Planning for Spring - Use a Garden Journal

The Humble Garden Journal

It is hard to think about planning for Spring planting when the garden looks like this.  But eventually, Spring will happen.  And when it does, I need to be prepared.

Several years ago I began to keep a garden journal.  This has become vitally important to my garden planning and planting.  I primarily use this journal to keep track of the edibles in our various gardens, both annual (like tomatoes, greens, and carrots) and perennial (like strawberries, grapes and blueberries).  But sometimes I make note of the landscaping plants if something strikes me as important or something I should remember.

My journal is nothing more than a pretty spiral notebook filled with lined paper that I found on clearance. No tabs, categories, or calendars.  Just paper and pen.

In my journal I keep track of everything going on in my garden.  I start with putting the date on top of the page. Then I start to write anything and everything that crosses my mind that day in the garden.  I do not journal every day, but try to get something written down four or five times a month.  Some entries are only a sentence or two and some entries go on for page after page.

Each year I draw maps of where I planted what with detailed lists of the type and variety of seed including who produced the seed. Then throughout the growing season I write down how everything is doing.  This includes information on the dates seeds (or plants) were put in, dates of germination, dates of first true leaves, dates of first flowers/fruits, harvest amounts, and very importantly how the things taste and whether my daughter and husband would eat it.  I also track pest damage and control measures, and soil amendments.  All this information helps me rotate crops, figure out what grows best in each type of garden environment, and determine if I want to grow that variety again or not.

In addition, in my journal I track the dates the first migratory birds arrive, even the ones just passing through to more northern climates. I track the dates the butterflies arrive.  I track when the critters show up: everything from chipmunks, fox, opossum, turkey, deer, and the ever challenging ground hog (we get a different one each year).

I have enjoyed going back through my garden journal when planning the next Spring's plantings.  It is like winter therapy.  And, it is interesting how many details I forget once winter sets in and we are housebound for six months.  During the growing season I always assume I will remember this or that.  Nope.  I never do. Writing in my journal the details of how the garden performed that year has become an invaluable tool to successful growing.

You can  follow me on Facebook, Pinterest,  Bloglovin, Google+, Sverve, and Twitter.

Featured on:



Shared with:
DIY Sunday Showcase; Nifty Thrifty Sunday; Snickerdoodle Sunday; Happiness Is Homemade; Bewitch Titi & Me; Think Pink Sunday; Inspiration Monday; Link It or Lump It; Amaze Me Monday; Inspire Me Monday; MMM Link Up; Marvelous Mondays; More the Merrier Monday; Monday Funday; Sunday Best; Pin It Monday; Mommy Monday Blog Hop; COM Monday Link Party; Clever Chicks Blog Hop; Homestead Barn Hop; Inspire Me Tuesday; Turn it Up Tuesday; The Scoop; Do Tell Tuesday; Show Me What You Got; Too Cute Tuesday; Share It Link Party; Tuesdays With A Twist; Hit Me With Your Best Shot; Winter Blues Wednesday; Wow Me Wednesday; Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop; Wake Up Wednesday; Your Whims Wednesday; Wow Us Wednesday; A Little Bird Told Me; Homemaking Link Up; Inspire Me Wednesday; Thriving on Thursday; Live Laugh Linky; Create It Thursday; Wildly Original Link Party; Made You Look; Catch a Glimpse Thursday; Thursday Favorite Things; Pin it Party; Homeacre Hop; Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways; Wildcrafting Wednesday; Craft Frenzy Friday; Linkn Blogs; Sorry, Not Sorry; Friday Pinfest; Friday Link Party; Pin It Thursday; Friday Flash Blog Hop; Tickled Pink Times Two; From the Farm Blog Hop; Farmgirl Friday; Serenity Saturday; Pin It party; Craft, Create, Inspire; Four Season Blog Hop