Hi,
Several hybidizer's out west use plastic tags which can be purchased at
most nursery supply businesses. Waterproof markers, we prefer the
marking pens from A.M. Leonard, Inc.,which we have obtained through
Horticulture Supplies in Piqua, Ohio. These markers last for quite a
while and once used to ID pod and pollen parents, last a full year
plus. When we plant the seed, we insert the ID tags in the soil and
they are visible 2-3 years later. All plump seeds are counted prior to
planting. All crosses with viable seed are noted in our cross book. (
We stopped noting the attempted crosses which never took years ago.)
Although we usually review the cross tags that failed to set seed prior
to throwing them out, we lost many an attempted cross this season due
to the cool, wet weather. We know several of these crosses would have
set under better conditions.
We have a complete record of every successful cross we have made (seed
actually germinated) since 1963. We also chart the garden location of
all our iris.
Years ago we used paper tags. We soon learned that slugs can destroy
them.
So far, the plastic tags are fully reliable.
I hope this info will be helpful to some of you.
Vicki
