Planting tiny seedlings under plastic bottles

[ScottinAtlanta]

Folks, I am trying something new this year - planting seedlings for kale, lettuce, beets, etc directly from the germination tray into the garden beds.


Normally, these very tiny plants would freeze or be eaten, but I am placing a plastic soda bottle (top cut off) or glass jar over each one to act as a little greenhouse, protecting them until they are established (see picture). It seems to be working well. It saves me a lot of time since I skip the potting up stage.

Are others doing this? Any recommendations on how to improve results?

So far, the plants inside the bottles seem to be doing great. 50 and sunny in day, 32-35 at night.