Working with specimen program

[ideasguy]

Session 2 has just been posted
http://www.garden-software.co.uk/vegetables/GetPlantInfo/getplantinfo.html

I hope all IG Pro users can find time to follow the sessions in this Project.
As you will see as the website develops, its a very essential section of the User Guide.
Also, I'm explaining features as I go along, as I'd like to make sure everyone knows what "all dem buttons" do

Session 2 deals with using the Google buttons to surf the net for info, and how to capture data efficiently, and where best to save it (as you know IG has loads of data fields).
You'll find lots of screenshots with help balloons, created using Snagit. Its a wonderful tool!

[diegartenfrau]

Hi George,

I just started inputting some of the names. At first I was a bit sad, because your instructions do not involve keeping the Genus names intact.
Remember I like to learn the botanical names I am just not up to snuff remembering most of them. 

But as I followed you instructions and the Name Carrot was in the Genus field, with automatically putting the cultivar still in the proper field, a light bulb went off.
One can add the genus in the same field then Carrot.

So instead writing Carrot I named it Carrot-Daucus and then put the var. sativus into the species field.

Now I have the vegetable sorted by the common name, but still get to see the Genus in the proper field anyway.
That will make things much easier, because now I don't have to retype so much, I just add the common name to all my vegetables I have in the program. And I still get to learn the family of plants/vegetables

I am probably not getting to far today. I still have a pounding head, thinking I might have the flu, even it is not as bad as yesterday but I know it will get worse as the day goes on.

But I like what you are doing here. These lessons are greatly appreciated.
And for that a big Thank You and Hug

till later
Isabell

[ideasguy]

Awwww shucks

Take it easy until you are feeling better Isabell. We had flu symptoms a week or so before Christmas. It was a good excuse for a sip of the Juice of the Barley. My dad, a strict teetotaler, bought a half bottle of the stuff when he felt a flu coming on. He "retired" to bed until next day - and back to work! It seems to work for me as well

RE:

So instead writing Carrot I named it Carrot-Daucus and then put the var. sativus into the species field.
Now I have the vegetable sorted by the common name, but still get to see the Genus in the proper field anyway.
That will make things much easier, because now I don't have to retype so much, I just add the common name to all my vegetables I have in the program. And I still get to learn the family of plants/vegetables

Unorthodox, but since we are bending the rules AND since you already have data in your database, then OK, but I'd recommend other members use the plant names above.
Personally, I'm quite happy with Carrot as the Genus, and if I wanted a reminder, I would put the Botanical name in one of the data fields.

A wee message to Toby (our expert and champion in the field of Plant Labels)
Ive added a very important section to the Vegetables Project User Guide 

[bossgard]

EDITED by George on 29th Jan

Begin Edit
When adding Cultivars in GA027, make sure you enclose the cultivar name like this:
'Cultivar name'
NOT like this
?Cultivar name?

Whats the difference?
The single quote to use before AND after the cultivar name text should be the character on the button on your keyboard which has the @ sign and the correct ' character.
If you DONT use the correct character, GA027 will NOT recognise it as a cultivar name

Ive corrected the items in the list down to the dashed line.

To see what I mean, click add a plant in GA027.
Use Copy (e.g. Ctrl-C) one of the items I havent edited and paste (Ctrl-V) into the Plant name field in GA100S40.
Look at the Botanical name translation on the right. It gets it wrong.

Now copy one of the items Ive edited and add to GA027.
Correct?
 
Below that dashed line needs to be edited and fixed by a dashing young volunteer
END Edit



VEGETABLE LIST:
   Bean Pole 'Garden Blue Lake Pole'
   Bean Pole 'Kentucky Wonder Pole'
   Beet 'Lutz Greenleaf'
   Broccoli 'Purple Sprouting'
   Broccoli 'Waltham 29'
   Brusselssprouts 'Long Island'
   Cabbage 'Danish Ballhead'
   Cabbage 'Jersey Wakefield'
   Cabbage 'Red Acre'
   Carrot 'Danvers Half Long'
   Carrot 'Imperator'
-----------------------------------------------------------
   Carrot ?Red Core Chantenay?
   Corn ?Bodacious?
   Corn ?Earlivee?
   Corn ?Early Sunglow?
   Corn ?Golden Jubilee?
   Cucumber ?Marketmore 76?
   Cucumber ?Muncher?
   Cucumber ?Smr 58?
   Eggplant ?Twilight Hybrid?
   Kale ?Russian Red?
   Kohlrabi ?Purple Vienna?
   Kohlrabi ?White Vienna?
   Lettuce ?Bon Vivant?
   Lettuce ?Buttercrunch (bibb)?
   Lettuce ?Gourmet Blend?
   Lettuce ?Red Romaine?
   Lettuce ?Red Sails?
   Onion ?Evergreen White Bunching?
   Onion ?Yellow Globe?
   Parsnip ?Andover?
   Pepper ?Calwonder 300?
   Pepper ?Sweet Banana?
   Radish ?French Breakfast?
   Radish ?Early Scarlet Globe?
   Salsify ?Mammoth Sandwich Island?
   Spinach ?Olympia Smith Lf Lng Std?
   Spinach ?Samish Savoy Hybrid?
   Spinach ?Semi-savoy Tyee
   Squash summer ?Table Queen, Bush Acorn?
   Squash winter ?Blue Hubbard?
   Squash zuchinni ?Black Beauty Bush?
   Squash zuchinni ?Jackpot Hybrid Bush?

