5 TOP TIPS: Sorting Seeds & Planning

Hello friends! Gardening can be really tricky sometimes. I know that very well! That's why I have come up with these simple Top Tips for you! So that you can learn from my mistakes and maybe copy what I have done well. Just to make your life a bit easier... I have got your back!

If you would like to see how I go through the 5 Top Tips at my kitchen table, go to my YouTube channel:

 'Just a Normal Family' ----> '5 Top Tips/ Sorting Seeds and Planning'

Enjoy! ;)

#1 Top Tip - Keep a Gardening Journal!

 

 

Even if you're doing ever so well with your sowing and plating, watering and so on it will always be helpful to keep a gardening journal! Believe me or not but you will forget things... there is a lot going on in a gardening season even if it's happening in slower pace. And it's ever so frustrating when the next year your crop is not so great just because you didn't remember the exact spot or date of sowing the seeds or repotting...

I've been there, done that, got a T-shirt...

Here are some practical reasons for keeping a Gardening Journal:

  • Tracking Progress: A gardening journal allows you to track the progress of your garden over time. You can document when you planted certain seeds or bulbs, when they sprouted, and when they bloomed or bore fruit. This helps you understand the lifecycle of your plants and make adjustments in subsequent seasons.
  • Recording Observations: By jotting down observations about your garden, such as weather conditions, pest problems, soil quality, and plant health, you can identify patterns and trends. This information can help you troubleshoot issues and make informed decisions about planting and maintenance strategies.
  • Planning for Success: Use your gardening journal to plan out your garden layout for the upcoming season. You can sketch out where you want to plant different crops or flowers, record spacing requirements, and note any companion planting strategies you want to implement. This helps ensure that you make the most efficient use of your space and resources.
  • Remembering Favourites: Keep track of your favourite plants, varieties, and techniques. Note which plants performed particularly well in your garden and which ones you want to avoid in the future. This information can guide your plant selection and cultivation practices in subsequent years.
  • Learning and Improving: Reflect on your successes and failures in the garden by reviewing your journal regularly. Identify what worked well and what didn't, and brainstorm ways to improve your gardening skills and knowledge. Your journal can serve as a valuable learning tool to help you become a more successful and confident gardener over time.
  • Celebrating Achievements: Documenting your gardening journey allows you to celebrate achievements, big and small. Whether it's harvesting your first homegrown tomatoes, successfully overwintering delicate perennials, or simply keeping your plants alive through a particularly challenging season, your journal serves as a reminder of your accomplishments and the joy that gardening brings.
  • Passing on Knowledge: A gardening journal is a valuable resource that can be passed down to future generations. By documenting your experiences, insights, and tips, you can share your gardening wisdom with family members, friends, or fellow gardeners who may benefit from your knowledge long after you're gone.

Keeping a gardening journal can be incredibly beneficial for both beginner and experienced gardeners alike, trust me!

Overall, keeping a gardening journal is a practical and rewarding way to document your gardening journey, learn from your experiences, and cultivate a deeper connection with your garden. Stay connected!

#2 Top Tip - Remember To Write The Dates!

 

When keeping a Gardening Journal please remember to write the dates everywhere it is needed! I thought I did but sadly I forgot to put a date of replanting our lovely cucumber seedlings into the polytunnel the year when we had a lot of cucumbers... and last year I had to guess it and unfortunately I guessed it wrong and we ended up with a very small crop of cucumbers... 

Important Dates To Write Down:

  • last frost date!
  • sowing
  • repotting
  • replanting
  • harvesting

#3 Top Tip - Have Spare Seeds!

 

It's great when you have Spare Seeds! Then you can trade with other friends gardeners for seeds of vegetables or flowers that you have never grown before. It can be a start of a wonderful exciting gardening (and cooking) adventure!

Or you could simply sow some more vegetables or flowers if you have the space and sell them as seedlings and make some extra money or just give them away to make the community happy and make some friends! I did that a few years ago with my tomatoes, only that by accident I sowed far too many... I think it was my first year of gardening. But the smiles of my far neighbours were priceless!

#4 Top Tip - Write the Names of Your Seeds!

 

If you saw my video on this subject of sorting seeds and planning my gardening year, you would know that I made another mistake! ---> https://youtu.be/5JUZGM8TycM 

It's so important to write the name of your own harvested seeds to simply know what exactly is it. If you forget to write the name of your seeds then you won't know  where to put them, when to put them, how much water do they need, their germination period, harvest time etc, etc. so simple and yet can be so easily forgotten. I have done that too many times and ended up with funky looking seeds that were just another experiment that sadly never worked out. 

#5 Top Tip - Know Your Last Frost Date!

 

 

Knowing your last frost date is crucial for successful gardening adventure!

Below are some main points why is it so important:

 

  • Plant Survival: Knowing the last frost date helps gardeners avoid planting tender crops or sensitive plants too early, which could be damaged or killed by late spring frosts.
  • Optimal Planting Time: By understanding the last frost date, gardeners can determine the optimal time to start seeds indoors, sow seeds directly in the ground, or transplant seedlings outdoors, ensuring that plants have the best chance of thriving in the growing season.
  • Protection Planning: Gardeners can plan and implement protective measures such as row covers, cloches, or frost blankets to shield plants from late frosts if necessary, based on the predicted last frost date.
  • Maximize Growing Season: Knowing when the risk of frost has passed allows gardeners to extend the growing season by planting heat-loving crops and tender annuals earlier, maximizing the time available for plants to mature and produce harvestable yields.
  • Prevent Crop Loss: Avoiding premature planting due to ignorance of the last frost date helps prevent potential crop loss, saving time, effort, and resources invested in gardening activities.
  • Avoidance of Damage: By adhering to the last frost date, gardeners reduce the risk of damage to emerging foliage, flowers, and fruit buds, promoting healthier plant growth and higher yields throughout the season.
  • Time and Resource Management: Understanding the last frost date enables gardeners to allocate their time, resources, and energy efficiently, focusing on tasks such as soil preparation, composting, and garden maintenance until conditions are favorable for planting.
  • Adaptation to Local Conditions: Last frost dates vary depending on geographical location and microclimates, so knowing this information allows gardeners to tailor their planting schedules and gardening practices to suit their specific region and climate.
  • Better Gardening Success: Overall, awareness of the last frost date is essential for gardeners to make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and increase the likelihood of a successful and productive gardening season.