Accurate records can yield important information for gardeners

Q:Is it important to keep records of what was grown in the garden?

A:If it is too wet or hot to be working in the garden, maybe it would be a good time to catch up with the garden record-keeping. There are several reasons this is important, as the following discussion will explain.

These are steps to take in developing a recording-keeping file:

•Draw a map each year of where different crops are in the garden.

•Make a list of specific crop varieties that are used.

•Conduct an inventory of garden supplies such as fertilizers and pesticides.

A garden map is a valuable resource for long-term planning of gardening. Crop rotation is a valuable practice for preventing certain disease problems. Rotations of several years are, in general, a wise practice.

For example, you might use a rotation of tomatoes, sweet corn and green beans over a three-year period to keep from having plants of the same family two years in a row in the same location. In the event of certain soil-borne diseases, having knowledge of previous crops can be helpful for problem diagnosis. Most of us can remember where things were last year in the garden. But when trying to remember two years or further back, the memory may not be as clear. A map of each year's garden can be valuable when this sort of information is needed.

If, in addition to making a map, one keeps information on how specific crops did in a given year, in combination with crop location in the garden, it may be discovered that a certain crop does better in certain locations. Having maps available from past years will enable you to better evaluate your gardening practices.

Keeping a list of the specific crop varieties, or cultivars, is often helpful with future garden planning. Some gardeners pay close attention to varieties while others use what happens to be available at the garden center. When you find varieties that you really like and ones that do well, it is sure nice to know which ones they are so you can avoid guessing on what to use in future years.

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