The end of my garden season is near. We’ve still got probably a month or so until we have a hard freeze here (which really does mark the absolute end of my garden season), but just when that happens . . . is always a bit of a crap shoot. I still have work to do out there, but it all feels less urgent these days. I’ve got my list, and I’m working through it.
Today it was cold and rainy, and I didn’t feel like working out in the cold, wet garden. So I grabbed my little garden journal and set to work . . . inside.
I keep a little pocket-size journal just for my gardening adventures. I make lists of plants and other garden-related things I want to find or buy. I keep detailed chore lists. I take notes from garden seminars or webinars I attend. I make quick sketches. I keep track of receipts and due dates, and collect random bits of this-and-that. And at this time of year, I start to record my experiences and evaluate the season just ending. At the end of the garden year, I make lists of . . .
- what worked
- what didn’t
- what I need to remember to do next spring
- which plants I want more of next season
It’s a really good exercise, and I highly recommend it for even the most casual gardener. Even if you just plant a few containers, it’s a good idea to jot down what you planted and how things went. Collecting your thoughts at the end of the season really helps you hit the ground running come spring!
So. Today I enjoyed sitting inside (nice and dry) . . . where I could still get a good view of my garden . . . and jot down the start of my notes as this garden season ends . . . to help me get a head start for next year.
And – just sayin here – for next year? If you hear me say ANYthing about, oh . . . maybe that I don’t really need to add mulch? PLEASE. Please. Remind me in the comments (loudly and aggressively) that I DEFINITELY need mulch. Without a doubt.
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How about you? Do you keep a garden journal? Or do you just wing it every year thankyouverymuch.
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Just a reminder. Last year, I did a 4-week “Deep Dive” into Fall Gardening. I meant to have all of those posts transferred here to the new blog by now, but . . . it hasn’t happened. (First, it takes a lot longer than I thought it would to transfer detailed posts with lots of photos. And, second . . . covid.) Anyway. You can find my Fall Gardening posts here, should you be interested. (The posts are full of helpful information and links.)
Excellent reminder. I do something similar, but in my regular planner – but then I have to go back and find the pages I wrote it all down on and… well I think you can see where this is going. I never go back and look.
I am pulling out a *new journal book* just for gardening things. Thank you for the wise suggestion!
Oh… and we need mulch as well. So.much.mulch!
Now that is a productive way to garden inside when it’s cold and wet outside! I don’t keep a garden journal. I used to for 8 or 10 years, but then I realized that even when I kept track of what worked, that didn’t mean we could get those same varieties of tomato seeds or the watermelons that grew well, and John pretty much planted whatever vegetables he wanted.
P.S. I love your big window and your wall of indoor plants!
Our plants are mostly set …………..but, it is constant weeding and moss removal. LOL Oh, AND mulching.
I may do a container garden of herbs next year. We’ll see.
Our flowers did awful this year and already is set to sleep for the winter, but I blame that more on the drought than the oncoming cold season.
I’m another who loves your big window and wall of plants! Fletch is the gardener, not me. Though I do supervise. I have certain things he must do (plant eggplants in an iron pot on the patio, plant radishes, etc. I think he used to keep fairly detailed notes (and saved seeds to the point where they were no good!). Now-a-days, he doesn’t keep such records. He just plants what he wants to. I miss growing potatoes and our green beans were not good this year.
As I’m embarking on my first veggie garden for next spring, I appreciate this idea to have a journal. I do need to do that although I won’t know what I’m doing! I got an ‘old’ seed catalog yesterday and realize how little i know about this all!
Just remember…if you mulch you’ll have to weed less!! 🙂
I used to make gardening notes at the end of the season but I’ve been lazy about it the last couple of years. Thanks to you, I won’t forget this year! I need to remember to NOT bother with stock (it always peters out when it gets too hot here) and I need to ADD more coleus and rex begonias.
I just wing it, but next year I want way more zinnias and to do a better job of caring for dahlias. I was a total failure when it came to my little flower bed because of broken arm and excessive heat. No excuses next year! I need mulch, too!