Help me design the next Database

ContainerTed · October 30, 2009

Okay, look at the picture below. Down the righthand side are a number of plant types. What I'm looking for is help and suggestions for what categories of plants. Tomatoes and Peppers are already chosen. I think Herbs and Berries are probably good choices, but I'd like the help of you who know better than I, of what the logical choices should be. I am also considering a large Flowers and Shrubs section.

The number of categories is very flexible, so there can be less than shown or many more than shown.

So many veggies are commonly grown in home gardens. But which ones do we put into groups and what are those groups. The term "Leaf Veggies" brings spinach, lettuce, and cabbage to mind. But what about Celery, Brocolli, and rhubard? And where does Okra go? Do Potatoes, Radishes, Carrots, and Onions go together?

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Here's the starter. I'll edit as we go.

(* Indicates editing)

*Tomatoes: Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Currants, Ground Cherries,

*Peppers: By Capsicum (Annuum, Baccatum, Chinense, Frutescens, Pubescens)

*Herbs: Culinary, Medicinal, Ornamental

*Berries: Blackberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Blueberry, etc.

*Brassicas: Cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi

*Alliums: Onions, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives

*Legumes: Beans, Peas, Peanuts, Soybeans,

*Melons: Cantelope, Watermelon, Honeydew,

*Root Crops: Turnips, beets, carrots, radishes, potatoes

*Curcurbits: Cucumbers, Zuccini, Squash, Pumpkins, Gourds,

*Grains: Maize (corn), Oats, Barley, Rice

*Nuts/Fruits: Walnuts, Pecans, Apples, Pears, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Peaches, Paw Paw

*Misc??????: Eggplant, Okra, Lettuce, Rhubarb, Celery, Artichokes, Pineapple,

Help us out, Please!

Ted

Our Thanks to Salix.
And Thanks to BlueAussie.
And Thanks to Wi-Sunflower. Let's hear some more.
Good idea, Mike, I'll look at that. But I still want to hear if folks want something uniquely designed here.

salix · October 30, 2009

Ted - "Brassicas" would cover cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi...

"Alliums" would cover onions, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives...

"root crops" in general would take care of turnips, beets, carrots, radish etc.

Just my $.02

Blueaussi · October 30, 2009

I sort my peppers by heat and species, but I'm a bit obsessive about peppers. Prolly having either sorting by heat or species would more than satisfy most folks.

Would a fruit category be too general, or would separating from the berries be enough?

Cucurbits could cover all the squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, and zukes.

mjc · October 30, 2009

Just grab a copy of Seed to Seed and use the major divisions she uses. They're the 'standard' ones.

Wi-sunflower · October 31, 2009

Uh, since when is "eggplant" a curcurbit ??

But then again eggplant is one of those "where do I put it" things.

Carol

Blueaussi · October 31, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wi-sunflower

But then again eggplant is one of those "where do I put it" things.

Yeah, that was what I was having trouble fitting in somewhere. I suppose a miscellaneous category might not be a bad idea.

salix · November 1, 2009

I guess that eggplant and potatoes really should be listed with the tomato family - BUT...

personally I would put potatoes in with the root crops and as for eggplant, well, really maybe there SHOULD be a miscellaneous category!

habitat_gardener · November 1, 2009

I, personally, would make the categories match the ones in the seed catalogs I use the most, which usually put vegetables in alpha order and have separate listings for fruits and herbs. The advantage is that it's only a 2-level listing, which I think makes it easier to find something. It makes sense to add the groups (either by plant family or by plant part used -- a mixed categorization feels odd to me) only if you'd normally plant them interchangeably -- so melons makes sense to me (but I don't plant melons), as do grains.

I'd also put nuts separately or with fruit trees, not with brambleberries.

And I wouldn't distinguish between culinary, medicinal, and ornamental herbs, because so many of them can fit in more than one category. I'd use botanical names for herbs, because the common names are not precise (e.g. chamomile, where even the bot. names keep getting changed, but at least you know which is which).

An even better organizing principle would be by planting time: warm-season crops and cool-season crops. I find that I overlook some seeds if they get put in the wrong box. But that may apply mostly to year-round planting climates.

October 30, 2009	#2
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Ted - "Brassicas" would cover cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi... "Alliums" would cover onions, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives... "root crops" in general would take care of turnips, beets, carrots, radish etc. Just my $.02

October 30, 2009	#3
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	I sort my peppers by heat and species, but I'm a bit obsessive about peppers. Prolly having either sorting by heat or species would more than satisfy most folks. Would a fruit category be too general, or would separating from the berries be enough? Cucurbits could cover all the squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, and zukes.

October 30, 2009	#4
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	Just grab a copy of Seed to Seed and use the major divisions she uses. They're the 'standard' ones.

October 31, 2009	#5
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Uh, since when is "eggplant" a curcurbit ?? But then again eggplant is one of those "where do I put it" things. Carol

November 1, 2009	#7
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	I guess that eggplant and potatoes really should be listed with the tomato family - BUT... personally I would put potatoes in with the root crops and as for eggplant, well, really maybe there SHOULD be a miscellaneous category!

November 1, 2009	#8
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I, personally, would make the categories match the ones in the seed catalogs I use the most, which usually put vegetables in alpha order and have separate listings for fruits and herbs. The advantage is that it's only a 2-level listing, which I think makes it easier to find something. It makes sense to add the groups (either by plant family or by plant part used -- a mixed categorization feels odd to me) only if you'd normally plant them interchangeably -- so melons makes sense to me (but I don't plant melons), as do grains. I'd also put nuts separately or with fruit trees, not with brambleberries. And I wouldn't distinguish between culinary, medicinal, and ornamental herbs, because so many of them can fit in more than one category. I'd use botanical names for herbs, because the common names are not precise (e.g. chamomile, where even the bot. names keep getting changed, but at least you know which is which). An even better organizing principle would be by planting time: warm-season crops and cool-season crops. I find that I overlook some seeds if they get put in the wrong box. But that may apply mostly to year-round planting climates.