I keep a note book and write in anything to do with gardening I've done that day. Also say what the weathers been like and how long I've spent either in the back garden or on the plot.
If I've watched a gardening programme I might write in any tips for growing or must have plants. I've just written in a simplified version of a 3yr and 4yr rotation plan for growing veg and there's information about fertilizers, growing spuds,...anything's written in that might be useful.
There's a section at the back for what has and hasn't grown well that year too.
I keep two paper journals/diaries on a daily basis. I was given a RHS 5 Year Diary 5 years ago and found it invaluable to record weather, tasks to do and flowers in bloom so have just bought myself another one.
I also keep just an A4 notebook where I record in more detail what I've done in the garden each day (if I did!) what I've planted and where I put it, design details and task/reminder jobs to do.
As an aside, somebody on the Forum mentioned labelling the other day, I've just had the new Suttons Catalogue today and their Clearance sale booklet has the very good Brother Garden Label machine for only £12.99 - and I paid nearly £40 for mine a few years ago! I have found this the most longlasting labelling system, pretty nearly weatherproof, although the replacement tapes are expensive at just under £14 each inc. P & P.
Last year my sister gave me a lovely journal which I stared writing in, it was a bit complicated if I'm honest though and I didmt keep it up.
My mum gave me some money for Christmas this year and I intend to buy a nice plain notebook to keep a a journal, then I intend to keep one each year. I'll let you know how I get on
Have kept a garden diary for the past 3 years. Great for checking back to see when you planted in other years and what the results were. Keep it simple, if it is complicated you will not keep it filled in regularly and then you lose the benefit of it.
I keep a paper diary in just an ordinary notebook (well, quite a pretty one actually)- sometimes regularly, sometimes sporadically. Wish I did it more often, as I love reading back through it - both as a reminder of what to do this year, but also of how far I have come since those early days
I started with an online blog / ramblings with the idea that if I came up with a genius idea at work I could write it down quickly. It's over here... https://mudweedsandtea.wordpress.com
Unfortunately I'm not organised and so also have a paper book to write sowing dates, you can guess that neither see much action!
I use a thick spiral bound note book and have labelled each double page spread with the dates for a whole week (eg 4-11 November). I jot down things that I have done in the garden and notes for things to remember next year. Also notes about what is currently in flower as the garden is new to me so I am still learning about what is in it. So far I have filled about a quarter of each double page so hopefully when those dates come round again, I'll be able to add to the pages year on year for 3 or 4 years. As the note book is very thick there are lots of spare pages at the back where I collect random notes and lists, sketches of where things are planted, good ideas gleaned from garden programmes, magazines, catalogues, websites, etc etc - just anything that might be useful.
Had a day in today so did a bit of work on my diary, veg seed list for 2015
Not brilliantly organised but the links made ordering a bit easier. I'm transferring the first sowing dates, planting out etc to each month in the diary.
Edit - oops, tried to cut and paste it from word, but the formatting went a bit wild!
Last entry for today 'Garlic planted on 03 January showing first 2 green shoots'
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I keep a note book and write in anything to do with gardening I've done that day. Also say what the weathers been like and how long I've spent either in the back garden or on the plot.
If I've watched a gardening programme I might write in any tips for growing or must have plants. I've just written in a simplified version of a 3yr and 4yr rotation plan for growing veg and there's information about fertilizers, growing spuds,...anything's written in that might be useful.
There's a section at the back for what has and hasn't grown well that year too.
I keep two paper journals/diaries on a daily basis. I was given a RHS 5 Year Diary 5 years ago and found it invaluable to record weather, tasks to do and flowers in bloom so have just bought myself another one.
I also keep just an A4 notebook where I record in more detail what I've done in the garden each day (if I did!) what I've planted and where I put it, design details and task/reminder jobs to do.
As an aside, somebody on the Forum mentioned labelling the other day, I've just had the new Suttons Catalogue today and their Clearance sale booklet has the very good Brother Garden Label machine for only £12.99 - and I paid nearly £40 for mine a few years ago! I have found this the most longlasting labelling system, pretty nearly weatherproof, although the replacement tapes are expensive at just under £14 each inc. P & P.
Last year my sister gave me a lovely journal which I stared writing in, it was a bit complicated if I'm honest though and I didmt keep it up.
My mum gave me some money for Christmas this year and I intend to buy a nice plain notebook to keep a a journal, then I intend to keep one each year. I'll let you know how I get on
Have kept a garden diary for the past 3 years. Great for checking back to see when you planted in other years and what the results were. Keep it simple, if it is complicated you will not keep it filled in regularly and then you lose the benefit of it.
I keep a Kew Garden written journal where I note when I sow seeds, when they germinate, potted on, planted out etc.
It also contains reminders of when to prune what, when to feed, favourite plants, things I didnt like so I don't plant them again.
I also list good web sites and bad.
In addition I have sketch book which has a plan of my garden, what's planted where so that I dont dig up any dormant plants or bulbs.
I also take photos of my garden in each season so that I can see what is working and what I might like to change.
Sounds like a lot of work, but it isnt and it helps me avoid expensive mistakes.
I keep a paper diary in just an ordinary notebook (well, quite a pretty one actually
)- sometimes regularly, sometimes sporadically. Wish I did it more often, as I love reading back through it - both as a reminder of what to do this year, but also of how far I have come since those early days
I know what you mean Chicky
I started with an online blog / ramblings with the idea that if I came up with a genius idea at work I could write it down quickly. It's over here... https://mudweedsandtea.wordpress.com
Unfortunately I'm not organised and so also have a paper book to write sowing dates, you can guess that neither see much action!
I use a thick spiral bound note book and have labelled each double page spread with the dates for a whole week (eg 4-11 November). I jot down things that I have done in the garden and notes for things to remember next year. Also notes about what is currently in flower as the garden is new to me so I am still learning about what is in it. So far I have filled about a quarter of each double page so hopefully when those dates come round again, I'll be able to add to the pages year on year for 3 or 4 years. As the note book is very thick there are lots of spare pages at the back where I collect random notes and lists, sketches of where things are planted, good ideas gleaned from garden programmes, magazines, catalogues, websites, etc etc - just anything that might be useful.
Had a day in today so did a bit of work on my diary, veg seed list for 2015
Not brilliantly organised but the links made ordering a bit easier. I'm transferring the first sowing dates, planting out etc to each month in the diary.
Edit - oops, tried to cut and paste it from word, but the formatting went a bit wild!
Last entry for today 'Garlic planted on 03 January showing first 2 green shoots'
Happy days, first sign of growing veg for 2015