Keeping a journal of your horticultural efforts may seem redundant. After all, isn’t that what memories are for? Perhaps in the short term, from one year to the next, but what about five, 10 or 20 years? Besides, you choose what to record and how to do it, so it will include the most helpful information to you for years to come. Below, I offer a few ideas that you may find helpful.
Every year, I record new plants purchased and where I planted them. This pays off, especially when adding new plants of the same species to beds already containing other varieties of that species.
Hosta comes to mind with its gazillion varieties, all with catchy names like Sweet Home Chicago and Spilt Milk. I’m partial to the blue leaves with green variegation types, but keeping them separate in my memory? Not possible. I record the name and location like “NE side of Hosta Garden.”
With annuals in containers, I record what I planted in each pot as well as what worked and what didn’t. Did the color combinations clash or mesh nicely? Did one plant overgrow its neighbors? Was the pot so small I couldn’t keep it hydrated through August without watering twice a day? Which plants did rabbits, groundhogs or other unknown critters eat? If rabbits, simply elevate the container out of their reach. If groundhogs, move the pot to a screened-in porch. Next year, grow those same plants but without the wildlife damage.
Recording any insect infestation and how you resolved it saves time. Instead of researching the problem and how to solve it again, simply look it up in your journal.
If you enjoy record keeping, you have options to record in your journal.
- The first and last frost dates or the first and last killing freeze dates
- Rain amounts
- The starting bloom date for perennials and shrubs
- When each succeeding fruit and vegetable ripens for the first harvest
- When pollinators like hummingbirds return to your yard
Over the years, you will see a trend and can determine what effect climate change has on your gardens.
Your age might determine how you keep your journal. The young and middle-aged might pick the computer, phone or tablet, while seasoned gardeners may enjoy writing everything down in an actual journal. This is where you roll your eyes and say, “OK, boomer,” but I find it satisfying. Journals make for delightful reading in the winter and prove helpful right before shopping for plants the next spring.
See more: Helpful Garden Gadgets
Ask the Expert
Q. I saved seeds from my blackberry lily to grow in a new location. I planted them in the spring, but they didn’t germinate. What went wrong?
A. Iris domestica easily self-seeds where it grows because the seeds require a chilling period that they receive over winter. When growing it from saved seed, you need to prechill it for six weeks to two months before planting outside in warm soil. Try placing the seeds in the refrigerator for the required time before planting or storing them in an unheated garage or shed that reaches temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees.
About the Author: Jan Phipps is a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener. She farms, gardens, writes and podcasts near Chrisman.
