Seed Lists / Spreadsheets

Now I'm the first to confess that I am not a lists person. My wife loves lists and is the self proclaimed post-it queen.

She nagged, sorry, persuaded me to create a spreadsheet for the seeds that I sow. I now have to begrudgingly admit that it was a good idea and is really useful (that really hurts !)

I log when I buy, the supplier, planned sow date, actual sow date, germination date (or failed germination) and any notes, including discount codes for further orders.

This gives me a good idea of who provides viable seeds and where to buy from the following season. It also tells me where I bought poor seed from (assuming it wasn't an issue with my propagating).

I started this last year and have continued with a new sheet this year. Its also allowed me to track my plants and allocate a unique reference to each batch for the few plant passports that I will create.

Does anyone else operate a similar system ? Any suggestions as to how to enhance the spreadsheet ? Sample below :

 

Maybe add something about how much seed a supplier provides? For example, I find Franchi seeds have VERY generous packets, whereas Lidl have few in the packet (but cheap). In other words, some sort of value rating to help you for next year.
I have to admit that I am not as organised. I think because I used to have to be very systematic and organised for work - so I didn't want to make my hobby feel like work!

 

I do have a list with sowing dates but not suppliers it saves me loads of time , I tend to remember who sold me duff seeds. I check through them during the winter months for if I've ran out of seeds and throw poor germination packets.

 

@CarolineL value is a good idea. I found rareplants.eu state 50 aeonium seeds but they send hundreds . Others send the exact number, even with really small seeds.

I was looking at some unusual cycas seed but at £12 a seed I'm going to pass

 

I previously used spreadsheets extensively for seed stock recording and produced monthly sowing lists using 'data sort' enabling me to extract all the seed packets from my vast stock of bargains that needed sowing during a month (and put them in a plastic biscuit tub with a sticky label on).

1st and last sowing dates are useful, also whether in open ground (OG), greenhouse (GH), polytunnel (PT), and heated propagator (HP) are also useful..

 

Hi @andrews - ouch £12 a seed! I once bought a big bag of cycad or macrozamia seed relatively cheap from a seed bank in Australia (now gone). Despite lots of seeds, I got very few germination. So I'd be very wary at that price!

 

They do sell one variety already germinated. £17 a seed