[lisajpickering]

Hi all

I've been told I ought to keep a journal of what goes on at the allotment - not so much a diary but a note of what I've been doing when and what sort of harvest I get.  I'm thinking there must be a whole load of other useful stuff I ought to include. 

Does everyone keep a journal and what do you put in it?

Lisa
 :happy:

[Greengirl]

I don't keep a journal as such. I just write on my plan, stating what I actually put where & what varieties I used. As with most things I sometimes change my mind & put plants where I have space, rather than where I planned to, but writing a journal giving planting & harvesting dates & notes on taste & quantity etc might be a good idea, if you can be bothered.

[SnooziSuzi]

I do.

I have a 'Red&Black' hardback book that I keep at the allotment and I keep track of the date, weather conditions, maximum & minimum temps recorded on my thermometer, what I've planted/sowed/done etc and also I keep a sketch of my plot and I make notes in there of what is planted where.

THe intention is that I could look back on this in a year, 2 years etc and remind myself what went where for crop rotation, monitoring weather patterns etc so I can judge what the weather might be like at a given time of year.

THis last bit might not work out as planned as weather patterns change all of the time, but Samuel Peypes kept a diary and noted the weather etc so perhaps mine will be discovered in centuries time and they'll say "ooohhh, ahhhh, it was sunny on such-and-such a date"! 

[mickwood]

I think it's a persoal thing and probably reflects your personality as much as the choice of plants grown and the state of your allotment!

I have just started but can see the benefit of noting things down, mainly what I'm sowing, and when, so next year I'll have a rough idea of what I did, what worked and what didn't. Eg, if I plant out something too early and it gets hit with a late frost then it'll show me in the diary. Next year I can then choose to plant out slightly later 

So, in short, put in whatever you think may answer the questions you may have for next year!

[Ice]

I don't write a journal but I do note what problems I have had re pests and diseases.  Then, the next year I can be more prepared for them, maybe even avoid them altogether.

[nurse thimble]

mine has a bit of everythin too- weather, what I've done, wildlife spotted, and I get visitors/helpers to write an entry - usually entertaining and quite fun to look back on.
I guess its what you think you might like to look back on.  I've started taken odd photos too which I may just print out on the computer to stick in.  When I see how the plot has come on its very encouraging. 

[Bozwell]

I made a scale plan of my allotment plot and diveded it in to 5 equal sized areas showing the beds, paths, shed, water butts, & compost bins etc. I used this as a template and then put the year at the top of the page. Each year I fill in what plants I intend to put where in my 5 year rotation plan. I figured that in two or three years time it will help me remeber what I put where and also when I do a full cycle after 5 yrs I will no what grew well and what didn't from my records as I will have jotted the pests and problems encountered.
It also now helps me get organized when I look at it what seeds I will need for the next year and so on.  Very useful.

[Yorkie]

I use a piece of scrap paper each year to scribble out what is going where, but am not organised enough to do anything else properly 

However, have you seen the Members' Diaries thread?

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?board=29.0

Essentially, you create one post, then go back and edit that post whenever you do something new or want to comment etc.  Best to bookmark your own message (if you click on the heading within your post, it'll give you the specific URL) or you'll never find it again!!

[mumofstig]

I've got a pocket sized hardback notebook that i put in my seed order list for the year, a planting plan (altered many times ) and do half pages for each crop, showing variety when sown,& planted, any problems and notes on harvest. i have a couple of pages for weather comments as well. The one book does 2 years..werks fer me.
the only thing i've still to crack is a system to remind me to do all the follow on sowings for a continuous supply i started putting them as reminders on the mobile but nothing reminded me to set the next lot of reminders

[SnooziSuzi]

the only thing i've still to crack is a system to remind me to do all the follow on sowings for a continuous supply i started putting them as reminders on the mobile but nothing reminded me to set the next lot of reminders

I have this problem too;  I tend to start things off in modules and think to myself that they would see me through, but in all reality I'll probably end up with a glut all at once, and not having anywhere to put any second / third sowings for a continuous crop I tend to find that I have to scrap my crop rotation and put (for example) swedes where cabbages have come up already that year

[compostqueen]

I keep one to note down what I sow, what I do on the plot and what is growing, weather, what stuff is looking good or not doing so well etc so I can look back.  I often refer to notes made last year

[Greengirl]

When I get back from the lottie, I write a post it note of things to remember to take next time (we have no sheds) & leave it with my lottie bag of stuff. With a bit of luck I remember to look at it before I go next time.

[janeheritage]

I keep a diary of what I have done that day - planting, sowing, etc: plus I have a file with plans of the plot - what is supposed to go where, when. Otherwise I know I wouldn't be able to keep track of the crop rotation. I am very disorganised/impulsive.

I don't always fill in the diary every day but I try to make sure that each week stuff gets recorded. This is for my home veg and cut flowers as well as for the plot.  :happy:

[compostqueen]

I take photos - lots of them - to help with rotation.