every year I forget what I'm doing

[sarraceniac]

Every year the new year resolution is to make better records of what I have done in the garden. But like a lot of people with busy lives it gets to the point where the actual gardening gets so hectic that there just isn't any time to do the records. I am due to retire next year and I think to myself maybe then I will have time to keep a record, however even then I have my doubts.

Ian

Doubt on dear GB. I retired nearly 4 years ago and my record keeping (or lack of it) is even more chaotic now. Maybe if I didn't keep stopping for a glass of red in winter or white in summer........

[Dane End Dolly]

I have resrted to 10 x ice-cream tubs of varying sizes according to the amount of seeds to be sown that month (Oct, Nov & Dec are in the same one). at the end of the month any seeds for successional sowing will be put in the next months box (am i fooling myself that i will do this????? i do hope this system works)

[Jillyreeves]

I have resrted to 10 x ice-cream tubs of varying sizes according to the amount of seeds to be sown that month (Oct, Nov & Dec are in the same one). at the end of the month any seeds for successional sowing will be put in the next months box (am i fooling myself that i will do this????? i do hope this system works)

Your Ice Cream Tub system sounds like my Chocolate Tin system, may be we both need to be strict with our selves then it will work

If nothing else we are recycling

[ginger ninger]

I have one of those plastic drawer stacking things where I keep my seeds, I have graph paper for the lay out of where I'm going to plant things and a book what I write things down in, BUT, I don't know where I've put my little book OR my graph paper...Bum. And I think I went a bit mad with the seeds plus all of my swaps so the poor plastic drawers are full to busting, O well never mind, what doesn't get used will go in the seed swap next year.....I better start writing my list now

[janeyo]

I did keep a diary last year (still this year I spose) on a page per view beautiful one that OH bought me for xmas.. just been looking through ready to start a new one this year and I scribbled so fast and crazy and prob whilst walking about lol that I can't actually read most of it...

[coreopsis]

I thought it's just me who's so forgetful.Yeah,I promised myself next time I'll do this and that and I'll be better organised,but...When it comes to sowing time there is:housekeeping,full time work days with sunshine and days off when it's either windy or peeing down and then I'm rushing to have everything done and think"so much for trying to be better organized"
Nevermind,next year will be better

[binley100]

I'm going with the Ice cream tub system. Hopefully as this is our first full growing year all my plans will work ( hahahaha we'll see).

[Flummery]

I tend to go with the flow, sow what I remember when sorting through the packets etc. Himself, who retired in July, is taking over some of the veg that he likes but I'm not so keen on (so tend to 'forget') like radishes and lettuces. He's now making 'spreadsheet' noises. This is SO not me! If I can't be disorganised, an essential part of my life is missing!

[ladylottie]

Every year the new year resolution is to make better records of what I have done in the garden. But like a lot of people with busy lives it gets to the point where the actual gardening gets so hectic that there just isn't any time to do the records. I am due to retire next year and I think to myself maybe then I will have time to keep a record, however even then I have my doubts.

Ian

I am quite good at keeping records (it was part of my job after all for a very long time) so I do keep a diary of when I sow/plant things. Last year I wrote down which varieties I grew and a noted down a rough idea of how well they did/whether it was worth growing the same varieties next year. I also wrote down what the weather was like each day.

I used an A5 sized page a day diary for recording which was brilliant and a large sheet of graph paper to show where to plant the different veg. The recording on the graph paper didn't last long though as I got too involved actually planting stuff. But I will be using another A5 diary again for 2010.

Gojiberry - I retired 2 years ago (that's when I took on the lottie) and believe me, unless you're really organised and strict with yourself the recording won't get done. Because apart from spending time at the lottie, I seem to be doing more things now than when I was at work! (I know everyone says that, but it really is true!). And it's great - I can definitely recommend it.

My problem isn't with what I have done, but remembering what I'm supposed to be doing. Just glad that even the experts on here seem to have the same problem. I say do what you can and enjoy it

[Alison]

I have a rough note pad which I note things in as I go along, it's a bit muddy and dog eared but very useful. When I get 5 minutes (usually at lunch time) I transfer any sowing / transplantiing info onto a spreadsheet which contains all my seeds, numbers sown, where, when etc etc. Been keeping this for about 3 years now and it's invaluable. Took a while to set up in the first place but it's a doddle to keep running. Not 100% perfect with it but it's got most stuff in it and enough to remind me of what I need to know. Re seeds, have three tins. One is the general seed tin. One is the in situ stuff to be sown every few weeks at the lottie and the other is the stuff which will need sowing in the next few weeks. I look through the tins every week or so and tend to keep on top of most of it although usually a fair few lettuce type things seem to get forgotten.

[Snadger]

I tend to go with the flow, sow what I remember when sorting through the packets etc. Himself, who retired in July, is taking over some of the veg that he likes but I'm not so keen on (so tend to 'forget') like radishes and lettuces. He's now making 'spreadsheet' noises. This is SO not me! If I can't be disorganised, an essential part of my life is missing!

I'm the same Flum.......I rebel against spread sheets. Gardening is hands on for me now.........I've kept so many records in the past which were just a waste of time, paper and coloured ink! I vowed never to use them again.

I come from the Luke Skywalker school of gardening and tend to 'use the force'

If you use the force regularily enough the 'Force be with you' Lol

I do label EVERYTHING though

[Paulottie]

ROFL!!...Oh that i had the time to keep a gardening diary! Did try it about 10 years back but apart from the other half taking the p**s.....it's a bit uptight isn't i?...fine if your hoping to publish your memoirs; I do however try and take a few photos of my proud moments and catastrophes to look back and chuckle at.

I find I can remember the rhythm and rotations of two allotments and my home patch..but a plan is a good idea for novices. Effective veg growing is definitely rhythm, (basically don't let up! keep sowing and harvesting and trying to be one step ahead of the pests!!). Anyway, do many people grow veg traditionally like me these days?...I kinda got the impression it was all a bit more raised bed and stick the next thing in a gap � la Geoff Hamilton.

I picked up the idea of putting seeds in ice-cream tubs, by sowing time, from my neighbour (someone on here even suggested filing back issues of gyo by the month batch) but, in my disorganised hands it all got a bit confused and took up too much space. so went back to keep types together.

'This year I'll get organised!'...Happy new year's and resolutions to you all!

[SlugLobber]

I do keep a gardening diary, of sorts, but it invariably falls by the wayside when I just get too busy.

I tried to keep a veg-per-page diary last year, with detailed notes, but that didn't even get started due to work on the house, work and general busyness

Maybe I'll spend these quiet Old Year days starting it again

One day I shall try all that. Meanwhile, I'll just bumble along and do 'stuff' when and where I can fit it in.

[lettucegrow!]

Been trying to be more organised for the last couple of years. Have sorted my seeds into three tins. One for flowers, one for veg and one for salads. I've tried to keep a diary with planting and germination dates and what worked and what failed. This usually starts well but gets forgotten as the year gets busy.
So tonight I'm going to settle down with all the seeds, tins and a journal I was given a while ago and never used(it has monthly sections and pockets for stuff), plus a big glass of wine and turkey soup bubbling on the hob and get organised. Bliss!

[Alison]

ROFL!!...Oh that i had the time to keep a gardening diary! Did try it about 10 years back but apart from the other half taking the p**s.....it's a bit uptight isn't i?...fine if your hoping to publish your memoirs

I find it only takes a few minutes each time to note things down, it's not like it's a wordy thing like a blog (can you publish lists these days?) and it saves me loads of time the following year as I'm more efficient as I know what worked and didn't. If that's uptight then are more than happy to be so.