Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: nilly71 on February 02, 2009, 14:18:21
-
As i'm getting quite a few seeds now i thought i would make a list of the groups in alphabetical order i.e all types of beans under B.
I used excel and it's much quicker when someone askes for a seed swap or wanted.
I have bought an a5 diary and plan to start writing in when seeds are due to be sown, as i'm new to all this i didn't want to wait until it was too late and find out i should of sown some seeds a couple of months before :-[
How do you organise/plan your seeds?
Neil
-
yes this is how i organise my sowing times as well but will take a ticket out of your book and list my varieties according to type and alphabetically and tape it into my seed box covers then I'll know what i have at a glance without having to go through the packets which are in the box alphabetically separated by dividers eg. a - d, e - h, etc. but the other box which have things like toms, beans, squashes, etc anything where i have many varieties of something have their own system of dividers, IE all the beans together, etc...
-
Hi nilly
My seeds are stacked in a small filing cabinet, in alphabetical order (B = beans + varieties, beetroot + varieties).
I then put them in the same order in an Excell file.
Then I made 12 columns, one for every month, and marked the action for every month per variety (s = sow, p = plant, h = harvest) as some varieties are earlier than others. I used colors to indicate whether they need sowing "under glass" or outdoors.
To be able to plan even better I also made a column with the number of days between sowing and germination, and one with the number of days from planting to harvest.
And then I made a column in which I can put all other remarks: the need for staking, taste, yield etc.
In this setup I only need to click on the column for that specific month to see what seeds can be sown.
Very easy. And very confronting as Excell will tell you exactly how many varieties you've got! :D
-
We're pretty organised, we've kept an allotment diary (A5 99p from Viking) since the beginning. We write in that when we sow, plant or first harvest anything. Useful as there are three of us.
Seeds I keep in a large box, the packets are kept together in categories (tomatoes, peppers, salad stuff, brassicas etc).
I also keep an excel spreadsheet with all the seeds listed alphabetically in categories.
Organised - oh yes ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
-
Interesting. Most people seem to be storing them alphabetically.
I put them into bundles by month and for indoor or outdoor sowing. I wrap a couple of elastic bands around each bundle with a slip of paper with the month name and either 'indoor' or 'outdoor'. Beginning of each month I just pull out the 2 bundles for that month and outdoor bundle goes to the allotment, indoor bundle stays at home.
-
So how do you all sort them for continues sowing i.e carrots
Neil
-
I'm pretty hopeless.I always have good intentions... last year I made a spreadsheet but never really used it.I do have a diary where I write down all the gardening jobs I've done,so I rifle back through last year's to see when I sowed things etc,but the seeds are all in a couple of tins,some held together with elastic bands (the seed packets,not the tins- I'm not that bad yet!) ::)
-
This is how I keep a check on things;
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Seed%20sowing/Seed%20Sowing.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Seed%20sowing/Seed%20Sowing.htm)
Follow the links!
-
I have two boxes with dividers, one for successional seeds, one for sow once. Every now and then I try to sort the contents into approximately when they should be sown.
I have a word file for each crop group - not tidy enough to work on just a paper diary, so I print off, and make notes as things go along. Then copy the illegible scrawl (where possible) back onto the computer when it gets too dificult to make out what was happening.
I tend to be fairly good at noting when seeds are sown, and when the first few of the year germinate. Very rarely remember to record when they are ready to harvest, or that they didn't make it :-[ Haven't entirely got the hang of remembering to sow later batches of successional seeds yet, either. Maybe this will be the year we get more than one batch of peas or lettuce
Sally
-
Yes, it's my OCD tendency... in boxes by month of first sowing. Veg, alphabetically then Flowers alphabetically. Successional sowings are returned to the next month after use... :-X
-
i too have my seeds in a box with monthly dividers. i then subdivide into weeks. i just pop the seeds in the relevent section. if they are for succesional sowing like carrots and lettuce i just move the packet on two or three weeks when i return it to the box. it should work but i usually get ina pickle with successional sowing somewhere along the way. :D
-
So how do you all sort them for continues sowing i.e carrots
Neil
Neil
Do you use an online or electronic diary? I use MS Outlook, you can set yourself reminders in the calendar (or obviously in a paper version if you prefer ;D ). That's what I've done - we'll see if it actually works tho!
-
Oh my goodness organising your seeds WOW! that is brilliant. i normally buy them leave them in my van forget i bought them and buy them again, I also seemed to put all over the house so my wife can find them.
-
Yes, it's my OCD tendency... in boxes by month of first sowing. Veg, alphabetically then Flowers alphabetically. Successional sowings are returned to the next month after use... :-X
Dare I say now I understand your username? ;)
-
Mine aren't organised at all, they're just shoved randomly into a stack of sweet tins.
-
Successional sowings are returned to the next month after use... :-X
Alphabetically, of course ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
;D Thanks Caroline... next time you come to an open day (plant sale) I'll remember that!! ;)
Naturally Asbean.. 8)
-
I do a bit of a combination of things by the looks of it......
I have a small metal four drawer filing cabinet that I keep all my seeds in listed alphabetically by type...Aubergines, Beans broad, beans climbing etc.
I then go through all the packets in January and decide what varieties of each type I'm going to grow that year, and make up a printed list based on my own template I save each year. This gives me about a six page list by type and variety, which I use to review how they do at the end of the season. I use last years list to help me decide what to grow and what not to grow this year.
