🌱My Garden Planner

🌱 Garden Planning Guide: Complete Setup Instructions

Welcome to My Garden Planner! This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up your first garden plan, from account creation to harvesting your first crops.

📋 Overview

My Garden Planner is a sophisticated garden planning application that helps you plan, track, and optimize your vegetable garden. Whether you're a beginner with a small backyard plot or a commercial market gardener, this guide will help you get started.

What You'll Learn

  • How to set up your account and garden configuration
  • How to create your first season plan
  • How to add crops and plan succession plantings
  • How to optimize your garden layout and timing
  • How to manage your plans throughout the season

🚀 Getting Started

Step 1: Create Your Account

  1. Choose Your Sign-Up Method:

    • Quick Option: Click "Continue with Google"
    • Email Option: Click "Sign up with email"
      • Enter your email address and create a password
      • Check your email for verification link
      • Click the verification link before continuing

  2. First Time Access:

    • After verification, sign in to access your dashboard
    • You'll be automatically redirected to complete your profile

💡 Tip: OAuth sign-up (Google) is faster and skips email verification!

⚙️ Essential Garden Configuration

Before you can create any garden plans, you need to configure your garden settings. This is required for all planning features.

Step 2: Complete Your Garden Profile

Navigate to Settings (you'll be redirected automatically if incomplete):

Basic Garden Information

  • Garden Name: Give your garden a memorable name (e.g., "My Backyard Garden", "Smith Family Plot")
  • Location: Enter your city and state
    • The system will automatically look up your area's frost dates
    • Your USDA Hardiness Zone will be populated automatically

Critical Growing Information

  • Last Frost Date: Spring date when frost danger ends (auto-filled)
  • First Frost Date: Fall date when frost begins (auto-filled)
  • Growing Season: Automatically calculated based on frost dates

Garden Layout

  • Number of Beds: How many raised beds you have or plan to have
  • Bed Length: Length of each bed in feet

📏 Standard Bed Width: The system uses 30-inch (2.5-foot) wide beds, optimized for biointensive gardening methods.

Subscription Limits

  • Free Tier: Maximum 1 bed
  • Homesteader ($9/month): Up to 20 beds
  • Market Gardener ($29/month): Unlimited beds

Step 3: Validate Your Configuration

Ensure all required fields are completed:

  • ✅ Garden name and location
  • ✅ Frost dates (should auto-populate)
  • ✅ Hardiness zone (should auto-populate)
  • ✅ Number and length of beds

Save your configuration - you'll be redirected to the planner once complete.

📅 Creating Your First Season Plan

Step 4: Start Your Season Plan

  1. Navigate to Planner: Click "Season Planner" in the main navigation
  2. Create New Plan: Click "Create New Season Plan"
  3. Plan Details:
    • Plan Name: Describe your plan (e.g., "2024 Spring Garden", "Summer Succession Plan")
    • Description: Optional details about your goals
    • Year: Automatically set to current year

Step 5: Understanding Your Dashboard

After creating your plan, you'll see:

  • Plan Overview: Your current plan details
  • Garden Statistics: Total beds, planned crops, estimated yields
  • Timeline View: Visual representation of your growing season
  • Quick Actions: Add crops, manage plantings, view timeline

🌿 Adding Crops to Your Plan

Step 6: Crop Selection Process

  1. Click "Add Crop" from your plan dashboard
  2. Browse Crop Categories:
    • Brassicas: Kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower
    • Greens: Lettuce, spinach, arugula, chard
    • Nightshades: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
    • Herbs: Basil, parsley, cilantro, oregano
    • Legumes: Beans, peas, snow peas
    • Root Vegetables: Carrots, beets, radishes, turnips
    • Alliums: Onions, garlic, leeks, scallions
    • Cucurbits: Cucumbers, squash, zucchini, melons

Step 7: Configure Individual Crops

For each crop you select:

Basic Crop Settings

  • Cultivar: Choose from recommended varieties
  • Quantity: How many plants you want
  • Harvest Dates: When you want to harvest (work backwards from here)

Advanced Options

  • Succession Plantings: Multiple harvests of the same crop
    • Add multiple harvest dates for continuous production
    • System automatically spaces plantings appropriately
  • Bed Assignment: Choose specific beds or let the system optimize

Automatic Calculations The system calculates:

  • Seed Start Date: When to start seeds indoors
  • Transplant Date: When to move seedlings to garden
  • Direct Sow Date: When to plant seeds directly
  • Plants Needed: Including 30% buffer for losses
  • Seed Flats Required: For transplant crops
  • Estimated Yield: Based on your bed size

🗓️ Understanding the Planning Timeline

Step 8: Timeline Management

How Planning Works My Garden Planner uses "backwards planning":

  1. You choose your desired harvest date
  2. System calculates planting date (harvest date - crop maturity days)
  3. System calculates seed start date (planting date - days in seedling cell)
  4. System schedules bed availability (harvest end + cleanup time)

Timeline Visualization

  • Gantt Chart: Shows all crops across the growing season
  • Color Coding: Different colors for each crop category
  • Conflict Detection: Highlights scheduling or space conflicts
  • Mobile Friendly: Responsive design for phone/tablet use

Market Gardener Features

  • Standardized Dates: Configure standard planting days (e.g., Sundays) and harvest days (e.g., Fridays)
  • Commercial Optimization: Streamlined for market farming efficiency

🔄 Advanced Planning Features

Step 9: Succession Planting

What is Succession Planting? Growing multiple plantings of the same crop for continuous harvest.

