Community Garden Plot Planner & Season Log
New World Survival · Definitive Community Garden Guide · Print this workbook and keep it with your garden records.
This planner is the season summary spine. Use its Water, Weed/Pest, Harvest and Succession sections for concise season-level records. When a problem needs detailed calibration or diagnosis, move to the specialist workbook rather than duplicating a second full log here.
How to use this workbook: Record what you actually observe. Do not fill a blank with a guess just to complete the form. If a question depends on local climate, garden rules, soil testing or pest diagnosis, write the source you used.
1. Plot Snapshot
Garden name:
Plot number/name:
Season/year:
Plot number/name:
Season/year:
Plot width:
Plot length:
Date measured:
Plot length:
Date measured:
| Item | What I observed | Source / person who confirmed it |
|---|---|---|
| Plot boundaries | ||
| Water source and rules | ||
| Sun / shade pattern | ||
| Drainage / standing water | ||
| Existing plants / weeds | ||
| Allowed trellises / structures | ||
| Pesticide / fertilizer rules | ||
| What is known about soil safety |
2. Local Growing References
| Question | Local source | Date checked | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planting dates | ||||
| Crop spacing | ||||
| Soil test / fertility guidance | ||||
| Common pest / disease diagnostics | ||||
| Water restrictions / drought rules |
3. Plot Map
Mark north, paths, water direction, shade, beds, crop groups and trellis locations. Add a scale if practical.
North arrow / orientation notes:
4. Crop Plan
| Crop / variety | Why grow it? | Planting window source | Spacing source | Support? | Expected harvest / succession note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ordinary-week test
□ I can explain how this plot will be watered.
□ I can reach every crop for weeding and harvest.
□ I have not planted more high-maintenance crops than my schedule can support.
□ I know who may help during a short absence and what garden rules permit.
□ I can explain how this plot will be watered.
□ I can reach every crop for weeding and harvest.
□ I have not planted more high-maintenance crops than my schedule can support.
□ I know who may help during a short absence and what garden rules permit.
5. Planting Log
| Date | Crop / variety | Seed or transplant | Location | Weather / soil notes | Expected next milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6. Water and Rain Log
Record enough entries to learn how your soil, weather and watering method behave. This is not meant to become daily paperwork forever.
| Date | Recent rain | Soil moisture observation | Water applied / method | Root-zone result / note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
7. Weed, Pest and Plant-Problem Log
| Date | Plant / area | Symptom or organism observed | Identification source | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPM check before treatment:
□ Monitor: I documented what is happening.
□ Identify: I know the crop and likely cause.
□ Assess: I decided whether action is necessary.
□ Act: I chose a permitted, appropriate response.
□ Evaluate: I recorded whether it worked.
□ Monitor: I documented what is happening.
□ Identify: I know the crop and likely cause.
□ Assess: I decided whether action is necessary.
□ Act: I chose a permitted, appropriate response.
□ Evaluate: I recorded whether it worked.
8. Harvest Log
| Date | Crop | Approx. amount | Used / shared / preserved | Quality or timing note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9. Succession Queue
| Space that will open | Expected date | Possible next crop | Local planting window checked? | Seed / transplant ready? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10. Short-Absence Plan
Dates away:
Person allowed to help:
Garden rule confirmed with:
Person allowed to help:
Garden rule confirmed with:
Tasks that cannot wait:
| Task | Who will do it? | Instructions / access |
|---|---|---|
| Water | ||
| Harvest | ||
| Pest / damage check | ||
| Other |
11. Midseason Audit
| Question | Good / Needs work | What I will change now |
|---|---|---|
| Can I reach and maintain the whole plot? | ||
| Is watering practical and evidence-based? | ||
| Are weeds under control before seed set? | ||
| Am I scouting before problems become large? | ||
| Am I harvesting often enough? | ||
| Is any crop taking more work than its value to me? | ||
| Do I have space opening for succession? |
12. End-of-Season Review
Three things that worked:
1. _______________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________
1. _______________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________
Three failures or disappointments and what I think caused them:
1. _______________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________
1. _______________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________
Three changes for next season:
1. _______________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________
1. _______________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________
13. Capability Check
□ I can show a plot map.
□ I used a local planting source.
□ I understand the difference between soil safety and fertility.
□ I can explain my watering decisions.
□ I used a local planting source.
□ I understand the difference between soil safety and fertility.
□ I can explain my watering decisions.
□ I can work through the IPM steps.
□ I kept a useful season record.
□ I planned at least one succession when locally appropriate.
□ I can name a concrete change for next season.
□ I kept a useful season record.
□ I planned at least one succession when locally appropriate.
□ I can name a concrete change for next season.
This worksheet is a planning and learning tool, not a substitute for local Cooperative Extension, soil-lab, pesticide-label or community-garden requirements.