Garden Glossary
Annual
A plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season.
Perennial
A plant that returns for multiple years.
Mulch
Material placed on the soil surface to protect soil, reduce evaporation, suppress weeds, and moderate temperature.
Compost
Decomposed organic matter used to improve soil.
Hardening off
The process of gradually acclimating indoor-grown plants to outdoor conditions.
Succession planting
Planting small amounts repeatedly to extend harvests.
Biennial
A plant whose life cycle normally spans two growing seasons, often growing leaves first and flowering later. Parsley is commonly grown for its first-season leaves.
Bolting
The move from leafy growth toward a flowering stem. For a leaf crop, record when it begins and the conditions around it rather than assuming fertilizer will reverse it.
Direct sowing and transplanting
Direct sowing places seed where the crop will grow. Transplanting moves an established seedling there. Check which starting point a variety uses for its days-to-maturity estimate.
Frost date and hardiness zone
A frost date is a seasonal planning reference, not a weather guarantee. A hardiness zone describes winter cold and helps with perennial selection; it is not a vegetable planting calendar. Understand the distinction.
Plant spacing and row spacing
Plant spacing describes distance between plants; row spacing describes distance between rows. Both affect access and the layout. The spacing guide explains how mature habit changes the decision.
Observation and inference
An observation is what you saw or measured. An inference is a possible explanation. “Leaves wilted before noon” is an observation; “the roots need more water” requires checking.
Unknown
Information you do not have. In a planting record, unknown crop history is different from a known empty bed. Preserve that difference when comparing rotation or timing advice.
Use the terms
Read a crop guide, compare planting decisions, or write a field note. Use ordinary language in your notes; precision matters more than jargon.