Seed Filing System?

So I thought we could share our filing systems I did have all mine in a box but I found it was rather bewildering to remember what I had to sow and when so I have just wisely invested in one of these 12 pocket hangers for a few pounds


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171303198371

and then I printed off some labels with the months on and stuck them in order to the pockets it works a treat although I didn't anticipate how many seeds needed to fit into March

 

I'm going to have to get organised. You're putting me to shame! I tend to leave all my seeds in the same tin but write down in a gardening diary what I'm sowing/doing and when. Through the year I make notes in it on what worked and what didn't and any tips I've picked up that I might want to try next time round.

I know some folks like to keep notes on their pc but I like to write stuff down.

 

I have 3 'stack and stores' full of seed packets in large envelopes, margarine/biscuit tubs & carrier bags. Stuff like Runner Beans, Peas, Squashes and Tomatoes have their own bag/container, but others are classified simply as roots, leaves, herbs, flowers, etc.

I always try a keep a detailed spreadsheet up to date with every seed packet listed and columns for planting times (adjusted in light of experience), whether for sowing in open ground, greenhouse, polytunnel, etc., number of packets, expiry date.

With that information I can sort and filter the spreadsheet data and check what is about to need sowing, if I need to buy anything, whether there's old seeds requiring viability testing, and save screenshots to my phone.

I then extract the seeds for the forthcoming weeks from the stack and stores and put them in separate plastic tubs labelled open ground, greenhouse, polytunnel, etc., complete with a hand written list, ready marked/spare labels and a marker pen.

P.S. If you want to be really clever, the sowing times in the spreadsheet can be used to create a fancy Gantt chart for a visual representation that automatically adjusts as you change sowing dates.

 

Here's my filing system;


The ice cream tub is full of what I have yet to sow, the blue tub is my self collected seed, a separate container for the Salvia seed and the kilner type jar is for what I have sown.
On the table are the seeds that I need to sow sooner rather than later..............


It works for me

 

I started a spreadsheet once. Did not last long. !!

 

I keep an Excel spreadsheet . It shows when I need to sow , sowing instructions ,quantity , cost , germination rate , pricking out date etc. I would be absolutely lost without it .
Come to think of it I think most off my life is run by Excel spreadsheets ! I have an excel sheet telling when to update my excel sheets

 

A few advantages of a spreadsheet, the ability to:

1) Re-sort alphabetically/'type'/both.
2) Search for varieties
3) Search for short dated/expired seeds, or those with zero or small quantities left
4) Sort into date order of sowing, and flag up seeds urgently requiring sowing
5) Sort by location, open ground, greenhouse, etc.
6) Use snipping tool to produce sowing/shopping/wants lists
7) Easily amended to add/delete varieties/dates, add comments, etc.
8) Produce Gantt Charts for quick visual checks of what & when stuff needs sowing and linking to time until cropping and cropping period
9) Insert hyperlinks to suppliers websites, cultivation instructions, etc.

 

Got an old, metal, foldy-out toolbox for flower seeds. Divided into annuals, perennials, shrubs/trees and climbers. Then there's a 50 litre plastic lidded box for veggie seeds, organised alphabetically if a bit erratically because English and French are mixedWould you put gherkins under 'g' or 'c' for cornichon? It's the beans and peas that take the space.
Sowing is dictated by weather and soil condition rather than date so gave up on charts etc a long time ago

 

Sounds very much like my 'system' longk! Although I don't have the separate box for salvias

 

I keep mine in a plastic food box along with dibbers, pencil and plastic labels. The seeds for this season are in sowing order with an elastic band to keep them together, packets for those already sown are separate. I like to hang onto the empty packets for reference, or if the seeds fail to make a claim.

@longk.......MCN, a biking man, I can't remember?

 

Good advice, and watch out for those suppliers (T&M) who print the batch number/use by date/price on the top tab of the packet (that you tear off to open it) then ask you for that info when you complain.

For example (don't worry, I haven't gone daft and started paying £2.99 for 10 Sunflower seeds, that packet was 50p from the Wyevale sale and I bought my reduced seeds in two 10/£5 lots to get us both free hot drinks in their restuarant):

 

Very much an ex - too many prats in cars for it to be a pleasure or good for your health nowadays

 

I'm very careful when I open the packets Scrungee, I've already learnt my lesson on that one. As for T&M......not a chance of me buying anything from them!

 

Wise man! But obviously here on the island we are geared to bikers and they have more respect from car drivers. I heard a couple of days ago Guy Martin is probably going to retire from the TT after this year.