Brooke says
I know this may be an old thread but I’m curious…
What about a seed starting tray/kit. It has a clear lid, soil, and will be easy to transplant the little pods. Thoughts? Anyone try it?
Amy Andrychowicz says
No worries, my content never expires. 🙂
No, a regular seed starting tray won’t work well as a winter sowing container because those little cells don’t hold enough soil, and they dry out too quickly. It’s best to use a deep container that holds a lot more soil.