I want to keep excellent records on where all my figs come from and be able to tell 10 years from now their history. 

How do you keep your records and what information do you gather?

Here is what I have started.  I assign a number to each plant that I get and put a tag on the plant.  I am using a round metal disc with the number stamped on it.  That number is written down in a note book with:
1.  the date that I got it. 
2.  the quantity of cuttings that I got
3.  the variety of the fig
4.  the person I got them from and their contact information
5.  Figs4Fun user id. 

I have a feeling that you work at a doctor's office, good job. 

Hi Bass,

Good to hear from you.  Last spring I got from you a Quarter Pounder and Dark Portuguese which are both doing great.  
I also owe you postage from that shipment which I'll add to the next order.
I work with a team of investment advisors but I have a degree in biology, so that is where the "keep records" trait comes from.
Cathy

Hi Cathy
If you can find out where the person you get the fig from got it that is always helpful. That information is not always available but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Cathy,

The first thing I do when I get a new variety is ask my source where THEY got it since there are diferent figs with the same name.  It makes a difference down the line when someone else asks you or a cutting.  You can tell them what they are getting.  Atreano is one example.  There is an Atreano from Bellclaire and an Atreano from Rolling River.( There are probably others as well.) They are apparently quite different.  "Sal's" is one of the best exmamples.  There is an enormously long thread that covers the origin of and distinction between Sal's-Gene's Strain and Sal's BC/Sal's Corleone, etc.

I like to keep a record of what time of year the plant sets fruit, when it ripens...or not..., how much it bears, and flavor (or lack thereof).  I also keep a separate general file on each variety with its country (or neighborhood) of origin and every scrap o information I can ind on F4F forum, including what growing conditions it likes or hates, who all recommends it and pans it, and why.  It is really interesting how opinions change ater a couple of years.

I am sure that the more serious figheads on the forum will have more advice for you.

C.J.

Hello Cathy!  I have a list very much like yours  and a few more.  Why?  Because this year and last month I got a lot of cuttings from members and I need to document better.  Last year I had quite a few trees that produces some very nice fruit.  Now, in my mind I can tell you exactly which fig produced and how the fruit tasted on each tree.  What I did not capture was how much fruit each tree produced, weight, temperature, and rain and not sure if I want to capture all that data.  Well let me break down what I plan on capturing in my database.  Below are tables and possible columns:

Seller
    Seller ID (pk)
    Seller Name
    Seller Company name
    Web address
    Fig4Fun name
    Garden Web name

Fig tree
    fig tree Id (pk)
    fig tree name

Cutting
    cutting Id (pk)
    Fig tree Id (fk)

Seller Cutting
    Seller cutting Id (pk)
    Seller Id (fk)
    Cutting Id (fk)
    NbrOfCuttings
    Received Date
    Storage Date
    Propagation Start date
   
Tree Purchased
    Tree Purchased Id (pk)
    Tree Id (fk)
    Seller Id (fk)
    Purchased Date
    Installed Date

Event
    Event ID (pk)
    Tree ID(fk)
    Seller ID (fk)
    Pot Id (fk)
    Cutting Seller ID (fk)
    Event date
    Event text

Pot
    Pot Id (pk)
    Pot Size
    Pot type
 

and maybe a few others....hope this helps Cathy!  cheers,

Bottom line is that you can't know too much about your figs, or keep to  much info about them. The Figs 4 Fun website grew out of my collection of info that I acquired in the process of trying to learn more about my own trees.

You want to know as much history as possible: who you obtained them from, and hopefully where or from whom that person obtained them, etc. It is a little like doing  a genealogy, but in the end it doesn't matter where it came from or what its name is, but how it tastes.

Hi Dennis,

I'm dense, but what does PK and fk mean?

I like your system.  Every time I think I've taken down enough information on my trees, I read something like this and realize that I don't have enough information.  So glad you shared this with us.

Thanks,

noss

Hello Noss, PK stands for primary key.  FK stands for foreign key.  In a relational database, keys are essential.  I am a database guy, its what I do for a living.  If I have time, I'll post how all this looks in a diagram.  cheers,

This is exactly the info that I was looking for and appreciate everyone taking the time to list what they do.

Thanks, Dennis.  :)

noss

here is a diagram how the tables relate.  Email me if you want the script.  cheers,

Cathy,

Here is a screen shot of the Excel spreadheet I use to track my mini orchard. It's a simple way to track anything you want and add as much detail as you want. I use it to track production and management of all my wide assortment of fruits, nuts, and even for my garden (separate tab). With Excel you can add as many comments as you want in each/any cell. Let me know if you have any questions.

Good luck!

Nice spreadsheet Ruben!  The database design I created is move flexible than a spreadsheet for me.   The database allows me to export to Excel, if I want plus create reports, run queries on different trees and measure growth over the years.  I want to use it to track growth and temperature too.  Interesting stuff!!!  cheers!

Additionally, I also track information on each variety of fig for comparison and identification purposes. I compare them against Condit's descriptions (first) and then against more recent experts such as Givan, Jon (F4F), and Bass (TreesofJoy) so I can verify both known and unknown varietals. Anal, eh? lol! (And yes, I did make a career out of healthcare ;-) )

Dennis,

Thanks for your kind words! I agree with you that MS Access is an excellent tool for this kind of information and it's reports feature are invaluable. It's been a while since I used it but I recall it had limits on how much information one could put in a field/cell. That would pose a problem if one wanted to paste a detailed history someone related to you about a particular variety (like some of the great detail Satellitehead and others have posted about their unknowns recently). I also find Excel more intuitive so that someone who is not terribly proficient at either Access or Excel will be able to master it quickly. Both programs are better than Word though. lol. Plus being able to hyperlink from any cell in Excel is pretty cool so one can go to a particular web page for additional information. Thanks again!

Ruben,

Cathy,

I cannot post an .xls format document on this thread. If you like I can email you a copy of the file. Let me know. The colors are used to identify different things. The color of the varietal name represents the fertilization requirement. The pink in the month columns is when the plant flowers and the brown are the harvest periods.

If I remember correctly with Excel you could sort by the highlighted color too so if you wanted to know which plants had the same fertilization requirements you could just sort by that color.

Ruben, if you did want to post your spreadsheet, you can put it into a .zip file.

@Darkman...you remember correctly.

@PaulandIrene...my notes/comments containsource information so I would be hesitant to post the spreadsheet in a public forum. I did share it with the OP back then though.

Stay warm and have a great weekend, guys!

@Reuben, I totally understand. Anyone have a blank template they can share?

Guys,

Here's a template/sample of mine. It was created in Excel format. Hope it helps.

Great work Ruben, thanks!

My collection isn't as large as some of y'alls. If it was I might use a spreadsheet.  As it is, I prefer an old fashioned ledger book, 15 column. I do take photos and have them in my computer and on disc. I've thought about cropping and labeling photos in Paintshop Pro and saving them on a disc and printing them at Wal Mart so I'd have photos. 

Keeping a database on a computer is fun, but there is something I like about the tangible feel of writing, using paper. Guess I'm old fashioned (outdated) about some things.

I also keep my household budget and accounts in a ledger book, too. Y'all can go ahead and laugh, I don't mind.