I’ve always loved the idea of keeping a gardening journal, but until now, I never had a real reason to start one. Recently, I bought my first few packets of seeds, and as I plan my first growing season, I want to track everything—from planting dates to harvests and even photos of progress.
Inspired by Our Stoney Acres, I’ve decided to create a digital gardening journal in Google Sheets. It will be a simple, organized way to log what I plant, monitor growth, and learn from each season. Once I finalize the setup, I’ll share my template with my subscribers!
Why Google Sheets?
While many gardeners use paper journals, I like the idea of a digital format because:
- ✅ Accessible anywhere (phone, tablet, or laptop)
- ✅ Searchable & editable (easy to compare past seasons)
- ✅ Customizable (track exactly what I need)
- ✅ Photo-friendly (insert pictures of plant progress)
- ✅ Sharable (so I can provide a free template for you!)
What I Plan to Track
Right now, I’m brainstorming what information will be the most useful to include:
🌱 General Seasonal Data:
- Year
- First & Last Frost Dates
- Highest & Lowest Temperatures
- Total Rainfall
- Weather Notes (unusual cold spells, dry seasons, etc.)
- Soil Amendment & Fertilizer notes
🌿 Plant-Specific Tracking:
- Vegetable Name & Variety
- Seed Source
- Planting Date & Location
- Germination Date
- Transplant Date (if applicable)
- Pest & Disease Notes
- First Harvest & Final Harvest Dates
- Total Yield
- Taste & Quality Notes
- Photos of Progress
Adding Photos to Google Sheets
I love the idea of visually tracking plant growth, so I plan to insert photos directly into cells in my spreadsheet. Here’s how:
1️⃣ Select a cell in the plant tracking table
2️⃣ Click Insert > Image > Image in Cell
3️⃣ Upload a picture from my phone or Google Drive
This will allow me to compare plant growth and spot trends over time.
Future Plans: A Garden Layout Sketch
Since I’m just starting, my garden beds are not fully planned yet. But I’m considering adding a simple garden layout sketch to my journal—either in Google Drawings or as a table in Google Sheets—to keep track of plant placement for crop rotation in future years.
I’ll Share My Google Sheets Gardening Journal!
As I set up my gardening journal and refine the template, I’ll be making it available for free to my subscribers. If you’d like to get access once it’s ready, make sure to sign up for my newsletter!
👉 Do you keep a garden journal? What do you track? Let me know in the comments!
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