As fall starts to feel a little more like winter, the garden, as well as the gardener, may be ready to slow down a little too. The Master Gardener (MG) team who enjoys producing this “Get it Growing” column every week is also ready to slow down for a few months.

The column, which runs every week, March through October, is researched, written and edited by a dedicated team of writers and editors. It’s a unique opportunity for the MG program to share our enthusiasm for gardening and encourage interesting, safe, and sustainable gardening practices: an opportunity we truly appreciate. During the colder months (November-February) the column will run once or twice a month.

Joy of journaling

If you’re not ready to slow down during the wet season, garden journaling is a perfect activity. Fall and winter can be a great time to start a journal while the past season is still somewhat fresh in your mind.

How and when you start a journal is not as important as just starting one. After all, who hasn’t planted spring bulbs and enjoyed their bloom only to accidentally dig them up in the fall? Now is the time to remember and record where the secret flowers are buried.

Journals can increase your knowledge and enjoyment of the garden by helping with the organization of important components of gardening such as plant choices, maintenance and fertilizer schedules. It’s a way to think about what worked and what didn’t.

There are many options when considering a garden journal which are adaptable to individual personalization, both in content and format. Start simple and build a system that is easy to use. The methods are endless; it could be anything from jotting notes on a calendar, purchasing an official garden journal or downloading a phone app.

If you’re at a loss for ideas, a simple three-ring binder with dividers and plastic sleeves is an excellent way to start. Plant tags, seed packages, labels and receipts can be saved in the plastic sleeves. A calendar can be added for easy reference. Whatever the format, start with a few basic categories and add information as you go.

Get organized

For simplicity, separate your landscape plantings from your vegetable or fruit gardens. By their nature, the food producing gardens will probably require more time and detail. Include a sketch of each area. It doesn’t have to be to scale but, using graph paper and adding approximate distances can be useful.

For the landscape, list the pertinent information on each major plant: recording the common name as well as the botanical name might be helpful. Other information may include date purchased/planted, cultural requirements (sun, shade, water requirement) and location.

For vegetable gardens, clearly indicate where each crop is planted on a sketch. This information will be valuable in the future to evaluate plant performance and crop rotation.

Also, gather more detailed information on sowing, transplant and germination dates, followed by harvest dates and quality/quantity observations. Keeping track of varieties that perform well versus under-performing types will provide just the kind of information needed for continued success.

Notes on pest and disease problems, with the plant(s) affected, can be critical information. Adding the time of season, severity and damage caused will help predict, and hopefully deter, future problems. The type of treatment and resolution can be outlined, including records of any products used.

A weather log can be jotted on a calendar page. Include the predicted first and last frost dates, as well as the actual frost dates. In addition, collecting information on temperature, rain, snow, soil temperature and unusual weather events can help you understand your garden’s micro-climate.

For example, tracking nighttime low temperatures in the fall can help predict the need to cover sensitive plants, such as tomatoes, in the future.

As keeping a journal becomes an enjoyable activity, there will be other sections to add if desired, such as fertilizer schedules, purchases, vendors and costs. The list goes on.

Susan Kalmar is a Clallam County Master.