Record Keeping...

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for the space tip Diane. I'll have another go.

[Peter Maguire]

That's a fascinating programme - and a sign that someone really ought to get out more 

However, I've downloaded it to try it out, I'm afraid I can't resist stuff like this 

[Ezeiza]

I use Excel spreadsheet and it works very well, despite its many detractors. It has many possibilities like cell COLOR, bold or italics, etc. It can become a very dynamic database. And millions of people have windows in their computers, making the exchange of data easy.

[BryanEmery]

I don't keep germination records, if there are seedlings in the pot then they have germinated... Sow sowing records I put the info on the label. A good size commercial label (I can't tell you how much I hate cut up blinds etc.) will hold sp name collection number/collector or source, region number of seeds if known, and date. What more do you need?

B

[Natalia]

  I use Exel and  usual working log for entries in the garden - the reason - the sand and soil ...
Table Exel allows me to sort records for example " sprouted - not sprouted", and to other parametres. This suffices me.

[Lesley Cox]

I don't keep germination records, if there are seedlings in the pot then they have germinated... Sow sowing records I put the info on the label. A good size commercial label (I can't tell you how much I hate cut up blinds etc.) will hold sp name collection number/collector or source, region number of seeds if known, and date. What more do you need?

B

Until the writing fades away or one's child brings in a handful saying "Look what I've got Mummy."

[Brian Ellis]

I use Excel spreadsheet and it works very well, despite its many detractors. It has many possibilities like cell COLOR, bold or italics, etc. It can become a very dynamic database. And millions of people have windows in their computers, making the exchange of data easy.

The exchange of data is also easy using an Apple program as it can be exported in Excel and many other formats.  By the way, I looked for Sue, there are 18 ways of expressing the date in Numbers on the laptop.

[Maggi Young]

Just remember to read the manual!

 Ah, Neil, what wonderful advice. If only folks would .....readthe manual.... the  instructions, the notes, the advice ...... how simple our lives would become.
I'm saying this with a BIG SIGH!!

[Maggi Young]

I don't keep germination records, if there are seedlings in the pot then they have germinated... Sow sowing records I put the info on the label. A good size commercial label (I can't tell you how much I hate cut up blinds etc.) will hold sp name collection number/collector or source, region number of seeds if known, and date. What more do you need?

B

 We're not hot on record keeping 
However, we do use cut up  aluminium blinds ( sorry Bryan!) which we can engrave with whatever info we do want to keep... source, number of bulbs etc.....we find these are the only labels that will last indefintiely and also be legible long-term.

[Darren]

I don't keep germination records, if there are seedlings in the pot then they have germinated... Sow sowing records I put the info on the label. A good size commercial label (I can't tell you how much I hate cut up blinds etc.) will hold sp name collection number/collector or source, region number of seeds if known, and date. What more do you need?

B

 We're not hot on record keeping 
However, we do use cut up  aluminium blinds ( sorry Bryan!) which we can engrave with whatever info we do want to keep... source, number of bulbs etc.....we find these are the only labels that will last indefintiely and also be legible long-term.

Me neither, but I do have a good memory, and any critical data I record on the label.

I've tried starting a log book a few times but, as with diaries, my good intentions last about two weeks!

The labels the SRGC sell are actually very good for writing on with pencil and usually last a long time - and the pencil stays legible, which it doesn't on shiny plastic labels, even assuming the pencil will write on them.. If I want to use normal shiny plastic labels for long-term work I stick a 'Brother' label on them. I've only tried this under glass and those labels are still perfectly OK after 7 years. If the plastic label itself gets brittle and snaps then the brother tape holds it together until a replacement can be sorted out. I've not tried this outdoors but someone told me they use it for labelling pipes on oil rigs so if it will stand that then our garden should be a doddle.

[BryanEmery]

I use vinyl labels from a company in the USA. If written on in pencil (not pen!!) they last a long time, we have some in the orchid collection that are 15+ years old. As for children handing you a big pile of labels, that it why I don't have kids! Also if labels were removed from a bunch of pots, I still might not know hat was what if I had a book...

B

[Ezeiza]

Lesley as always adds the spicy line. Dear Lesley, no kids here but the thrushes had been terribly vicious on labels. Now we use two labels per pot but even that could not replace records. Admitedly keeping them up to date involves time but with many plants the problem of a name lost can be serious.

Brian, I have been using US vynyl labels for many years and hundreds bought in 1990 are still in perfect conditions. They were from a Texas company and they were the best in the world (sorry I did not know SRGC had labels for sale) enduring our tremendous summer heat. As with many US product the quality was fantastic. A couple of years ago I ordered a few thousands and guess what? They are no longer manufactured in the US but in.........................................China!!! They seem to be vynyl anyway but they are paper thin and the color fades as if dissolved. What a pity to see even another excellent product replaced by a lousy imitation. Mark McDonough used them in his huge collection of bulbs and you can see what they look like in photos of his garden.

[David Nicholson]

I use vinyl labels from a company in the USA. If written on in pencil (not pen!!) they last a long time, we have some in the orchid collection that are 15+ years old. As for children handing you a big pile of labels, that it why I don't have kids! Also if labels were removed from a bunch of pots, I still might not know hat was what if I had a book...

B

Plant labels. Hadn't previously regarded them as a birth control method before. Not that the subject bothers me much these days

[maggiepie]

The labels the SRGC sell are actually very good for writing on with pencil and usually last a long time - and the pencil stays legible, which it doesn't on shiny plastic labels, even assuming the pencil will write on them..

SRGC sells labels?

[Maggi Young]

The labels the SRGC sell are actually very good for writing on with pencil and usually last a long time - and the pencil stays legible, which it doesn't on shiny plastic labels, even assuming the pencil will write on them..

SRGC sells labels?

Only at shows, Helen. Glassford keeps a stock of them but it isn't really cost effective to post them.
They are not big labels, they are 10cm to a point, and 1.5cm wide