This may seem excessive information to obtain, but
a pesticide label is a binding, legal document. It is a
good idea to save copies of them on anything that you
opt to purchase or use.
POST-SEASON THOUGHTS
After the final harvest at the end of the season, it is good
to keep records of what was done. It is easy to put it off,
but can be difficult to recall later what it was that you
actually did with the space. Leave room in your journal to
record things like:
• What was done to the site after the
last harvest? Was it tilled? Did a
cover crop get seeded and if so,
how much and what? Was the
garden left as-is?
• Was any compost or other amend-
ment added to over-winter?
Again, if so, what, how much, and
where did it come from? Did you
leave any crops in the ground for
future winter harvest such as root
vegetables?
• Make sure to note anything else
at this stage in the journal on
general thoughts for the past
season, or the one ahead. This
does not mean you are bound to it,
but it may be useful when starting
the planning phases of next year’s
garden journal.
Squash
Depending upon your point of view, this may well be
the fun part, as it represents the “fruits of your labor,”
the “sweat of your brow,” or, you know, the vegetables
from your garden. Keeping good records here will help
you decide if you made the correct choices for varieties
or if you need to make some changes for the following
season. It may seem like a lot of work, but if growing
food is anything other than a casual hobby, this is
important to know:
• Date(s) of harvest for each type of crop. This can then
be cross-referenced with the planting dates to see how
long it took from seed to harvest.
• Pounds or kilograms of each crop. If you do not possess
a scale, then at least count how many items of each
and their relative sizes.
• The disposition of the crops. If you are not selling
them, why would you care where they go? Because
unless your intent is to donate the produce or give it
all to family and friends, you may realize that you are
producing way more than you need to be. This might
mean that you can scale back your time and investment
the following season or that you need to make addi-
tional plans for what to do with the bounty (freezing,
storing, canning, baking, etc.)?
HARVEST/YIELD DATA
Pota
toes
8
’
Aqui
a
dolu d quae e
ptam
sed m
, is
vele aio cone
ces
s
“ f K ree ee d p o in m g o a garden journal allows you the
f not having to remem
b er everything
about a past growin
g
s
making decisions fo eason when you are
r a future one.”
Include pictures, doodles,
anecdotes, dirt smudges, or
anything that makes it yours. It is
a planning tool for your individual
site and could become a treasured
family heirloom in the future.
grow cycle
127