Retaining a knowledge base

Hi all, I’m expecting to buy a home this year that will give me a backyard space to finally put gardening into practice, rather than just live vicariously through others here and on YouTube.

While I’m really excited for it, it’s a bit overwhelming to read about each person’s experience, with plant A requiring these conditions and nutrients, plant B requires similar but different conditions etc. My experience so far has been herbs not taking off at all on my balcony, and a chilli plant thriving one year and then nothing the next year.

My question is, how do you keep track of this and constantly expand your knowledge? Does it mainly just come from trial and error, learning one season to the next, or do you have a written down in a journal or spreadsheet? Would love to know your thoughts and suggestions on how I can get better each year.