Planning library

Garden Planning Guides

All 98 planning guides on Seed/Garden Explorer: garden plans built from the catalog, timing comparisons that separate frost dates from soil temperature, and side-by-side checks for look-alike pests, diseases and seedling problems. Each guide cites the extension or seed-company sources it uses.

Garden plans by goal (17)

Fall Planting Planner Plan fall sowing from first frost dates, catalog weeks-before-frost windows, regional timing guides, source links, and fall crop candidates.
Container Garden Planner Plan container gardens with drainage, watering, fertilizer, sun, container volume, source links, and compact seed candidates.
Succession Sowing Planner Plan repeat sowing from catalog succession intervals, maturity windows, frost limits, heat risk, source links, and quick crop candidates.
Pollinator Garden Planner Plan pollinator gardens with continuous bloom, native plants, grouped plantings, pesticide caution, habitat checks, and high-value seed links.
Beginner Garden Planner Plan a first garden with beginner-friendly seeds, small-bed scope, frost and soil-temperature timing, source links, and starter planning paths.
Part-Shade Garden Planner Plan lower-light gardens with part-shade-tolerant seeds, leaf and root crop guidance, fruiting crop sun cautions, source links, and starter planning paths.
Quick Harvest Garden Planner Plan quick harvests with 60-day seed candidates, season-window checks, repeat sowing, frost limits, source links, and short-gap timing.
Direct Sow Garden Planner Plan direct sowing with soil temperature checks, crop tolerance, seed depth, thinning, repeat sowing, source links, and seed candidates.
Transplant Garden Planner Plan transplant timing with hardening-off, frost checks, crop tolerance, root-ball care, protection, source links, and seed candidates.
Seed-Starting Planner Plan indoor seed starts with packet maturity checks, weeks-before-frost timing, tray setup, artificial light, hardening off, source links, and seed candidates.
Cool Season Garden Planner Plan cool-season gardens with frost-date timing, soil-temperature checks, spring and fall windows, heat-risk cautions, source links, and seed candidates.
Warm Season Garden Planner Plan warm-season gardens with frost-free timing, soil-temperature checks, transplant and direct-sow windows, heat-water cautions, and seed candidates.
Vegetable Garden Planner Plan vegetable beds with crop preference, frost dates, soil temperature, direct sowing, transplants, succession maps, rotation, and seed candidates.
Herb Garden Planner Plan herb gardens with sun, drainage, containers, annual and perennial herbs, frost-sensitive moves, harvest timing, and herb seed candidates.
Flower Garden Planner Plan flower gardens with frost timing, bloom succession, site fit, direct sowing, transplants, containers, pollinator value, and flower candidates.
Native Plant Garden Planner Plan native plant gardens with regional site fit, bloom and host-plant value, drifts, lawn conversion, nesting habitat, and native seed candidates.
Cover Crop Garden Planner Plan cover crop gardens with soil cover goals, planting windows, fall timing, termination, winter-kill behavior, family rotation, and cover crop candidates.

Timing, frost and seasons (10)

Hardiness Zone vs Frost Date Learn when USDA hardiness zones help, when frost dates matter, and how to connect ZIP lookup, regional guides, and planting calendars.
Frost Date vs Soil Temperature Compare frost-date timing with soil-temperature readiness for direct sowing, transplants, cool-season crops, and warm-season garden planning.
Last Frost Date vs Safe Planting Date Compare average last frost dates with crop-specific safe planting decisions using soil temperature, crop tolerance, hardening-off, protection, and forecasts.
Soil Temperature vs Air Temperature Compare soil temperature and air temperature for germination, direct sowing, transplants, frost risk, night lows, and cover ventilation.
Cool Season vs Warm Season Compare cool-season and warm-season crops with frost dates, soil temperature, crop tolerance, direct-sow, transplant, and fall timing paths.
Days to Maturity vs Harvest Window Compare days to maturity with realistic harvest windows using frost runway, soil temperature, start method, succession timing, and crop tolerance.
Spring Planting vs Fall Planting Compare spring planting and fall planting with last-frost, first-frost, soil-temperature, maturity, crop-tolerance, and season-extension checks.
Bolting vs Flowering Separate unwanted bolting from intentional flowering by crop purpose, harvest quality, heat stress, watering, succession timing, herbs, and pollinator bloom.
Germination Days vs Days to Maturity Compare germination days and days to maturity with emergence timing, transplant recovery, harvest runway, frost limits, and sowing context.
Annual vs Perennial Plants Compare annuals and perennials with biennials, tender perennials, hardiness zones, frost dates, self-sowing, containers, and first-year expectations.

