Common Garden Measuring Protocol 2010

Field

Row    Enter the number of the row (10-56) you are measuring. This field will auto-repeat until you re-enter a new row number.

Position   Enter the position (860-983) of the first plant you measure. After completing your first record and pressing end, this field should increment in spacing appropriate to the section of the garden you are measuring (+0.5m, +1.0m, or +0.33m). Tip: double check your assigned row, location in the garden, and visor entry.

Status10    After finding the plant, enter the status of the plant using this pull down box. If you are unable to find the plant select "can't find" and place a flag where the plant should be. If you find a marker such as a staple, wooden stake, rebar, or tin can but no plant, select the appropriate maker indicator. In the case of a blue stake or tin can with no plant, place a flag where the plant should be. Additionally, any plant with a stem or any vertical development is considered a "flowering" plant even if it does not produce a head. If no selection is made, we assume the plant is basal.

Fl Rosette Count    Enter the number of flowering rosettes (include rosettes with any vertical development).

Bsl Rosette Count    Enter the number of basal rosettes. If a plant has no basal rosettes, enter "0" for both Bsl Lf Count and Bsl Long lf-cm (see below).

Bsl Lf Count    Count and record the number of leaves on all basal rosettes. Ignore leaves on flowering rosettes. Include crisp leaves from this year (these will also be recorded in Other Damage) as well as any petioles longer than one centimeter belonging to this year's growth.

Bsl Long lf-cm    Measure and record in centimeters the longest entire basal leaf. Ignore leaves on flowering rosettes. If the longest "leaf" is a petiole or dead leaf, measure it and record what was measured in the Other Note field (eg "petiole measured" or "dead lf measured.")

Caul Long lf-cm    Measure and record in centimeters the longest entire cauline leaf.

Insects   Examine both sides of all leaves on basal and flowering rosettes for the presence of insects. Enter an estimate for the number of ants and aphids by checking the appropriate box in this field. Note the presence of all other insects or insect related findings (eg egg sacs, ant nests) either by checking appropriate box or by selecting "Other (note)" and describing your findings the Insect Note field. Ant nests can be identified as a mound of dirt built up around the base of the plant, which often consumes and wrinkles a number of leaves. Also, note ant nests when there is a visible accumulation of dirt on a leaf due to ants (not due to lying in the dirt).

Other Damage    Record number of leaves that are crisp or gone here.

Completed    When you have completed a record in the form, check this box and then press the end button, you will then see the record for the next plant.

Head data    Click on the Head data field to add data for flowering rosettes. The protocol for the subform is described below.

Disease    If a plant shows signs of disease on any leaves of the basal or flowering rosettes, check the appropriate boxes to indicate the symptoms present. Be careful to distinguish between normal plant senescence and disease.

Insect Note    Record the name or description and a count of any insects not listed in the "Insect" drop-down box. Include insects greater than 3mm (i.e. no yellow mites).

Damage Note    Record significant damage to the plant here. For example: damage by measurer; mower; and pruner. Note amount of damage.

Other Note    If there are notes that do not fit into another category, record them here.

Measured By    When you start a new row, enter the initials of the measurer here. This field auto-repeats. Make sure you update your initials when starting a new row or measuring with a new partner.

Recorded By    Enter the initials of the recorder here. This field auto-repeats. Make sure you update your initials when starting a new row or measuring with a new partner.


Tips for staying on track: In order to make sure you don't get mixed up as to which plant you are on, make sure to check your position at 5 meter intervals where there are flags. If you do get messed up, stop immediately and move backwards a few plants, checking as you go to find the plant you missed (or whatever other mistake you made.) Rather than switching between "review" or "add" mode, use the forward arrow to move back in the records and the back arrow to move forward. Avoid changing any of the position numbers--this can cause more problems. Instead, make notes in the Other Notes field as to which records are correct, and if not, what the correct position should be. These can be updated later on the computer.

Protocol for Head data (Subform:CGhead-info-10sub)

Use this subform for all flowering heads: normal, dud, pip, or vertical development. Tap on the field and hit "Add" to enter data for a head.

Row    Row and position will carry over from the main monitor form.

Position    Row and position will carry over from the main monitor form.

Head    Select the color of the twist tie subtending the head. If the head has no twist tie, select "nott"

On same stem as    Use this field to indicate more than one head per flowering rosette. If there is a single head per rosette, leave this field blank.

Head Status    Use this field to indicate if there is something different than normal about the head you are measuring. This includes no florets, broken off head, crisp head, bent head, tilted head, vertical development, no hd, or an indented head. If the head is normal, you may leave this field blank, or check the "normal" box.

Height    Measure the height of the head by holding the stem upright and measuring the distance from the ground to the top of the head in centimeters.

Insects on hd    Record the presence and abundance of ants, aphids, and other insects on the head (on the disc or ray florets or under the receptacle). All insects on the leaves or stem should be recorded on the main form together with the basal rosettes.

Disease (head)    Record instances of weird tufts, no ray florets, or generally weird heads.

Head note    Include other notes about the flowering rosette.

Measured by    Treat this the same as on the monitor form, remember to update your initials when changing measurers.

Recorded by    Treat this the same as on the monitor form, remember to update your initials when changing measurers.

Each time you come to a flowering plant, perform this entire protocol for the first head.�For subsequent heads on the same stem, record Head, On same stem as, Head status, Height, and Head Note fields; Repeat the entire protocol when starting a new head on a different rosette. Use a separate form for each flowering head. Duds, pips and vertical developments are a separate form if they occur on their own rosette, or if they have a visibly separate stem off of another stem. Ignore duds and pips right along the stem.

Categories in Pendragon CG Monitor Forms (2010)

Status10


Can't Find
Flowering
Basal
Staple
Dead Lvs (this year's)
Dead Lvs (last year's)
Wooden Stake Only
Rebar

Insects


1 aphid View this!
2-10 aphids View this!
11-80 aphids View this!
>80 aphids View this!
1 ant View this!
2-10 ants View this!
>10 ants View this!
ant nest View this!
egg sac
wht fuzzy View this!
spittle
thorn hopper View this!
beetle
grasshopper
leaf miner
pupa
rolled lf
other (Note)

Other Damage


1 crisp lf
2 crisp lvs
4 crisp lvs
8 crisp lvs
16 crisp lvs
1 lf gone
2 lvs gone
4 lvs gone
8 lvs gone
16 lvs gone

Disease


yellow lf
purple lf
deformed lf
dead lf

CGhead-info-10sub

Head Status


dud View this!
no fls
broken off View this!
crisp
bent View this!
tilted View this!
vertical developmnt, no hd View this!
indented View this!
normal

Insects on hd


1 aphid View this!
2-10 aphids View this!
11-80 aphids View this!
>80 aphids View this!
1 ant View this!
2-10 ants View this!
>10 ants View this!
ant nest View this!
white gunk View this!
cat frass
egg sac
wht fuzzy View this!
long-legged bug
larva
beetle
pupa
thorn hopper View this!
spittle
grasshopper
other (Note)

Disease (head)


no rays
whole hd weird
weird tufts