Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book contains detailed information about crops planted in the kitchen gardens at Monticello. Within this volume, Jefferson recorded notes about the varieties of vegetables and fruits he experimented with and planted, sowing locations, harvest dates, and weather conditions. The information provided in this manuscript volume, part of the Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts at the Massachusetts Historical Society, makes it possible to know, for example, the precise dates in 1771 when peas--according to tradition, Jefferson's favorite vegetable--were planted and served at Monticello. On page 6, entries for 1771 clearly document that peas were planted on 6 March ("the seed came from J. Bolling's"), sprouted on the 25th ("peas up"), and were served on 30 May ("peas of Mar. 6 come to table").

Numerous vegetables and fruits are tracked in the Garden Book. Peas are mentioned frequently, in fact, two-thirds of all the pages of the Garden Book (44 of 66 pages) include Jefferson's notes about various types: frame peas, Hotspur peas, cowpeas, marrowfat peas, black eyed peas, and Prussian blue peas. Jefferson's entries indicate the source of many of the seeds he planted--relatives, overseas contacts, various neighbors and acquaintances, as well as specific merchants. The entry about peas dated 6 March 1771 mentions that the seed came from John Bolling, Jefferson's sister Mary's husband. Page 17 lists 9 vegetables sowed on 2 May 1774 (including carrots, spinach, and curled parsley) that were "from Dr. Brown's" (probably Dr. William Brown of Alexandria, Virginia). Plums and apricots planted on 10 April 1809 (see page 31) were given to Jefferson by George Jefferson, who had received a shipment from Cadiz, Spain, sent by Mrs. Harriet Hackley. The brief note within the calendar on page 63 for 1822, "peas from Leitch," is a reference to James Leitch, a Charlottesville merchant.