Re: How do you keep track of your plants?
I have enjoyed this recent discussion and thought my methods might be of
interest. Although my main interest is alpines, I do grow a lot of "regular
old" perennials.
When I get a new plant or seed lot a make out a 5" X 7" index card for it
. On the front of the card I write the date, origin, location, transplant
history, condition, general on-going notes etc. On the back I write info
gleaned from other sources....size, zone, cultural proclivites, propagation
methods, etc.
The cards go in separate file boxes, Perennials, Trees and Shrubs,
Alpines, Seeds and others. When something bites the dust it goes in the
History box. If I get it again I read about my past failure(s) and
opptimisticly make a new entery.
I keep several mid-sized, plastic covered loose-leaf note books with
maps. On the left side are plant names and dates listed A,B,C,D, etc. One
the right are unlined pages with sketches of the various beds. Plant
locations are indicated A,B,C's etc. I pay special attention to more
perminant features, trees, rocks, walkways. When a plant dies or is moved
I simply erase it and try to remember to make the corresponding changes to
the cards. Sometimes I take the appropriate card(s) out with me in the
notebook when I plant or transplant and I can refer to it quickly. Cards and
maps get muddy and wrinkled but no matter the vinyl covering keeps it intact
for a few years any way. Every few years I make some photocopies of the maps
for insurance against loss.
I have found this evolved method has worked very well for me. Flexible
enough and amazingly not too time consuming. I grow 1000's of plants and I
find the time spent writing only helps me to remember names and locations.
And at the risk of making this posting too long I might add that I do a
lot of my gardening as a profession working at our local hospital. I get a
lot of questions from the general public and do not like it when I can't
come up with a plant name. I also insert the plastic plant tag slightly
buried behind each plant for back up...... works ok for the smaller plants.
Now I wish I could figure out how to build a proper computer database to
assist my old-fashioned card method. Sometimes I have trouble with
cross-referencing things. I know this machine can do this for me. Should I
buy a special software program?
Douglas Mongerson
Salmon Arm, B.C. Canada Zone 5 or 6
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