How to Set Up:

  1. Select a crop (like lettuce)
  2. Add multiple succession plantings (e.g., every 2 weeks)
  3. System automatically calculates all planting dates
  4. Ensures continuous fresh harvest throughout season

Best Crops for Succession:

  • Lettuce and salad greens
  • Radishes and quick roots
  • Beans and peas
  • Herbs like basil and cilantro

Step 10: Bed Optimization

Automatic Bed Assignment

  • System automatically assigns crops to beds based on space requirements
  • Prevents overcrowding and scheduling conflicts
  • Optimizes for efficient use of space

Manual Override

  • Drag and drop crops between beds
  • Manual bed assignment for specific preferences
  • Real-time space validation prevents errors

Conflict Resolution

  • Red highlighting shows scheduling conflicts
  • Automatic suggestions for resolution
  • Space warnings prevent overcrowding

📈 Plan Management & Optimization

Step 11: Managing Your Plans

Plan Operations

  • Edit Plans: Modify crops, dates, or quantities
  • Clone Plans: Copy successful plans for next season
  • Archive Plans: Store completed seasons
  • Export Data: Download CSV files for external use

Plan Status

  • Active Plans: Currently being managed
  • Archived Plans: Completed or paused seasons
  • Plan History: Track your gardening progress over time

Step 12: Monitoring & Adjustments

Real-Time Validation

  • Space utilization warnings
  • Date conflict notifications
  • Crop rotation recommendations
  • Yield estimate updates

Mobile Access

  • Full functionality on phone/tablet
  • Responsive design for outdoor use
  • Quick updates from the garden

💰 Subscription Features

Free Tier Features

  • Garden Calculator: Single crop planning tool
  • Basic Profile: Essential garden configuration
  • Limited Planning: 1 bed, basic features
  • Usage Limit: 3 calculator uses before upgrade prompts

Homesteader Tier ($9/month)

  • Season Planner: Full multi-crop planning
  • Up to 20 Beds: Suitable for large home gardens
  • Succession Planting: Multiple harvests per crop
  • Plan Management: Save, edit, and clone plans
  • Export Features: CSV downloads
  • Basic Analytics: Garden statistics and yield tracking

Market Gardener Tier ($29/month)

  • Unlimited Beds: Commercial-scale planning
  • Multi-Plot Support: Multiple growing locations
  • Standardized Scheduling: Commercial efficiency features
  • Advanced Analytics: Detailed performance tracking
  • Priority Support: Enhanced customer support
  • Commercial Features: Market-focused planning tools

🎯 Pro Tips for Success

Best Practices

Planning Tips

  • Start with fewer crops: Master 5-7 crops before expanding
  • Plan for succession: Continuous harvest beats single large harvests
  • Consider maturity dates: Mix quick crops (30 days) with longer ones (100+ days)
  • Account for weather: Your frost dates are estimates - be flexible

Crop Selection Tips

  • Choose what you eat: Grow crops your family actually enjoys
  • Mix growing methods: Combine transplants and direct-sown crops
  • Plan for storage: Include crops that store well for winter
  • Consider maintenance: Some crops require more attention than others

Timing Tips

  • Start small: Better to succeed with a smaller garden than fail with a large one
  • Keep records: Use the export features to track what works
  • Be flexible: Weather doesn't follow the plan - be ready to adapt
  • Learn continuously: Each season teaches you something new

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Space Conflicts

  • Problem: Red highlighting shows overcrowding
  • Solution: Reduce quantities, choose compact varieties, or add more beds

Date Conflicts

  • Problem: Overlapping growing periods in same bed
  • Solution: Adjust harvest dates or use different beds

Unrealistic Dates

  • Problem: Planting dates before last frost
  • Solution: Choose later harvest dates or cold-hardy varieties

📞 Getting Help

Contact Support

  • Email Support: Available for all paid subscribers
  • Priority Support: Market Gardener tier gets fastest response
  • Bug Reports: Help improve the platform by reporting issues

🎉 Ready to Start Gardening!

Congratulations! You now have all the knowledge needed to create and manage successful garden plans. Remember:

  1. Start with your garden configuration - this is essential
  2. Begin with a simple plan - add complexity as you learn
  3. Use succession planting for continuous harvests
  4. Trust the calculations but stay flexible with weather
  5. Keep records to improve each season

Next Steps

  1. Complete your garden configuration
  2. Create your first season plan
  3. Add 3-5 crops you love to eat
  4. Plan succession plantings for continuous harvest
  5. Monitor and adjust throughout the season

Happy Gardening! 🌱

This guide covers the core functionality of My Garden Planner. Features and interfaces may vary slightly as the application continues to evolve. Check the in-app help system for the most up-to-date information.