Having decided what varieties I'm going for, I then put them in a small cheapo expanding file in month by month order of sowing. I have my own week by week calender list that I made up to remind me which week to sow what. I use previous years lists to help me work out my ideal time to plant, from that I have learned not to sow onions and tomatoes too early, and sweetcorn I now sow in May....that's what works for me! ;D Also sad innit!
-
;D Thanks Caroline... next time you come to an open day (plant sale) I'll remember that!! ;)
I'm only jealous! ;D
Maybe you could sell seed organising boxes at the open day!
-
They were cheap boxes from IKEA... (don't use a credit card you'll double the price) ;D
-
Mine aren't organised at all, they're just shoved randomly into a stack of sweet tins.
Mine too,
They come in and out in and out. :)
Like to keep looking at them :)
-
Successional sowings are returned to the next month after use... :-X
Alphabetically, of course ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
well of course, they came out alphabetically so whats the problem?
lbb
you know i dont see any other way this would work.
-
Yes i have two empty tins, quality streets and roses. If what i'm looking for is not in one it must be in the other. Thats as organised as i get.
-
Mine are in a big biscuit tin! organised by month - which reminds me I had better get it out and go through it, I have made a list for my new seed orders but I had better look at what is really still there. On Sunday I put on my old gardening jacket and found a packet each of beetroot and radish seeds!! ::)
I bought my potting mix too, which probably makes my hubby nervous - he will again envisage the tiny plants that invade the house for two months every spring!!!
That's partly why I have the blog though, I can search and see what I did at each time of the year then think, hmm was that a good idea or not. It's a bit more fun than the excel sheet!
-
I bought an expanding file thing for keeping the seed packets in - sections for the various beans, peas, roots, salads, brassicas etc but found that I was forgetting to sow some things. Tried organising by month but if you don't get round to sowing something that can be sown between March and June, in March - I also forgot to move the packet into the next month for sowing. Now, am organising a print out under each month, and using an elastic band to keep the seeds organised by month & whether they'll be sown at plot/home.
-
In sweet tins - one tin for beans and peas, one for tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, one for salad stuff etc. I do try to write down when and what I sow - very organised at the beginning of the season and then it just seems to trail off.........
-
Thanks everyone :)
I found this site that has downloadable calendars http://www.wincalendar.com/ (http://www.wincalendar.com/)
I might have a go at planning it out then printing it off for the allotment.
Neil
-
Hi Neil Had a quick look and it seems simple but thorough enough :) Let us know how you get on. As I use Outlook, I get reminders etc, but cos I add notes on what I do in terms of sowing, planting and hopefully harvesting :) at the end of the year (or whener!) I export the Outlook file into Excel and I can review what I've done, when, successes and failures etc.
Hope it helps the planning and hope you get to eat those carrots!
-
Wow, folders, filing cabinets, alphabetical order...I feel inadequate! I have a biscuit tin and a margerine tub and no particular system. Over time, things that are mainly green seem to have ended up in the margerine tub and other-coloured things in the tin. I am thinking of branching out and getting another tin for flower seeds.
I do have a list of what I've got in approximate planting order, and a diary. Last year i completely forgot to plant the chard and spinach, but that was before I got the diary ;)
-
Mine are all filed.....under S for seeds ;D ;D ;D
-
I have 2 boxes on for veg and one for flowers, i did try doing it a-z and i tried doing by planting season but what has worked for me is putting all my carrots together and all my onions etc and each of these are organised by planting season. When i move i need to re-package my seeds and i have found a unit in the back of the garage which used to be in the office in our last house which is now empty so i am going to make this my seed store in the future :)
-
keep mine in what month to sow so i dont forget anything ;D
-
I organise by month of sowing, each month I move onward, to the next month, any that I have not sown or that intend to sow more of. I reorganise them in winter.
-
same as amphibian me got them in month order
-
Totally disorganised. Am a complete noob, and have randomly bought things that look nice on the packet. Then find out that its better to buy a small plant rather than the seeds, and they arent going to get used. Or that I've bought two packets of something because I forgot what I bought the first time round..
-
I think we all do that Lewic... nearly bought some Okra in Wilko's today until OH said didn't you get some at Potato day... ::)
-
We drink a lot of leaf tea which comes in vacuum packed plastic packets.
I pack my seeds into them, in shoe boxes. One box for bean and peas, another for all the rest.
OK, various lettuces in one little packet, different spinaches in another, beetroots in another, etc etc. I like to think I can remember from week to week what needs sowing......... and then sowing again.
Not perfect, and this year it is really going to work at last.
Oh NO!!! Endless snow forecast!
My fall back plan is to bring my miniature greenhouse (£12 B&Q 2 years ago, plastic cover shredded in winter winds) indoors as a shelving unit in utility room, and put lots of boxes of seeds onto it until weather better.
Thank you for the advice here, for example:
http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/2007/08/keep-those-crops-coming.html
-
Mine aint organised at all !!
I will have to have a look to see what is there and then see what ones are out of date !! :o
-
Mine aint organised at all !!
I will have to have a look to see what is there and then see what ones are out of date !! :o
loads of mine are out of date.
-
and mine, but most still germinate if you start them on damp kitchen towel... :)