Garden Journaling

How to Track What Actually Works

December 16th, 2025

Garden Smarter, Not Harder

If you’ve ever stood in your garden wondering, “Did I plant this earlier last year?” or “Why did this do so well once… and then completely fail?”—you’re not alone.

Gardening in New Brunswick keeps us humble. One year, it’s a cold, soggy spring. Next, we’re racing to beat a surprise late frost or dealing with weeks of summer heat we didn’t see coming. Between our short growing season, unpredictable weather, and varied soil conditions, success often feels like a moving target.

That’s where garden journaling comes in.

A garden journal isn’t about perfect handwriting or daily essays. It’s simply a place to track what actually happens in your garden—what works, what doesn’t, and why. Over time, those notes become one of the most powerful tools you can use to grow healthier plants, improve harvests, and feel more confident trying new things.

Whether you’re planting your very first tomato or fine-tuning a well-established garden, a journal helps you learn your space—not just generic gardening advice that may or may not apply to our Maritime climate.

In this guide, we’ll walk through:

How to set up a garden journal that fits your lifestyle
What information is worth tracking (and what you can skip)
Tips, tricks, and common mistakes to avoid
How journaling helps New Brunswick gardeners grow better every year

No pressure. No perfection. Just practical notes that help your garden thrive.

What Is a Garden Journal—and Why Every New Brunswick Gardener Should Have One

At its core, a garden journal is simply a record of what happens in your garden over time. It can be a notebook, a binder, a calendar, or even a digital document—but the purpose is always the same: to help you learn from experience.

And in New Brunswick, experience is everything.

A Garden Journal Is Not…

Let’s clear this up first. A garden journal does not need to be:

Written in every day
Neatly organized at all times
Filled with long explanations or perfect sketches

If all you write is “Planted peas May 18—slow to sprout, cold soil”, you’re doing it right.

What a Garden Journal Is...

A good garden journal is:

A place to track dates, weather, and observations
A memory bank for what you tried and how it turned out
A tool to help you adjust and improve each season

Over time, it becomes a personalized gardening guide tailored specifically to your yard, your soil, and your local conditions.

Why Journaling Matters More in New Brunswick

Gardening advice from warmer regions doesn’t always translate well to our Maritime climate. Here’s why journaling is especially valuable for NB gardeners:

Short growing season: With roughly 110–130 frost-free days, timing is critical.
Unpredictable weather: Late frosts, heavy spring rain, humid summers, and early fall chills are common.
Soil variation: Clay-heavy soil in one yard, sandy loam just down the road.
Microclimates: Coastal winds, sheltered backyards, or south-facing slopes can all behave differently.

A journal helps you spot patterns—like which crops tolerate cool springs, which varieties handle humidity best, and when your garden actually warms up enough to plant.

Beginners and Experts Benefit Alike

New gardeners gain confidence faster by seeing progress and understanding setbacks.
Experienced gardeners use journals to fine-tune yields, rotate crops effectively, and experiment with new varieties without repeating old mistakes.

Many seasoned gardeners will tell you the same thing: once you start journaling, you’ll wonder how you ever gardened without it.

Think of It as a Conversation With Your Garden

Each season adds another chapter. One wet summer might explain a disease outbreak. A warm spring could explain an early bumper harvest. Over time, your journal starts answering questions before you even ask them.

And that’s when gardening really gets fun.

Setting Up Your Garden Journal (Keep It Simple)

The best garden journal is the one you’ll actually use. Before you start filling pages, it’s worth taking a few minutes to choose a setup that feels easy—not like another chore on your to-do list.

Paper or Digital? (There’s No Wrong Answer)

Both options work well for New Brunswick gardeners. The key is choosing what fits your habits.

Paper Journals

Great for quick notes while you’re outside

Easy to sketch garden layouts and bed maps

Perfect for taping in seed packets, tags, and photos

Digital Journals

Easy to search and organize year-to-year

Simple to add photos and weather screenshots

Convenient if you already use your phone in the garden

Many gardeners use a hybrid approach—a notebook during the season, then transferring key notes to a digital file over the winter.

Start Small

(You Can Always Add Later)

One of the most common mistakes is trying to track everything right away. Instead, begin with just a few core sections:

Planting dates
Weather notes
Successes and failures

Once journaling becomes a habit, you’ll naturally start adding more detail.

