seed organisers

[lez]

Hi all, I am contemplating buying a seed organiser from wiggly wigglers (£20) to help me keep track of sowing dates. I like the idea of the monthly slots of what to sow and when. I was then thinking how does everyone else manage. I miss things and forget as all my seeds are in an old biscuit tin and I have to rummage though it every now and then to sort out. how much easier it would be to have a box/tin properly organised. how does everyone organise thier seeds? has anyone got or tried the seed organiser from WW? I would be interested to know. good luck in the garden to all.

[phil the shed]

whatever you buy it wont be big enough in March/ April /May slots.....
buy more biscuits in tins and put a sticky with the month on.....not as nice granted but think of the lovely Tea to go with the biscuits............

[Hazel at the Hill]

And think how many seeds you could buy with £20!

For a cheaper seed organiser, get hold of a 12 compartment concertina file and put seed packets in by first sowing month.

[Alison]

Ouch, £20! Mine are in a series of biscuit tins, one for direct sow at the lottie, one for general sowing at home and one for things which need to be sown NOW. Every couple of weeks I move seeds from the general one to the now one and it seems to work well for me.

[quark1]

I use a large plastic box which came with a computer bundle of nicknacks!

Does 2 rows of seeds nicely - and I still have an overflow box - such is my addiction!

I simply sort the seeds alpahbetically and have a printed list of the contents of each box.

If you placed the details of your seeds onto a spreadsheet you could print off also by sowing times by sorting on this column instead. I'm sure you could arrange for the program to thrown a page for each new month. A sort of seed calendar personal to your own needs. You could also add things you'd like to get during the year and add these to the list with a 'wanted' sign which would appear in the months of sowing! Of course if you're really clever - you could even add a commentary for each seed you try - that way you can keep good track of what works in your garden/allotment and which is more bother than its worth.

As you buy/replace/exhaust varieties you can add details to the programme. Hand post for few alterations and only print off for new year or when large changes occur. Shred the used pages and add to compost!

For unopened packets I would have thought a ringbinder and a few of those clear sleeves would be a very cheap alternative.

[Matt.]

Wow IMO thats quite an investment and as others have said that money buys a lot of seeds! Why not just use an old cardboard box and go through your seeds in the off season. Write up a quick list and either put it into your calendar or just remember to keep checking the list.

On the other hand if having a posh seed box makes you feel good go for it - sometimes its the little things and after all you only live once!

[dogsbody]

3 shoe boxes, 2 for veg 1 for those fancy coloured thingies, bits of card with the month written on and still manage to get it wrong!!

Been looking at the 4 veg plots today - all full and greenhouses full of seedlings.............

Did read somewhere someone used one of those shoe tidies hung up on a door?

[Hilary B]

How about a shoebox, and divider cards? If you are going to need several boxes (and I suspect you will), sort by seed category (greenhouse, indoors, direct, heated propogator/ flowers, veg...) into different boxes, and have 12 divider cards in each box, for the 12 months. That way if you have loads for one month, and only 1 packet in another, you will always have the right amount of space for each month.

[Hilary B]

3 shoe boxes, 2 for veg 1 for those fancy coloured thingies, bits of card with the month written on and still manage to get it wrong!!

Been looking at the 4 veg plots today - all full and greenhouses full of seedlings.............

Did read somewhere someone used one of those shoe tidies hung up on a door?

See that's what I had in mind (and it appeared while I was typing!

[NOG]

I got a black pen, a box and a spreadsheet.

I put a big number on the seed packet and that is the number on the Spread sheet.

I have copies of planners that other Vines have given to me.

[Two_Sheds]

For a cheaper seed organiser, get hold of a 12 compartment concertina file and put seed packets in by first sowing month.

That's what I do, it works brilliantly.
For succession sowing, reseal the pack and move it forward a month.
Cost? about £4

[janeyo]

If you really want to buy one, put it on your b-day list! My family like to buy me gardening things that I can't justify myself and I get more pleasure from them than new pants and socks (no comments please lol)

[janeyo]

I've just looked at the 'WW' ones and there is no way my seeds would fit in there!

[lez]

thanks for the replies I will give them some thought and have a try. £20 is not a great amount these days comparatively speaking but some of the ideas I have gleened here has made me think some more. I reckon I could make one for very little outlay like you have all done. thanks and good luck

[NOG]

Another convert...good.

£20 for a seed organiser....I have paid less for cars.