An easy and cheap way to mark pollinated blooms is to buy string tags at walmart. They are cheap and easy to put on each bloom. We don't get rain in the summer here in California, so the tags last the couple months from pollination to pod. I tried this on seedling blooms last year and the snails scoured off the writing before it was time to dig, however. This year I will protect the writing with tape. The string tags probably won't last the winter.

Brock use some kind of plastic tag and write the pod parent first, pollen parent last with a common lead pencil. Attach just below the bloom with a wire twisty.

Since you are in an area where it rains you need to strip the stalk of leaves or anything that will hold water.This will save a lot of pods from rotting off.

Wet pollen does not work. Need quite a few hours after making cross to be rain free.

Just make simple database or spread sheet to enter your crosses. I don't give a seedling a number unless I think it is worth another look after first bloom. I have fields with Pod Parent-Pollen Parent-Date- Seed count.

For seedling selects I create a folder for seedlings. In that folder each seedling has it's own folder. It contains all the photos of it plus a Notepad file with a written description. Remember to take plenty of pictures including one of the style arms> Will come in handy if you decide to register it and need to write a description.

String tags would not work in our wet area. Pencil holds up better than a sharpie and you write better with one on small tags.

With our rains 30% takes is about average so make more crosses than you think you need.

Mike G

Good lesson, Mike. I use a grease pencil to mark on the WalMart price tags. I used to get the tags at an office supply company, but have found out the WalMart tags work just as well and are not expensive.

Walter Moores

Thank-you everyone. I really appreciate all your advice.

The new table I made with microsoft works has columns for cross nunber(so that I don't have to write out the full names on a small tag), pod then pollen parent, date, a space to mark(early on) wether the cross took or not, and a column for seed count.

It sounds like I'll be going shopping for the tags and twist ties. I can't believe I hadn't thought of that. It drove me crazy tying every last tag on. A quick twist and move on sounds much easier.

Again, thank-you. Your advice and kindness is greatly appreciated.
Brock