How Often Should You Write?

Short answer: whenever something happens.

That might be:

The day you plant or transplant
After a heavy rain or unexpected frost
When pests show up
At harvest time

Quick bullet points are better than long entries you never get around to writing.

Keep It Accessible

Your journal should live where you garden:

On a potting bench
In the shed
In a waterproof bag near the door

If it’s tucked away on a shelf, it won’t get used.

Give Yourself Permission to Be Imperfect

Your garden journal is for you. Spelling mistakes, crossed-out notes, and half-finished thoughts are all part of the process. Some of the most useful entries are the messiest ones—especially during busy weeks in July and August.

Remember, this isn’t about documenting a perfect garden. It’s about learning what works in your space, in your climate, in your season.

Essential Reference Data:
Your Garden’s Foundation

Before you start logging daily activity, it helps to set up a few reference pages in your garden journal. These are the details that don’t change often but influence everything you grow. Think of them as your garden’s profile.

Garden Basics (Write This Once, Refer to It Often)

These notes give important context to everything else you record.

Include:

Plant hardiness zone:

Most of New Brunswick falls between Zone 4a and 5b

Average frost dates:

Last spring frost: typically late May to early June

First fall frost: usually mid to late September

Soil type:

Clay-heavy, sandy, loamy—or a mix

Soil pH (if known):

Many NB soils are naturally acidic, which affects plant choice and nutrient uptake

Sun exposure:

Full sun, part shade, or shade (note how many hours, not just the label)

💡 Tip: “Full sun” in New Brunswick isn’t the same as full sun in hotter climates. Some plants that struggle elsewhere may thrive here with a little extra light.

Garden Layout & Mapping (This Is More Important Than You Think)

It’s surprisingly easy to forget what was planted where—especially once everything dies back in fall. A simple map saves a lot of guesswork.

Why mapping matters:

Helps with crop rotation, which keeps soil healthier and reduces disease

Prevents planting the same crop family in the same spot year after year

Makes planning easier each spring

How to do it:

Sketch your garden from an aerial view

Use graph paper to keep beds roughly to scale

Label beds, rows, or sections

Note permanent features like:

Trees and shrubs

Raised beds

Fences or trellises

📸 Extra tip: Take photos throughout the season and reference them later. Photos plus sketches are incredibly helpful during winter planning.

Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens

If you have multiple growing areas, note them separately.

Raised beds:

Warm up faster in spring

Drain better in wet seasons

In-ground beds:

Hold moisture longer

May warm more slowly, especially in clay soil

Over time, your journal will show how different areas of your garden behave—and which plants prefer each spot.

Why This Section Matters

When something goes wrong later—slow growth, disease, poor harvest—these reference notes help explain why. They turn frustrations into learning opportunities and help you make smarter choices next year.

Once this foundation is in place, everything else in your journal becomes more meaningful.

Tracking & Logs:
Turning Observations Into Results

Tracking doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent. These logs capture the day-to-day details that explain why one season thrives and another struggles—especially in New Brunswick’s ever-changing conditions.

Seed & Plant Inventory

(Save Money and Frustration)

Keeping a simple inventory prevents overbuying and helps you understand what actually performs well.

What to record:

Plant or seed variety name
Seed company or supplier
Purchase year
Germination success or plant performance

🌱 Why it matters in NB:
Cool, wet springs can delay germination. Your journal helps you tell the difference between old seed and soil that’s just not warm yet.

Pro tip: Most seeds stay viable longer than we think—but germination rates drop over time. Your notes will show which varieties still perform after a few years.

Planting Calendar (Timing Is Everything)

This section quickly becomes one of the most valuable parts of your journal.

Log dates for: Starting seeds indoors, Direct sowing outdoors, Transplanting into the garden, First sprouts and true leaves

🌦️ New Brunswick reality check:
A warm May one year doesn’t mean the same dates will work next year. Comparing seasons helps you spot patterns and avoid planting too early—or waiting too long.

Weather Tracker (Your Secret Weapon)

Weather explains more than we often realize.

