Tomato season 2026 is upon us. Every year in Mid February I gear up to sow my favorite varieties of tomatoes.

This morning, well before sunrise, I sat at my desk and sorted my motley collection of tomatoes seeds. While doing so I decided to pull one of my handwritten Garden Journals off the shelf.

For some reason the 2020 journal was the one I randomly picked. With little delay I abandoned my seed sorting chore and went down the garden path of memories.

In January of that year I decided to document my garden efforts. Why I took on this task at that time, I’m not sure. However, looking back and reading my notes, sketches and observations six years later it’s proving to be very interesting.

Before COVID arrived, I had instinctively stocked up on seeds in January. In my journal I noted that I sensed things were going to get more expensive. (Go figure!)

I ordered from the usual vendors—Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Burpee, Territorial. I had even ordered a bunch of tomatoes and petunias from a family farm Ukraine. 

When those orders arrived, I tucked the order sheets into my journal!

By  mid February the horizon was grim and the world was going into lockdown. By the time spring gardening season arrived, sourcing seeds became nearly impossible. The seed companies, like everyone else, were struggling to operate.

In my journal I made some random and wacky notes that spring:

Zucchini 2020: This will be the year folks will welcome zucchinis on their doorsteps!

In my Mid March notes, I jotted that all seeds were selling out. On 3/27, I noted that then Washington Governor Inslee declared a mandatory two week quarantine.

On April 8, 2020, I wrote: Seed Supply Predictions. I think seed prices will increase in 2021 due to challenges growing seeds in 2020.

On April 4, 2020, I noted it had been a long quarantine month. Yes I was finding joy from the tomatoes growing in the living room. They thrived under a massive grow light. I had bought the light a few years back at an estate sale for $10.  

Chris at that point was spending a lot of time in the garage. He was tending to a flock of heritage breed baby chicks. He had ordered them online!

In late April, I noted that the tomatoes were mostly planted (under a protective cloche) and that we had built a trellis for the Kentucky Wonder pole beans I had started. I also noted that I planted some Clark’s Heavenly Blue Morning Glories in memory of my dear brother who had died the year before. Looking back with so many people succumbing to the disease, I think it was a gesture on many levels.

By October, I was in full homestead mode and preparing my winter  garden of kales, lettuces and brassicas.

I know we never want to revisit that pandemic of the century but in many ways rereading my COVID Garden journal reminded me how important it is to jot down even the littlest observations and make life notations.

In May, I bought the last David Austin Rose in stock at Molbak’s, “Mary Rose.”  When I bought her, I had no clue what the future would bring. But I brought her home. I gave her some prime real estate in the front yard. She gives  me tremendous joy each year!

With her delicious Old Rose fragrance  that has hints of honey and almond, she’s a treasure and pairs well with Clark’s Heavenly Blue Morning Glories.

Now, back to organizing my tomato packets….and making wacky notes and sketches in my Garden Journal 2026!