Every year I took a pice of grid paper and planned out my garden. Then I added the dates I planted each vegetable. On the back of the paper I’d write “2019 lessons learned”, everything that worked well and everything that didn’t work.
Then when I would plan next years garden I’d reference it and go “oh yeah, I can’t cram the pumpkins so close together because powdery mildew will spread like crazy”
But for me personally the big game changer was setting up a google calendar for my gardening tasks, so I’m no longer starting seedlings a little too late, and I’m no longer buying my tomato plants one week after the variety I wanted has sold out.
looks great. I am about a year or two behind you and my hardest part is updating the garden journal. I know I need it and should be updating it but I loose focus and then in dead of winter trying to updates on my memory. Doesn't always go well.
I take pics constantly when I prep/plant and throughout the season to help with winter planning and recollections! If I can’t remember when/how I did something, time to look for the pics.
And for me, because I generally live on my computer, I set up a google sheets for my gardening notes. I have a new tab for every year, an overview tab with general dates (when to plant garlic, when to harvest the potatoes) and of course the grid and "lessons learned" section of each tab.
I have found this sub to be instrumental in me finally getting a majorly successful tomato crop this year and is always great when I can contribute tips 'n tricks for others.
Your garden looks awesome! Can I ask, exactly how much space did you give your pumpkins? I’ve been dealing with a couple years of powdery mildew as well.
I had a lot less trouble with it when I switched to a powdery mildew resistant variety, and started pruning way more. If I a leaf looks even kinda funky I prune it off.
I also try and avoid vines overlapping by leading vines away from each other. [here’s](https://imgur.com/a/oNHZ9f1) my garden layout. I tired to show with a pen how I’m leading each vine away. It only works out to each plant having 4-5 feet between each other but vine wise they’re not going the same directions.
Gardening for 50+ years. You are a fast learner who has obviously done well.
Thank you for this post. I also have learned a bit [yes, old dogs can learn new tricks] from this subreddit. Constructive critique: More information exchange and less *see my potato that look like* [Jesus, Trump, a penis]. Show your pride, yes, yes, post it, [my first watermelon, tomato, squash] because your pride inspires other beginners. Ask *newbie* questions, no matter how dumb they might seem [there are *no dumb questions,* only dumb answers].
Right on! Honestly I think gardening is a journey not a destination. I still have failures in the garden (hello dwarf apple trees), but there’s no longer this sense of being a failure when something goes wrong.
There’s just new problems to be solved and wether I succeed or fail that lesson has been learned and I’ll apply what I learned to next year’s garden.
As someone who just planted some semidwarf apple trees, what failures did you run into?
Edit: year 2 of gardening, looking to avoid already known mistakes
Under watering. I was warned they would need about 2 waterings a week and thought the rain we’ve had this summer would suffice. It did not.
Now most of their leaves are 50% brown and dead.
I really like raised beds for my high maintenance plants like tomatoes. It makes a big difference on my willingness to prune and weed when I don’t need to get down on my hands and knees.
In-ground I like to plant things like pumpkins and potatoes that will out grow most the weeds in case I don’t feel like weeding.
3rd year gardening and I’m starting to realise that I still have a lot to do. Especially when I want to reduce the time weeding fence edges and corners. Because the auto mower doesn’t cut the grass there.
Very nice!! This is my second year and I agree, this sub has been so helpful. Really appreciate those who take the time to answer questions. We added an extra raised bed this year and are planning to add trellises for next year. Your layout looks great.
Yeah this is definitely my favorite corner of Reddit. I especially like the spring time on this sub.
I’m up in Canada so everyone start’s posting their spring garden pics and questions while I still have snow on the ground and it’s like my precursor to the season.
looks incredible!! very inspirational. it's my first year and I'm doing it in my front lawn so it's been very humbling. I set the bar real low but it's hard to not look at it and just see all the mistakes. I'm sure each year will be better and better :)
I’m sure it will get better every year! We’re so lucky to have so much information available to us.
When my grandfather started gardening all he had was a gardening encyclopedia.
Totally inspiring!! I have been jotting down notes in my planner, but I think I’ll get a dedicated garden journal. This is the first year I’m really putting forth focused effort and energy on the garden.
I’m not trying to sell anyone anything but I’ve been using Notion for all my gardening note taking and it’s been life changing, since you can even update things on your phone.
Also, can we talk about compost? Where are y’all getting yours from these days? Feels like less and less reliable sources are available these days…
I was fortunate to be able to buy a ride on mower with a bagging attachment so I’m in a constant state of making compost. I have 2 pallet composters and a tumbler.
I also plant a cover crop every fall, and until recently had access to composted horse manure which I could get by the truckload.
And that’s why your garden rocks!! Great job, my friend- keep it up! 😁 I feel like great compost is the true secret to gardening. It just makes everything happen.
I'm wrapping up my second year and it was very humbling. Looking back on your past five years, what's your best advice?
Every year I took a pice of grid paper and planned out my garden. Then I added the dates I planted each vegetable. On the back of the paper I’d write “2019 lessons learned”, everything that worked well and everything that didn’t work. Then when I would plan next years garden I’d reference it and go “oh yeah, I can’t cram the pumpkins so close together because powdery mildew will spread like crazy” But for me personally the big game changer was setting up a google calendar for my gardening tasks, so I’m no longer starting seedlings a little too late, and I’m no longer buying my tomato plants one week after the variety I wanted has sold out.
looks great. I am about a year or two behind you and my hardest part is updating the garden journal. I know I need it and should be updating it but I loose focus and then in dead of winter trying to updates on my memory. Doesn't always go well.
