Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Garden Journal
Keeping track of information such as where you planted certain
vegetables, how they grew, and what gardening methods worked or
did not work is invaluable for planning and troubleshooting in future
seasons. The journal can be as fancy or as simple as you want it to
be. Choosing a topic with some kind of binding or folder is best.
Scraps of paper can be easily misplaced and are harder to look back
on.
There are several types of garden journals, and all have valuable
tips and information for the vegetable gardener. Making your own
can save you money and allows you to customize your journal
according to what you want and need.
The following are important notations you should always include in
your journal:
•
A drawing or map of your garden site
•
A section for each type of vegetable (or family of vegetable) (List the
variety you planted, where it was planted, and the maturity date. As the
season progresses, jot down how well it grew, whether your harvest was
successful, and whether you would grow this variety again.)
•
A place to note when you fertilized each vegetable, with what, how
much, and the results
•
A section for maintenance notes (This is where you will detail any pest
or disease problems, your remedies, and their results.)
Writing in a garden journal is one of the best habits a vegetable
gardener can have. You'll forget the details of your gardening experi-
ence by the time next season rolls around, but if you keep a journal
you'll be able to look back. Even little notes about the weather and
how many birds or butterflies were in your garden each season are
interesting to review. It is important to jot down your thoughts about
