I collect seeds when I find interesting plants in the reproductive stage where seeds can be gathered. Usually I am pretty good at remembering what I collected (and why), but recently I stumped myself. I had gathered some seeds and put them in a bag, and at some point (months later, I’m sure) mislabeled them “Mexican Paradise Plant”. After the seeds began to grow, there was no doubt in my mind that the seedlings were something completely different. Obviously my organizational skills had failed.
Kev and I spent hours trying to figure out what this odd five-leafed plant was, and through much searching (both online and in Kev’s plant books), we finally realized that at some point I had collected a mess of Alamo Vine seeds. I don’t remember doing it, but the result is that we now have 30+ sproutlets in our greenhouse that need to be planted.
I mentioned this to Rodney St. John, one of our readers who happens to be a Turfgrass Extension Specialist at the Olathe Horticulture Research & Extension Center in Kansas. He told me that I might be interested in a product that had shown up in his inbox, the Master Gardners Seed Binder Kit.
I took a look, and I think he’s right.
This complete kit includes everything you will need to organize and store seeds for your garden. The convenient binder format makes it easy to view and transport your seeds and information.
• 2″ capacity binder (11″ x 8.5″ sheet size). The binder includes full-color insert of a flower or pepper garden on the front cover and a zone map on the back. The binder has a clear pocket on the inside front cover for loose papers and a sheet lifter in front to prevent pages from curling around the ring mechanism.
• 12 clear pages that each can hold up to 4 standard seed envelopes. Maximum capacity for each of the two compartments is 7.5″ x 5.25″. The clear pages allow you to view both sides of your seed envelopes. They have a press-down seal edge to help store the envelopes securely.
• 10 envelopes you can use to organize loose seeds you acquire or give to others. The kraft envelopes are 3″ x 4.5″.
• 20 plastic plant label/stakes – you can use these to identify the seeds you plant. Each is 6″ x 5/8″and made of white plastic.
• Fine point permanent marker, to mark the label/stakes you use in your garden.
• Poly pocket folder for articles, pamphlets and notes is 3-hole punched to fit on the binder rings.
• Tablet is 3-hole punched so you can put your pages of notes in the binder.
I’m no “master gardner” by any stretch of the imagination, but if I had an organized system like this in place, I would have never ended up with a greenhouse shelf full of mystery plants.
You can get one for $29.99 from ATC Binder’s eBay page, or you can buy them in lots of 10 or more for $27.95 each.
If — like me — you are a seed-gatherer without a good system for keeping your seeds labeled and stored, then you might want to look at getting once of these binders, too. =)
Master Gardners Seed Binder Kit (<– click here if you need 10 or less)