I was looking at the seed catalogs this last weekend, and I thought about the okra I planted 3 years ago. I really liked the flavor, and boy, did those plants produce. Then I tried to remember what that variety was called……
…..crickets…..
I had to go get my old garden journal to look it up. There was no way I was going to remember what I did three years ago!
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A Garden Journal is a Place for Remembering.
Most of us think we will remember where we have planted what. When we planted the peas, when was the last time we fertilized, which tomato produced the most, and what the date of our last frost was each of the last 3 years. But memories can be funny things.
By comparing when I planted corn over the last few years, I discovered there was a pattern of when the corn earworm was the worst. By planting after that date, I could actually eat corn! And since that is the point after all…eating corn, that was very valuable information.
- What if you knew when your biggest pest was going to attack?
- What if you knew when the best time to plant was?
- What if you remembered which variety you planted last year?
- What if you kept records so you could plant accordingly?
- Wouldn’t you feel more in control knowing you weren’t completely at the mercy of nature?
- Wouldn’t that be a great value to you?
It is for me!
There is so much we can learn from observing patterns in our garden. But we can never remember it all. That’s why, of all the tools I use, My Garden Journal is the MOST valuable. Not only will My Garden Journal save you money, time, and effort, but there are many other benefits that may surprise you.
What Is A Garden Journal?
First, let’s go over what a garden journal is.
Some people will call it a journal, some will call it a planner. Whatever you call it, you need one for your garden.
Quite simply, a garden Journal is a place to keep records, observations, plans, and anything that relates to your garden. A Garden Journal can become a history of what grows where and when. It can help you document successes, and challenges, and is the most valuable reference guide for your garden that you can own.
It is uniquely yours for your unique garden.
No matter where you live in the world, your garden is totally unique. You can and should learn general principles about gardening, but then you need to fine-tune it for your specific gardening conditions. Your climate, soil, diseases, insects, and even choices of veggies. Your garden will not be the same as mine or anyone else’. That’s why it’s important to record and learn from what is in your unique garden.
Keeping a garden journal is one of the most important parts of creating a healthy vibrant garden. You will learn both from your successes and from your mistakes. It takes time to learn what works for your garden and that’s where your garden journal will help.
If you want a healthy productive garden, one of the most vital things you can spend time on, is keeping a journal. If you haven’t done so yet, I’m going to share why I believe this one action will make an awesome difference to your gardening enjoyment and success.
Related Reading: 10 Ways To Make Weeds Go Away!
Why Keep A Garden Journal?
In a vegetable garden, you are producing plants that will become your food so keeping track of what you grow, how well it has grown, and what you eat is very important to the future success of your garden and the joy you can derive from it.
And a vegetable garden journal is a great way to document the many things going on in your garden.
Your vegetable garden journal is the place to record what was planted where, how many of each plant you had, what did well, what problems you had, and which plants thrived in your environment.
You can use your vegetable garden journal to keep an inventory of what you grow and eat. Vegetable garden journals are great for documenting how much your plants are producing and how they’re being used in your kitchen. Keep track of the recipes you used your vegetables in. Especially the ones your family really liked. You might be very surprised at how much you actually ate out of your garden if you keep a record.
By keeping track you will know which plants you don’t need to replant next season, (maybe you didn’t like them or maybe they didn’t grow well) and which you need more of. If you had beets dying, unpicked and you ran out of carrots halfway through the season, you know you need to plant more carrots next year and nix the beets. Don’t waste time growing food you and your family won’t eat.
By tracking growing information and your weather in a journal, you’ll begin to see patterns and connections between struggles and success.
Keeping records of how many seeds or plants you need may save you money in the long run.
A Garden Journal Helps With Timing.
Timing can be difficult to learn in a garden. When should you start the broccoli seeds? When should the tomatoes be set out? When is too soon to actually begin planting? When is too late?
Recording your gardening tasks allows you to manage projects more easily and efficiently. Then you can plan ahead from year to year with better use of your time.
By looking at your notes, you can easily see where timing might have played a role in a major success or utter failure.
You’ll also learn about how long it takes for your produce to be ready for harvest. You may want to start your seeds inside a little earlier next year to get the full use of your garden season.
It’s also helpful when you think there is something wrong because that green tomato just won’t ripen, you can check when the correct harvest time should be.
Planning ahead helps you make the most of your time as well. You will know how much time you need to allocate for planting and harvesting. You will know when you need to start more seedlings to go into the spots where you will be harvesting and leaving a vacancy.
Journaling isn’t over when the last tomato is picked. You will want to sit down and evaluate your year.
- What would you do differently next year?
- Which vegetables did you use the most?
- What did you struggle with?
- Did you plant at the right time?
- What do you want to add?
- What seeds do you have left over that you don’t need to buy next year?
It’s your journal. You will be keeping the information that is important to you. And you will have it all in one place.
Related >>The Beginner’s Garden Jumpstart
How To Keep A Garden Journal?
Did you make good gardening notes this year? Hopefully, your garden notes are someplace you can find them next year when you are getting ready to plan your new garden.
Keeping a garden journal will keep all your garden ideas in one spot. I’ve been known to jot an idea or a specific variety of squash on a piece of paper. Then when I go to look for it, I can never find it. If you jot down that idea in your journal you will know right where it is. Maybe you will make a sketch of a garden trellis, note a particular plant you want to grow next year, or even where to buy a new garden gadget.
You will keep notes on the weather, where pants were planted so you can rotate them next year, and how much you fertilize. Too much? Too little? What bugs have you found, good or bad? Even what plans you have for a future garden. Oh, the ideas are endless and only limited to your imagination.
Keep notes about the successes and the failures in your journal. You can learn from all gardening experiences, both good and bad.
I have found there are so many benefits to keeping a Garden Journal/Planner.
A Garden Journal is a Place for Dreams.
One of my favorite times of the year is at the start of the year when the seed catalogs begin to show up in my mailbox. Yes, I know you can shop online and I love to go to Seeds Now.com they have wonderful seeds that I’ve had very good luck with, but there is something to be said for curling up with a warm cup of mint tea from my own mint plant and flipping through the shiny pages.
My Garden Journal keeps me on track though. Since I have already made a list of the seeds I have left from last year and I’ve brainstormed about what new varieties I’d like to grow this year, I’m less likely to go crazy and buy one of everything. (Oh, I’m so guilty of this…)
Related Reading: 16 Top Secrets For Growing Great Tomatoes.
Everyone Needs A Garden Journal.
I think keeping a garden journal is so important that I created My Garden Journal, a journal specifically for vegetable gardening.
I made sure there was space for making inventories, to-do lists, taking notes, recording your planting zone, and laying out your garden beds, even writing in your favorite recipes, and so so much more.
There are no rules! It is what YOU make it.
If you’ve gotten some ideas from this post about how to set up a garden journal, do me a favor and pin this to help others who may need some direction, too!
Happy Backyard Homesteading!
I believe everyone can grow at least part of their own food! Let me show you how.
Mary is a gardener, backyard homesteader, and duck wrangler. She is also the owner and writer of LifeIsJustDucky.com and AGoodWordADay.com. (for daily devotions) Mary is passionate about helping others expand their backyard homesteading skills and learn to be more self-sufficient, no matter where they live.
