Sowing/harvesting diaries

[Spireite]

Is it a good idea to keep one, if only to see what works in you soil over the years and at what time of year things should be  done?

[Spireite]

[queenbee]

I have kept a sowing/planting/harvesting diary since 1997 and I wouldn't be without it, I even write the date of my first raspberry pickings. When I look back the dates have not been consistent due to the weather. some very early and some very late. I always get there in the end.

[Gordonmull]

Hi Spireite

I'm in my first serious year and the best thing I ever did was get a diary out of a shop well known for selling things at £1.

Just today I was wondering whether to sow peas in modules to succeed the last sowing, a quick flick through the diary showed me that it wasn't worth bothering because I wouldn't have the space, given the time it would take them to grow on.

The only thing is, all I've recorded is e.g. "lettuce sown" then "lettuce sown on 22/03/12 are showing" then "potted on said lettuces". I wish i'd included more details like sowing medium, location, whether propagated on the windowsill/greenhouse/fish tank, potting on medium, what pots, trays, containers etc.

Next year i'm going to be even sadder than diarising it - I'm going to make little A6 sowing records and keep them in a folder, noting when the plants get a change in their circumstances and what yields i get.  :-[

I'll still keep the diary though. I'd forget to do things otherwise.

Cheers

Gord

[daveyboi]

I agree always worth keeping a record / diary also I tend to note the weather at times as well.

[Tee Gee]

I have been keeping notes since 1987 this is a summary of them;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Indexes/index.htm

[Alex133]

I record pretty much everything including crop yields, it's great to refer back to and good fun anyway if you like that sort of thing.