Planning
Keep labels and a useful garden record
Label the plant and variety, planting date and bed or pot.
When to do it
At planting, harvest and whenever you change care.
What you need
- Weatherproof label and pencil
- Notebook or phone
How to do it
- Label the plant and variety, planting date and bed or pot.
- Record the source, sowing method and any seed lot information you may need later.
- Note actual harvests, weather damage, pests and measured fertiliser or treatment applications.
- At season’s end, keep the few observations that change your next decision: successful varieties, spacing, repeat problems and useful harvest dates.
What success looks like
- Next season’s decisions can use your own observations.
Watch out for
- Relying on memory for variety or treatment dates.
Related help
Read a seed packet and plan repeat sowings
Check the crop, variety, packed date and whether it is intended for direct sowing or transplanting.
Do a useful weekly garden check
Walk the same route and compare new growth with last week.
Sources and review
Checked 24 September 2026. Source-checked editorial guidance; not field-tested or independently reviewed by a horticulturist.