Track:

Rainfall (heavy rain matters more than light showers)
High and low temperatures
Frost warnings
Extreme events (heatwaves, windstorms, early snow)

🌧️ Why it’s crucial here:
Maritime humidity and frequent rain can lead to fungal disease, while sudden heat can stress cool-season crops. Weather notes turn “mystery problems” into understandable outcomes.

Harvest Log (Don’t Skip This One!)
Many gardeners stop journaling once the plants are growing—but harvest notes are gold.

Record:

First harvest date
Total yield (weight or count)
Taste, texture, and quality

🥕 The most important question:
Was it worth growing?

Taste notes help you decide what deserves space in next year’s garden—and what can be replaced with something better.

Keep It Simple and Honest

Some days your entry might just say:

“Planted carrots—soil still cold.”
“Heavy rain all week—tomatoes struggling.”
“Best beans we’ve ever grown!”

That’s perfect. Over time, these short notes add up to powerful insight.

Maintenance & Management Logs

A garden journal isn’t just about planting and harvesting. It’s also where you track the care your plants receive—and how they respond. These notes help you fine-tune your approach year after year.

Maintenance Schedule (Future You Will Thank You)

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to forget when something was last fertilized, pruned, or divided.

Use your journal to plan and track:

Fertilizing dates and products used
Pruning times for shrubs and perennials
Dividing perennials
Mulching schedules (especially before summer heat)

📅 NB-specific tip: Our cool springs can delay growth, so maintenance timing often shifts from year to year. Logging when tasks actually happened—not when you planned them—helps you adjust realistically.

Pests & Diseases

(The “Little Beasties” Log)

This is one of the most powerful reasons to keep a garden journal.

Document:

What you noticed (chewed leaves, spots, wilting)
When it appeared
Weather conditions at the time
What treatment did you try—and the result

🐌 Common New Brunswick challenges include:

Slugs during wet seasons

Cabbage moths and flea beetles

Tomato blight in rainy summers

Powdery mildew in humid conditions

Over time, your notes will reveal patterns—and save you from repeating treatments that didn’t work.

Budget & Expenses

(Yes, This Matters)

Tracking costs might not sound exciting, but it’s incredibly useful.

Include:

Seeds and plants
Soil amendments and fertilizers
Tools and supplies

💸 Why it helps:

Shows how much your garden contributes to your food budget
Helps you plan smarter purchases
Keeps receipts handy for plant warranties (especially for trees and shrubs)
Many gardeners are surprised to see how quickly perennials pay for themselves over time.

Don’t Aim for Perfect

Aim for Useful

This section doesn’t need to be detailed to be effective. Even short notes like:

“Fertilized strawberries—strong growth”

“Slug bait worked better after dry spell”
can make a big difference next season.

Creative & Reflective Pages:
Learning From Every Season

While logs and schedules capture the facts, the creative and reflective pages capture the why. This is where gardeners turn experiences—good and bad—into lasting lessons.

Successes & Failures

(Both Are Valuable)

Every season has wins and disappointments. The key is writing them down honestly.

Ask yourself:

What thrived this year?
What struggled or failed?
Why might that be? Weather? Timing? Soil?

🌦️ NB reality:
A cold, wet spring or a humid summer doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Recording the conditions helps you see when nature—not technique—was the deciding factor.

Failure notes prevent repeat mistakes, while success notes become your go-to strategies in future seasons.

Personal Touches

(Make It Enjoyable)

Your journal should feel inviting, not clinical.

Ideas to include:

Tape in seed packets or plant tags
Add printed photos from throughout the season
Press leaves or flowers between pages
Sketch plants, beds, or garden visitors

These elements make the journal fun to revisit—especially during long Maritime winters when you’re planning next year’s garden.

Wish Lists & Future Projects

Great gardeners are always dreaming.

Use a section of your journal to track:

New plant varieties you want to try
Garden projects (raised beds, trellises, pollinator areas)
Ideas sparked by visits to nurseries or other gardens

🌱 Winter planning tip:
Late winter is the perfect time to review this section while flipping through seed catalogues and past notes.

Why Reflection Matters

Reflection turns notes into knowledge. When you review past seasons, patterns emerge:

Which crops handle wet weather best
What planting dates consistently work
Which mistakes aren’t worth repeating

This is how gardeners grow smarter—not just busier.

