Another growing season is behind us so I thought I would carry on my tradition of sitting down to reflect about the past year. One lesson I’ve been trying to integrate into my gardening practices is to keep better notes and take some good time to look back at the successes and failures of the year to strategize for the coming growing season. Here are my highlights, low-lights, and lessons.
Starting Too Early/Timing of Planting in General
I’ll blame my early pepper and tomato seedling disasters squirely on my own shoulders. I’ve had success in previous years with starting peppers at the end of January but 2025 did not provide me with the same luck. ALL of my seedling died mid-February. As I often criticize of online gardening advice: just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should or that it is the best way. I’m trying to stick to suggested planting times for my region this year and relying more on traditional knowledge than my own desire to grow things as soon as I start to see green buds outside. Which leads me to…
Having A Plan
I’ve actually done a little better at this each year but I still find it all too easy to throw my plan out the window once the growing season really gets under way. In my defense, I am often responding, as we all are forced to do, to the climate realities rather than a “normal” year. Climate unpredictability is as damaging a force in climate change as any major disaster, so I’m trying to find the right balance of “this will grow well here no matter what” with things I enjoy growing and eating.
Spending More Time in the Garden
This might seem too simple for someone who runs a website and YouTube channel about food security and gardening but last year I felt pretty discouraged and did not end up spending much time in the garden at all. This year I’m hoping to develop a better daily routine around checking and appreciating my garden. When you’re constrained by containers and numerous urban problems, it’s pretty easy to feel like you could do a lot more with, well… more. But I have what I have and as the philosopher Keanu Reeves once said: “I can’t do what I used to but I can still do what I do…” So I’m hoping to embrace that this year.
What are your gardening and good growing goals for this coming year?
Last Ditch 
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