In our post about seed packaging, storage, and labelling I promised follow-on freebie for recording information on seed packets. Here are four free seed label templates to help with recording information on different types of packets, including full labels for gathered seeds and supplemental labels for pre-packaged and purchased seeds. These are very simple freebies, but the labels are already proving to be incredibly useful. I wish I’d started using them sooner!
Labelling Seeds for Easy Use
Whatever method you use for storing seeds, labelling is key to keeping things user-friendly. I’ll never be a super-organised person who records seed information in my garden journal. I do, however, like to keep key information on the packet. That way, I can easily check it while I’m sorting or when I’m in the garden planting.
If you are gathering and saving seeds, you will need to label your containers or packets. You might also want to label (or relabel) swapped and shared seeds. Some purchased seeds have detailed planting information on the packet, but not always. Some of my favourite suppliers use very simple packets with only the name, sowing season, and best before details. I like having more specific information at hand, so I’ve been scribbling on whatever free space I can find on packets. That’s been less than ideal. Blank space is limited and I often accidentally cut or tear my notes during use. Bummer.
To solve my seed-keeping problems, I created a simple peel-and-stick label template that I can pop onto seed packets, bought or otherwise. I find them very handy, so I’m sharing the files so you can use them to make your own, if you’d like.
Our Seed Information Label Template Formats
When formatting my labels for sharing, I ran into a dilemma. I had planned to share ready-to-print freebies, like our other printables. The easiest way to use these templates is on printable self-adhesive labels; however, formats vary significantly and we have readers all around the globe. Formats also change with time. I have self-adhesive labels in my stationary stash that have already been superseded by new formats with slightly different peel-and-stick dimensions. So what to do?
I decided to provide these freebies as single label jpeg templates instead. They are versatile rectangular designs than can be inserted into a wide variety of printable label formats. The design and layout are intentionally forgiving for variations in width-to-height ratio. This includes the option of using more/less white space to pad the ends to make the design fit your rectangle.
The label templates have two different data sets. The green labels are for recording a full set of packet information (including plant name, variety, etc. along with planting information). The blue labels are for adding supplemental information to existing packets (includes purchase and planting information). If you also use a seed index or keep garden journal notes with a reference number, the circles provide a convenient place for adding your reference. Each is available as a vertical or horizontal layout so you can choose whatever best suits your preferences and packets. You don’t need to use all of the prompts/blanks. Just whatever suits your style of record keeping. Easy peasy!
These templates are free for your personal use as a little present from us to you. It’s absolutely not required, but it would be awesome and greatly appreciated if you joined us social media, if you’re not already following the fun. We welcome social media shares and linking, but please link to this post, not the download direct. Thanks!
Access and Download the Free Seed Label Template Files
Access and Download the JPEG Seed Keeping Label Templates:
Note: Recent Dropbox changes (frustrating…) mean that Dropbox might try to show you an on-page image pop-up instead of taking you to the file, but that doesn’t work for high res images. If clicking the linnk doesn’t open the file in Dropbox for you, opening in a new tab/window or using a copy/paste of the the link should get you there. Hopefully this is a short term issue. otherwise we’ll look to change the freebie format/delivery. Apologies for any inconvenience!
These freebies have been uploaded for sharing via Dropbox as high resoloution image files. The links above allows our readers to access, view, and download the file(s).
You do not need a Dropbox account to access or download. Dropbox may present you with options/offers when you click the access link above, but if you’re not interested, you can just dismiss those and download the file to your computer/device through either the File menu dropdown options or by clicking the Download arrow icon on the upper right menu bar.
If you’re a Dropbox user, please download/save your own copy for use. The access links above are for everyone/anyone who would like to view and download our freebies. Edits can’t be saved in these public files, but if you like working in Dropbox, you can save a copy to your own account.
You can use these image tempates to create your own labels in whatever format you wish, but they were designed to suit rectangular self-adhesive printable labels. Templates are usually available online from the label supplier that let you to fill the label boxes with an inserted image, which is why we opted for flexible images instead of a full page PDF. If you’re having trouble getting the sizing and/or alignment to your liking, check the positioning and/or text wrapping settings. They’re frequent culprits in Word-based label templates.
Additional Formatting Notes
The print-out labels that you see me using in these pictures are old-style AU/NZ Avery DL33 (33 labels to an A4 Sheet). These have since been superseded by newer slightly different 33 formats. New formats would likely be similar, but my oldies are perfect for fitting width-wise over non-essential info on standard sized seed packets.
These are small labels, so you’ll need to keep your writing small if you want to record lots of detail. You can also use a larger label if you’d like – I test fitted an old Avery DL16 and it works nicely vertically. Small works great for me on my pre-packaged seeds. I’ll be keeping a sheet ready on hand for all of my new seeds going forward.