Common Garden Journaling Mistakes
(And How to Avoid Them)

Garden journaling should make gardening easier—not add pressure. These are some of the most common mistakes gardeners make, along with simple ways to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Trying to Track Everything

It’s tempting to record every detail, especially at the start.

Why it backfires:

Journaling becomes overwhelming

You fall behind and stop altogether

What to do instead:
Focus on the basics:

Planting dates

Weather notes

Successes and failures

You can always add more later.

Mistake #3: Being Too Rigid or Perfection-Focused

Perfect handwriting and neat layouts aren’t the goal.

Signs this is happening:

You skip entries because you “don’t have time”

You feel guilty about missed days

Better approach:
Messy, honest notes are far more useful than perfect pages you never fill.

Mistake #2: Waiting Too Long to Write Things Down

Relying on memory rarely works.

Why it’s a problem:

Details blur together

Weather events get forgotten

Lessons are lost by winter

Simple fix:
Keep your journal close and write short notes right after something happens—even one sentence is enough.

Mistake #4: Not Reviewing Past Seasons

A journal only helps if you look back at it.

Why this matters in NB:
Our growing conditions change year to year. Reviewing notes before planting helps you adjust timing, varieties, and expectations.

Best time to review:
Late winter—when you’re itching to garden but can’t yet get outside.

Mistake #5: Treating Failures as Personal Mistakes

Gardening is affected by factors we can’t control.

Instead of thinking:
“I’m bad at growing this.”

Try writing:
“Cold, wet spring—poor germination.”

This shift in perspective keeps gardening enjoyable and encourages experimentation.

Remember: The Journal Works for You

There’s no “right” way to keep a garden journal. The best one reflects your habits, your space, and your climate. If it helps you learn—even a little—it’s doing its job.

Tips & Tricks for Sticking
With Garden Journaling All Season

Starting a garden journal is easy. Sticking with it—especially during the busiest parts of the season—takes a few smart habits.

Keep It Where You Garden

If your journal lives indoors on a shelf, it won’t get used.

Try:

Leaving it on a potting bench

Keeping it in the shed

Storing it near the door you use most often

The easier it is to grab, the more often you’ll jot something down.

Build a Year-Over-Year Habit

Each season adds value to the last.

One year gives you clues

Two years show patterns

Three or more years create a powerful reference

Before long, your journal becomes one of your most trusted gardening tools.

Write While You’re Outside

Instead of planning to journal later:

Write a quick note right after planting

Jot observations while watering

Record pest issues as soon as you spot them

Short, in-the-moment notes are more accurate—and easier to maintain.

Use Winter as Reflection Time

For New Brunswick gardeners, winter is the perfect season to review and learn.

Flip through your journal and ask:

What planting dates worked best?

Which varieties handled wet or cold conditions?

What problems showed up during humid stretches?

This turns winter planning into an informed, confident process instead of guesswork.

Garden journaling isn’t about controlling nature—it’s about understanding it.

By keeping simple, honest notes, you learn how your garden responds to New Brunswick’s unique climate, soil, and seasons. You’ll make better decisions, waste less time and money, and feel more confident trying new plants and techniques.

Most importantly, you’ll stop repeating the same mistakes—and start building on what truly works.

Whether you’re just getting started or refining years of experience, a garden journal helps you grow smarter every season. And when questions come up, local expertise and quality plants make all the difference—something gardeners across the Lincoln area have trusted Scott’s Nursery Ltd. for years.

Here’s to learning, experimenting, and enjoying every season in the garden 🌱

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Garden Journaling

What Is a Garden Journal—and Why Every New Brunswick Gardener Should Have One

Setting Up Your Garden Journal (Keep It Simple)

Essential Reference Data: Your Garden’s Foundation

Tracking & Logs: Turning Observations Into Results

Maintenance & Management Logs

Creative & Reflective Pages: Learning From Every Season

Common Garden Journaling Mistakes(And How to Avoid Them)

Tips & Tricks for Sticking With Garden Journaling All Season

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Essential Reference Data:
Your Garden’s Foundation

Tracking & Logs:
Turning Observations Into Results

Creative & Reflective Pages:
Learning From Every Season

Common Garden Journaling Mistakes
(And How to Avoid Them)

Tips & Tricks for Sticking
With Garden Journaling All Season