Pod #7 – Record Keeping
- Nursery tags – These are small plastic labels that are used to identify the plants that are propagated.
- Permanent pen – A Garden Marker is used to write on the plant labels.
Record Keeping – The Process
Maintaining accurate records of the seed and plant species being propagated is an important (crucial) element of Nursery activity.
As you can see in the image above, the days tasks are listed on the whiteboard. This list is prepared earlier by Team Leaders and sometimes names are allocated (usually as these people have some expertise for a particular task or perhaps the task is a carry-over from a week before) prior to morning tea and other times people are asked to indicate what task they would like a turn at. If you have an interest in a certain area please let us know.
Workbook
An important step in the process is to ensure that you record your propagating activity in the Work book. The book usually sits on a small table in the middle of the shed. Try to complete this record as you complete the task from the whiteboard Work List. This helps us to keep a track of the work tasks and propagation numbers that are recorded after the session electronically. Typically a tube stock tray/rack holds 50 plant tubes, which is helpful to know when you need to count quantities!
Record Keeping – Tips for getting it right
- Check the plant seed-raising tray label details match the details recorded on the whiteboard before recording.
- Prepare two labels per tray – this is helpful as sometimes labels deteriorate or are knocked out from a tray
- The labels should be placed using this protocol: Place one tag in back right hand corner facing into the rack (allows the tag writing to be seen) and the second tag place in the front left hand corner with the writing facing in to the rack. This allows at least one tag to have its species label able to be read regardless of which way around the rack is positioned. Refer to the example shown below.
- Ensure that the plant Genus and Species names are recorded in the daily Work Book .
Record Keeping – What can go wrong
- The wrong batch number is recorded for the species
- Forgetting to record the propagated species and the final number of plants in the Work Book
- Incomplete recording of the plant species that has been propagated. E.g. No Species name. You need to write down the two parts of the plants name – the genus name and the species name. For example Acacia dealbata. Acacia (is the genus name) and dealbata (is the species name).
Species tags
This bit is really important. The following snippets identify some actions that make life just that little bit easier as well as being VERY IMPORTANT to ensure we do not inadvertently supply an incorrect species…that would be just so embarrassing!
Tag rules…or if you prefer, procedures or perhaps protocols to keep everyone happy – a little revision:
Tag preparation:
Thanks for taking the time to read this information. Now you understand why we need the species tags and how they are positioned in the trays. The next step is to write the required information on the tag. You know why….
What do you use to write on the tag labels?
Use the Artline Garden marker please for your plant tags.
The Markers ‘lifespan’ is extended if we keep the tips clean and their ‘hats’ put back on immediately after use.
Sometimes we have a Chinagraph pencil that is made of hardened wax and is useful for marking on hard, glossy non-porous surface (e.g. plant tags).
Remember you will need two species tags for each tray with the following information:
- The botanical species name as per the example above ‘Rhagodia candolleana‘
- The batch number. The batch number can be found on the label in the seed tray and sometimes on the whiteboard Work List. Write this number across the top of the label as per the example above that shows the Batch number – 602
- The propagation method; Seed (S), Pricked Out (Po),Tubing up (Tu), Cutting (C) or Divided (D). Write this letter(s) on the label in front of the date as per the example above that shows ‘S‘
- The date you are doing this propagation as per the example above 16-10-19
Record the following details in the Work Book:
- The date that you are doing the Work List task
- The batch number if there is one in the appropriate column
- The propagation method; tu, po, c or d (as above)
- The botanical name for the plant species (check the spelling by referencing the whiteboard, seed tray labels or use the reference books in the library or ask a guru!)
- The number of tubes planted up or trays of cuttings
- If the seed tray is finished ie is being thrown out, write this in the workbook with the batch number – please check with a Team Leader before a seed tray is disposed of as some seedlings germinate well after others and may still be ‘hiding’ for propagation in the next week or two
