Katrina asked how I keep track of all the seed sowing, potting on and planting out around the garden. I wrote about keeping records in the Beginner's Guides (Part 5 here) but thought I'd add a bit more information.
I find it very helpful to know important dates in my garden. Things like:
- first and last frost dates...although these can vary widely
- when to expect rain...even if it doesn't come
- experimental plantings...some work, some don't
- when I order seeds and from where
- seed saving notes
- daily harvests of fruit, veg and eggs...I'm even training Doc to help here!!!
- moon planting information...this helps break down the sowing into groups - fruiting, leafy and roots/perennials
- including noting days when we have been away from home
This year I have used a cheap diary that shows one week to an opening (double page). The cheap shops sell them and 'student diaries' are a similar layout.
As you can see in the photo above I try to write everything down as I do it. Yes, things still get missed but there is usually enough information to jog my memory for what else I did that day. That week in the photo was a busy week, sometimes there is very little written on the pages!
I use the websites mentioned in the beginners guide to keep track of weather conditions but I do keep my own rain totals as these seem to vary.
Writing it all up in this blog each week (in busy times) or month really helps to make sense of it all but that little diary is a 'hard copy' of my garden activities. It is interesting to go back through old 'journals' to our early days here (18 years ago) and see how the garden has developed. Even through years of drought!
As I ended in the beginners guide...
...I hope this has been helpful to you. Just remember to keep as much or as little information as you’re comfortable with.
