Keep a Record

It is important to keep a record of what you planted and when you planted it.

Make a simple chart like the following:

Vegetable	Planted	Harvested	Notes

The above shows how a record should be kept. Of course, only the first column is written in ahead. I want to emphasize the importance of putting down your data on the day you plant, or harvest, or notice anything worth recording. If you let it go until tomorrow it is likely you will forget and then this information will be lacking next year.

Try these short-cuts to success, even if you have had a garden before. They will make a big difference in your garden; less work and greater results.

Check List

Jan. 1st--Send for catalogs. Make planting plan and table. Order seeds.
Feb. 1st--Inside: cabbage, cauliflower, first sowing. Onions for plants.
Feb. 15th--Inside: lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, beets.
March 1st--Inside: lettuce, celery, tomato (early).
March 15th--Inside: lettuce, tomato (main), eggplant, pepper, lima beans, cucumber, squash; sprout potatoes in sand.
April 1st--
Inside: cauliflower (on sods), muskmelon, watermelon, corn.
Outside: (seed-bed) celery, cabbage, lettuce. Onions, carrots, smooth peas, spinach, beets, chard, parsnip, turnip, radish. Lettuce, cabbage(plants).
May 1st--Beans, corn, spinach, lettuce, radish.
May 15th--Beans, limas, muskmelon, watermelon, summer squash, peas, potatoes, lettuce, radish, tomato (early), corn, limas, melon, cucumber and squash (plants). Pole-lima, beets, corn, kale, winter squash, pumpkin, lettuce, radish.
June 1st--Beans, carrots, corn, cucumber, peas, summer spinach, summer lettuce, radish, egg-plant, pepper, tomato (main plants).
June 15th--Beans, corn, peas, turnip, summer lettuce, radish, late cabbage, and tomato plants.
July 1st--Beans, endive, kale, lettuce, radish, winter cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and celery plants.
July 15th--Beans, early corn, early peas, lettuce, radish.
Aug. 1st--Early peas, lettuce, radish.
Aug. 15th--Early peas, lettuce, radish in seed-bed, forcing lettuce for fall in frames.
Sept. 1st--Lettuce, radish, spinach and onions for wintering over.

NOTE.--This list is for planting only and an estimate. You will have to adjust the times for your area. Spraying and other garden operations may also be included in such a list.

The Planting Table

You will want to create a planting table which will show the vegetables you can grow in your area and when they can be planted, etc.

The table should look similar to this:

Vegetable	When to plant	Depth to sow	Distance apart

You can get this information to fill your chart from seed packages, your garden store or many seed catalogs also have this information.

Go to your local garden store with a note book and a pencil. These are the people who will have the best information for your area. They plant every year so they know the best times for your area.

This is a record that you will create once and use for a lifetime.

When you get your new calendar for the year, you can go through and add the vegetable and when to plant information right to your wall or desk calendar. This way you will remember when it's time to start planting.