The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on your garden’s successes and challenges while setting intentions for the year ahead.
Gardening is a journey that’s full of surprises, and as each season passes, there’s always room for improvement and growth—just like the plants we nurture.
Whether you’re looking to try new plants, experiment with different gardening methods, or improve the health of your soil, now is the time to set goals that will help you cultivate a thriving garden.
The key is to focus on realistic, flexible goals that can adapt to the changing seasons and your unique gardening space. So, let’s set achievable gardening resolutions for the new year!
Reflecting on Last Year’s Garden
Quite frankly, last year’s garden presented me with many challenges.
The summer heat and humidity were overwhelming, making it difficult to keep up with my usual gardening routine. To make matters worse, I had some health issues that only added to the struggle. On top of that, two hurricanes in quick succession brought plenty of yard debris to deal with, further slowing down my progress.
One of my biggest disappointments was my potato harvest. I grew two different varieties of white potatoes in grow bags. Unfortunately, I got them started late, and one bag produced only ten potatoes. While they made a tasty addition to one meal, I had higher hopes for them.
The second bag, which got a much later start, yielded just five potatoes. I left them on a shelf in the lanai, only for Chester, my cat, to think they were the perfect toys. Needless to say, we didn’t eat those!
But, not all was lost. I had some wins as well! My lettuce was absolutely delicious—every salad I made was fresh and satisfying.
And my basil flourished. There’s something so pleasant about having fresh basil in the garden, not to mention how it drew in the bees. These little successes were bright spots amid the challenges.
What about you? How did your garden fare last year? What did you grow well, and what needs improvement?
Reflecting on these questions is one of the best ways to learn and grow as a gardener.
As you reflect on your past gardening year, a journal can be an invaluable tool to help you track your successes, challenges, and the lessons you’ve learned.
Whether you prefer a simple notebook or a specialized gardening journal, having a place to jot down your thoughts, plans, and observations can make a world of difference in improving your gardening skills year after year.
If you’re just getting started with keeping a garden journal or looking for something more tailored to your needs, the last two posts, I’ve shared links to free garden journals as well as several options available for purchase on Amazon, including ones specifically designed for Florida’s 10A zone.
These journals can help you stay organized and ensure that your goals for the new year are well-documented and achievable. I’ll add those links at the bottom of this post as well.
Creating Flexible and Seasonal Gardening Plans
Gardening is all about adapting to the seasons, and it’s important to create plans that are flexible.
The weather in Florida’s zone 10A is fairly predictable, which makes it easier to plan around the changing seasons. However, it’s still a good idea to keep your goals flexible.
The summer months, from June through September, bring high temperatures and afternoon thunderstorms, with the risk of hurricanes peaking in August and September. These months may require more attention to water management and storm protection.
The cooler months from December to February provide a break from the intense heat, with mild temperatures and drier conditions.
Spring and fall, especially from March to May and October to November, offer ideal growing conditions for many plants, with warmer temperatures and less rainfall than the summer months
To help you stay on track, I’ll be sharing a monthly guide on what to do in your 10A garden.
This guide will give you an overview of the tasks you can focus on each month, from planting and pruning to harvesting and preparing for the next season.
Along with these seasonal guides, it’s helpful to break down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks. Instead of overwhelming yourself with big projects, set small, achievable goals that you can work on week by week.
This could be as simple as planting a new type of flower, adding compost to a section of your garden, or experimenting with vertical gardening.
By setting small, manageable goals, you’ll make steady progress while keeping your garden plans flexible to fit the changing seasons.
Setting Achievable Goals for the New Year
Start by reflecting on what worked well last year. If you had successes, repeat them!
Whether it’s a type of vegetable, flower, or herb that thrived, stick with what you know and continue to improve on it. Repeating successful gardening practices will build confidence and help you focus on other areas of your garden.
Next, focus on what your family enjoys eating. Look up the best planting months for your favorite veggies and herbs, and make sure you’re planting them at the right time.
Improving your soil health should always be a priority. Rich, fertile soil is key to a successful garden, so be sure to invest in soil health this year. You can compost, mulch, or use organic fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil.