VEGETABLE LIST (continued):   
   Swiss Chard ?Pac Choi/bok Choy Chinmustard?
   Swiss Chard ?Rainbow Blend?
   Swiss Chard ?Rhubarb?
   Tomato ?Gold Nugget?
   Tomato ?Legend?
   Tomato ?San Marzano, Roman Type?
   Tomato ?Siletz?
   Tomato ?Sweetie?
   Turnip/rutabaga ?American Purple Top?
   Turnip/rutabaga ?Purple Top White Globe?

ESTABLISHED PLANT LIST:
   Blackberry ?Evergreen?
   Blueberry ?Darrow?
   Blueberry ?Earliblue?
   Boysen Berry ?Unknow #1?
   Logan Berry ?Unknown #1?
   Raspberry ?Unknown #1?
   Strawberry `Rainier/tristar?

- Toby

[ideasguy]

That took a while to prepare!
Easier at this end to copy and paste!
Are you growing ALL those vegetables this year?

[bossgard]

George:

I hope to! They are 2010 seeds.
Plus some more!
Might as well, I have the seed.
Remember, I'm feeding friends of mine,
they get hungry, too!
If it's easier for you, cut the list down, just to a representation.

- Toby

[bossgard]

Regarding the discussion on Botanical names being universal in nature.

I think what you get in plant information depends on whom or where the source of information might be coming from, particularly in regard to seed packets. The seeds I use are from a local seed packaging source that has trial gardens in a city nearby. I purchase those seeds for that reason, that is, they will grow in my locality. Their distribution of the seed racks must be enormous, because they can be found everywhere from garden centers to drug stores to grocery stores.

The people that frequent those venues are from all walks of life, and probably ?don?t give a hoot? about botanical names, as long as it has a picture of a pea pod on the front of the pack, and the pack tells them how to grow the pea, it suits them just fine. It is also possible that they don?t speak or read English.

I would like to impress on those of you that would like to take Seed Growing one step further is to make sure that you retain the best seed catalogs you get in the mail that might have the information you want. They are excellent sources. I use a large A-Z reference book, along with seed company catalog(s) (2009 and 2010) from a company located in the state of Oregon (Isabell?s state), that supplies lots of plant information. Also, I use ChilternSeeds 2009 and 2010 catalogs and several more. .

Last night I was trying to find information regarding a flowering plant ?Purple Coneflower?. I could not find any mention of ?coneflower? in my reference book  I found what I was looking for from an alphabetical list in the catalog from Oregon.?Echinacea spp. With that lead I then found it both in Chiltern Seeds and my reference book.

- Toby

[diegartenfrau]

for information how to grow your vegetables.
I just bought their book, it is the best info for growing veggies I have found

http://www.harvestwizard.com/

[roiphil]

re botanical names, i had to check to make sure, i looked on
http://www.molesseeds.co.uk/flower_and_vegetable_seed_store_uk/Products_Little_Gem_4183.html which is wholesalers and i also looked on

http://www.suttons.co.uk/Shop/Vegetable+Seeds/Lettuce+Little+Gem+Seeds+169291.htm

maybe the dont use the botanical names as you would commonly refer to a lettuce as a lettuce, a runner bean as a runner bean etc,

if i told some one that i was growing a veg plant and i used a botanical name i may get my collar felt by the gardai  that would be funny come and raid my greenhouse and find tomatoes growing   

[ideasguy]

Just make sure you dont grow any C. sativa   :

[roiphil]

Just make sure you dont grow any C. sativa   :

had to google that   

[roiphil]

done lesson 2 all went well until i came to save, it would not save kept on asking for a plant type, so into Files Plant Types GAO18 click on it screen GAO18S01 appears, click on add a new plant type and in the next screen i added Vegetables in top box Then Veg in lower box and save, then re open the plant you were working on (you had to close it down without saving the first time) and in plant group dropdown will be vegetables, select vegetables

and follow georges instructions and have fun

[ideasguy]

Yip, I didn't describe that bit, so thats useful.
Ive defined the plant type as Vegetable (using GA018)
I see some seed suppliers who describe Veg as Annuals, so its up to the user.

Another tip:
If editing, and you don't have the correct plant type, then use one of the existing ones and save.
Then use GA018, add the required plant type, go back and edit the plant and correct the plant type. Saves losing data by cancelling without saving.

[roiphil]

i just did as a vegetable, the ones i have are gonna get eaten  this year so they wont have a chance to grow again so not perrenials, good tip of yours aswell

[roiphil]

done lesson 2 all went well until i came to save, it would not save kept on asking for a plant type, so into Files Plant Types GAO18 click on it screen GAO18S01 appears, click on add a new plant type and in the next screen i added Vegetables in top box Then Veg in lower box and save, then re open the plant you were working on (you had to close it down without saving the first time) and in plant group dropdown will be vegetables, select vegetables

and follow georges instructions and have fun

to add to this if you wanted to be  more specific you could do this (going on a four year crop rotation here)
Vegetables Brassicas - cabbages etc
Vegetables Roots - onions carrots etc
Vegetables Legumes - peas and beans
Vegetables Potatoe- potatoe

Fruit Tomatoe - Tomatoes are fruit i beleive any corrections most welcome