Gardening Notes: A Healing Journey in the Vegetable Garden

I was chatting with my friends last night. Those in Guangdong were preparing to save beans for seeds and plant the next crop. They had also picked a lot of peppers and were soaking them in jars. Those in Guangxi had already harvested melons and beans many times in the vegetable garden. Those in Chengdu were showing off the abundant tomatoes on the balcony... And in Guizhou, we are eagerly waiting for the seedlings to grow every day.


Regional differences bring their own joys and troubles. Whether it's a large vegetable garden, a small family courtyard, or just a small herb garden next to the house, some perennial and annual vegetables, or even just a few pots on a balcony or terrace, everyone's passion for planting only grows, and the harvest is always full of novelty and eagerness.


There's no end to learning planting methods and design techniques. Today, I'd like to share something I believe is crucial in the gardening process: keeping a gardening journal. Treating it as a serious endeavor will make your gardening life more efficient and enjoyable.

"Gardening", the art of gardening, is a fusion of beauty and rationality.


In addition to daily physical labor, we also need to "graze" our minds . Sit down with a cup of tea, observe and interact in the garden, or write down the details of the garden and your own journey. This not only nourishes your mind, but also creates an intangible asset: a deeper understanding of your garden . (Read: What happens and what changes if you sit quietly and observe your garden for 5 minutes every day? )

Sometimes, it's hardest to understand what's right in front of you. Taking notes can help us discover hidden opportunities or risks.

What are Gardening Notes?


It's very simple. It's a place to record everything related to the garden: memos, arrangements, plans, observations... But it's not as fanciful and careless as a diary. It will become a reference for your planting, a collection of experience, and a unique history.

No matter where you are in the world, your garden is unique. Even if we share the same climate, live in the same neighborhood, and are next-door neighbors, our plants, microclimates, soils, insects, and more will all be different.

There are principles and general guidelines you can follow when planting, but your most valuable resource is undoubtedly researching your own unique space.

What are the benefits of keeping a gardening journal?


Do you still remember:

When  to sow, prune, and harvest plants?

Where  did you buy the seeds or plants?

What  kind of fertilizer do you use and when was the last time you fertilized?

When should  what be done?

When was the last  time you watered or it rained?

What methods did you try to control pests and diseases last  season?

Which  methods have you used successfully and which have failed?

If you can't remember a lot of things, it's essential to write them down! A simple date record can help you avoid mistakes you made last year and save time and energy.

By taking notes you will find:


1. The benefit of having organized records is to save some valuable information.

2. Which plants grow well and which do not.

3. What methods worked and what valuable lessons were learned when problems arose.

4. What creatures and pests live in your garden, what diseases there are, and how they affect your plants.

5. The garden's unique microclimate: where there's year-round sunshine, where the soil is moist and dry, where it's windy, where the temperature is high and where it's cool...

6. Record planting times, spacing out sowing to extend the harvest season, and how to avoid seasonal pests and diseases.

7. How to handle problems efficiently and increase gains.

8. The joys, sorrows, anger and happiness you experience during the planting and harvesting process will be beautiful memories.

9. Journaling is a relaxing form of gardening therapy.

Therefore, the content of the notes may include:


Plan your garden for  each season and create a crop “map.”

Any  pests and diseases encountered and their control methods.

Crop  yields.

The amount of fruits  and vegetables consumed by the household, and which plants will need more or less in the coming year.

Record  the time of the first and last frost in your area.

Record  the time when weather disasters occur.

Record soil condition and how it has been improved (what amendments have been added) annually . 

Record  the time you spend preparing your garden, such as tilling the soil, mulching, etc.

Visitors: Insects, birds ...

Experiences learned  , and anything else you want to write about!


So, while it's an ordinary notebook, the layout inside is anything but simple. For example, we can set up free writing pages (diary, observation, reflection), some seed bags and photo collection areas, a planting calendar, monthly important items, design planning area, harvest results area...

Recording the growth process of plants

Garden planning and crop information (accurate to color)

Monthly record of major events (frost period, seedling raising, transplanting, etc.)

No one can guarantee that they have a long-term and accurate memory. Planting is not about planting one season at a time, but about summarizing the experiences and lessons of the previous season, striving to do better in the next season, knowing which plants will bloom when, when bees and birds will come to collect nectar and fruits... You will find that the diseases and pests that appear in a certain type of weather are generally similar. Gradually, practice makes perfect, and you can do it with ease without taking notes.

Most importantly, writing, organizing, and reminiscing are inherently therapeutic . Slowly sorting out the complex garden affairs, planning with confidence, preparing for a rainy day, and capturing unique images that you can look back on later to immerse yourself in the scene, gives you a lasting sense of satisfaction and enjoyment.

If you say, "These things are too girly," or "I'm just lazy farming, I can't be bothered with these things," that's understandable. Just go with your own preferences—simple, casual, abstract—anything is fine. A comprehensive gardening journal will surely make you a professional gardener quickly, at least in your own little world!

Spring goes and autumn comes, the stars shift, and time flies by. Why not capture some of those beautiful memories? If you're in the habit of keeping gardening notes, or if you're planning to start your wonderful journaling journey like me, please leave a comment and share!
Gardening