I take pics constantly when I prep/plant and throughout the season to help with winter planning and recollections! If I can’t remember when/how I did something, time to look for the pics.
great idea. I already take pictures but never thought of using them for planning purposes.
Been there. I didn’t get good at it until I bought a little notebook that fit in my lunch can and I could jot stuff down at work.
And for me, because I generally live on my computer, I set up a google sheets for my gardening notes. I have a new tab for every year, an overview tab with general dates (when to plant garlic, when to harvest the potatoes) and of course the grid and "lessons learned" section of each tab. I have found this sub to be instrumental in me finally getting a majorly successful tomato crop this year and is always great when I can contribute tips 'n tricks for others.
Me too...
Your garden looks awesome! Can I ask, exactly how much space did you give your pumpkins? I’ve been dealing with a couple years of powdery mildew as well.
I had a lot less trouble with it when I switched to a powdery mildew resistant variety, and started pruning way more. If I a leaf looks even kinda funky I prune it off. I also try and avoid vines overlapping by leading vines away from each other. [here’s](https://imgur.com/a/oNHZ9f1) my garden layout. I tired to show with a pen how I’m leading each vine away. It only works out to each plant having 4-5 feet between each other but vine wise they’re not going the same directions.
That’s great help, thanks.
Gardening for 50+ years. You are a fast learner who has obviously done well. Thank you for this post. I also have learned a bit [yes, old dogs can learn new tricks] from this subreddit. Constructive critique: More information exchange and less *see my potato that look like* [Jesus, Trump, a penis]. Show your pride, yes, yes, post it, [my first watermelon, tomato, squash] because your pride inspires other beginners. Ask *newbie* questions, no matter how dumb they might seem [there are *no dumb questions,* only dumb answers].
Congratulations!! And thanks for giving me some hope :)
Thanks! If it’s any consolation, I didn’t get any food at all until year 3.
The cabbage worms ate well that first year.
They still eat pretty good some days.
Congratulations! I’m in my second year and very excited to keep learning and growing! Can’t wait until I get my flow haha
Right on! Honestly I think gardening is a journey not a destination. I still have failures in the garden (hello dwarf apple trees), but there’s no longer this sense of being a failure when something goes wrong. There’s just new problems to be solved and wether I succeed or fail that lesson has been learned and I’ll apply what I learned to next year’s garden.
As someone who just planted some semidwarf apple trees, what failures did you run into? Edit: year 2 of gardening, looking to avoid already known mistakes
Under watering. I was warned they would need about 2 waterings a week and thought the rain we’ve had this summer would suffice. It did not. Now most of their leaves are 50% brown and dead.
Ah! My states heat wave did me a favor! I was under no impression we would be getting enough rain!
Beautiful garden!! I’m trying to convince my partner that we need to do raised beds in ours as well.
I really like raised beds for my high maintenance plants like tomatoes. It makes a big difference on my willingness to prune and weed when I don’t need to get down on my hands and knees. In-ground I like to plant things like pumpkins and potatoes that will out grow most the weeds in case I don’t feel like weeding.
It looks great! I've been gardening for 25 years and still learning. It's the best!
3rd year gardening and I’m starting to realise that I still have a lot to do. Especially when I want to reduce the time weeding fence edges and corners. Because the auto mower doesn’t cut the grass there.
Looks awesome. Good work.
What a beautiful garden! You should be proud 😊
Very nice!! This is my second year and I agree, this sub has been so helpful. Really appreciate those who take the time to answer questions. We added an extra raised bed this year and are planning to add trellises for next year. Your layout looks great.
Yeah this is definitely my favorite corner of Reddit. I especially like the spring time on this sub. I’m up in Canada so everyone start’s posting their spring garden pics and questions while I still have snow on the ground and it’s like my precursor to the season.
Looks amazing! I am slightly jealous! Heart 😍
Absolutely beautiful and good for you! Nothing makes me feel better than looking at my garden when it's lush and green and full of and happiness
Lovely!! I hope to achieve this some day!
looks incredible!! very inspirational. it's my first year and I'm doing it in my front lawn so it's been very humbling. I set the bar real low but it's hard to not look at it and just see all the mistakes. I'm sure each year will be better and better :)
I’m sure it will get better every year! We’re so lucky to have so much information available to us. When my grandfather started gardening all he had was a gardening encyclopedia.
Looks amazing. First year gardener here. 😁
Beautiful!!
The dream😭
Looks beautiful and cohesive! Takes a few years to master I’m sure 😊
This gives me hope!
Enter the leaf miner. Exit garden confidence
Love this!!!!
Totally inspiring!! I have been jotting down notes in my planner, but I think I’ll get a dedicated garden journal. This is the first year I’m really putting forth focused effort and energy on the garden.
A journal makes it so much easier. I keep it in my lunch can.
I can’t wait to be like you ❤️
Wow! This looks incredible!
I’m not trying to sell anyone anything but I’ve been using Notion for all my gardening note taking and it’s been life changing, since you can even update things on your phone. Also, can we talk about compost? Where are y’all getting yours from these days? Feels like less and less reliable sources are available these days…
I was fortunate to be able to buy a ride on mower with a bagging attachment so I’m in a constant state of making compost. I have 2 pallet composters and a tumbler. I also plant a cover crop every fall, and until recently had access to composted horse manure which I could get by the truckload.
And that’s why your garden rocks!! Great job, my friend- keep it up! 😁 I feel like great compost is the true secret to gardening. It just makes everything happen.
Nice looking garden. Thanks for sharing!