Consider getting a soil test to better understand what your garden needs. Healthy soil will support stronger, more vibrant plants, leading to better harvests.
Don’t be afraid to try new things in your garden!
This is the year to explore new varieties of flowers, veggies, and herbs. For instance, tropical plants like okra, sweet potatoes, or exotic herbs can thrive in the Florida heat and humidity. Experimenting with new varieties will not only keep your garden interesting but also help you find plants that perform well in your area.
Additionally, planting native plants is a great way to support local wildlife and reduce maintenance needs.
Finally, vertical gardening is an innovative way to maximize space. Growing tomatoes, beans, or peas vertically, using trellises or hanging baskets, allows you to increase your yield and save space.
With these new goals in mind, you’ll be ready for a successful gardening season in the year ahead.
My 2025 Goals
For my 2025 garden, my primary goal is to focus on growing plants that my family and I truly enjoy. This includes tending to them regularly and ensuring they thrive through proper care. I’ll be incorporating seasonal planting, paying close attention to the best times to plant vegetables, herbs, and flowers that match our family’s preferences.
I’m also excited to experiment with new plants and start a pollinator garden around the mini barn, which will help attract beneficial insects while enhancing the garden’s health.
Additionally, I plan to build a new ramp for the mini barn to make it more accessible for all of us.
As part of expanding my gardening experience, I’ll be trialing a vertical garden. I recently purchased an affordable vertical garden structure from a big-box store, which I intend to try out using seeds I got from Urban Harvest, a local online business.
I’ll also plant vegetable seeds from Botanical Interests in containers to demonstrate that gardening in small spaces can still yield plenty of food for our family. This project will prove that even with limited space, you can grow fresh produce.
Joining a garden club will also be an important goal for me. Not only will it connect me with other local gardeners, but it will also provide opportunities to learn, share, and contribute to community beautification efforts.
Plus, participating in club activities and events can help me stay motivated and inspired throughout the year. Whether I attend meetings, exchange gardening tips, or participate in local projects, being part of a community will enhance my gardening journey.
Finally, I’m excited to share more of my garden on my blog and the In Between We Garden Instagram page. I want to inspire others by showing how even small gardens can be productive and enjoyable.
By sharing my successes and challenges, I hope to connect with fellow gardeners and create a supportive gardening community.
Gardening is a Journey
Gardening is a journey, not a race. It’s important to keep your goals flexible and be ready to adjust them as you go.
Sometimes things don’t turn out the way you expected, and that’s okay!
The process of gardening is full of learning opportunities, so embrace the mistakes and celebrate the small wins. Whether it’s the first sprout you see or the day you harvest your first crop, those little moments are what make the effort worthwhile.
I’d love to hear about your gardening goals and how they’ve been unfolding. Feel free to share your stories and results with me—let’s keep this gardening adventure going together!
Weekly Bonus Content
Each week, I’ll include links to other articles I’ve written that relate to this topic, so you can explore more helpful tips and ideas. You’ll also find affiliate links for Amazon or Botanical Interests to help you find the tools and seeds you need.
In Between We Garden participates in several affiliate marketing programs. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support the maintenance of the blog and allow us to continue creating content for our readers.
To make your gardening journey even more rewarding, I’ll share a freebie each week, whether it’s a printable guide, checklist, or another resource to keep you inspired.
Finally, I’ll list the resources I used to create this blog for those who want to dig deeper.
Other Articles I’ve Written
Affiliate Links
Botanical Interests: Container Garden Gift Set
Book suggestions from Amazon:
- 2025 Wild Floridian Garden Planner
- Gardening In Southern Florida: A Record-Keeping Journal for Successful Farming in Zone 10
- Wild Florida Garden Planner: Week-by-Week Journal and Logbook
Weekly Freebie
- from Botanical Interests, Garden Journal eBook
- from Green in Real Life: Free Garden Journal Printables
Additional Resources
- Chicago Botanic Garden: 50 New Year’s Resolutions for Gardeners
- Plant Perfect: Your Garden Planning Guide for the New Year
- Sawyer Garden Center: How to Develop a Garden Plan for the New Year