Sowing, seedlings and transplanting (15)

Direct Sow vs Transplant Compare direct sowing and transplanting with seed-starting, soil temperature, hardening-off, frost timing, and crop tolerance planning paths.
Hardening Off Before Transplanting Plan hardening off before transplanting with gradual sun and wind exposure, water checks, weather timing, frost protection, and direct-sow alternatives.
Seed Depth vs Spacing Compare seed depth and seed spacing with thinning, soil temperature, germination troubleshooting, direct-sow beds, and raised-bed layout checks.
Germination vs Emergence Compare germination and emergence with seed depth, soil temperature, moisture, days-to-emergence estimates, damping-off risks, and resowing checks.
Surface Sow vs Burying Seeds Compare surface sowing and buried seed by catalog depth, seed size, light needs, seedbed moisture, soil temperature, and indoor or direct-sow setup.
Leggy Seedlings vs Damping-Off Compare leggy seedlings and damping-off by light distance, airflow, tray cleanliness, media moisture, temperature, and hardening-off timing.
Seed-Starting Mix vs Garden Soil Compare seed-starting mix and garden soil for indoor trays, clean containers, drainage, moisture, damping-off risk, and outdoor bed prep.
Thinning vs Transplanting Seedlings Compare thinning and transplanting seedlings with spacing, root disturbance, crop tolerance, hardening-off, direct-sow, and seed-starting checks.
Transplant Shock vs Normal Wilting Compare transplant shock and normal wilting with hardening-off history, root-zone moisture, wind, heat, cold nights, and recovery timing.
Root-Bound Seedlings vs Transplant Ready Compare root-bound seedlings and transplant-ready starts with root-ball shape, active growth, hardening-off, soil temperature, weather, and moisture checks.
Frost Damage vs Transplant Shock Compare frost damage and transplant shock with overnight lows, cold injury, row-cover gaps, hardening-off history, root-zone moisture, and recovery signs.
Seedling Wilting vs Damping-Off Compare seedling wilting and damping-off with stem pinch, media moisture, tray sanitation, airflow, temperature, light, and recovery checks.
Fungus Gnats vs Damping-Off Compare fungus gnats and damping-off with tiny flies, larvae, sticky traps, potato checks, pinched stems, tray sanitation, drainage, and watering.
Cutworms vs Damping-Off Compare cutworms and damping-off by soil-line clipping, C-shaped larvae, pinched stems, root rot, tray sanitation, media moisture, and re-sowing timing.
Springtails vs Fungus Gnats Compare springtails and fungus gnats with jumping soil specks, adult flies, larvae, sticky cards, potato checks, moist media, drainage, and Bti decisions.

Soil, water, light and beds (19)

Soil Test vs Compost vs Fertilizer Separate soil-test results, compost, fertilizer, drainage, texture, workable moisture, watering, and seedbed prep before amending garden beds.
Lime vs Fertilizer Compare lime and fertilizer by soil-test pH, nutrients, organic matter, drainage, moisture, soil temperature, and crop timing.
Compost vs Manure Compare compost and manure by soil-test results, organic matter, nutrients, salt risk, food-safety caution, drainage, and crop timing.
Fertilizer Burn vs Nutrient Deficiency Compare fertilizer burn and nutrient deficiency by salt stress, soil tests, recent amendments, watering, drainage, temperature, and crop timing.
Full Sun vs Part Shade Compare full sun and part shade with crop light needs, morning sun, afternoon shade, watering stress, containers, heat, and season timing.
Deep Watering vs Shallow Watering Compare deep watering and shallow watering with root-zone checks, overwatering risk, mulch, containers, drainage, and seedbed moisture.
Mulch vs Bare Soil Compare mulch and bare soil with soil temperature, seedling stage, drainage, watering depth, crusting, weeds, and season-extension context.
Cover Crop vs Mulch Compare cover crops and mulch by living cover, termination, bare seedbed needs, soil moisture, soil temperature, rotation, and next-crop timing.
Row Cover vs Cold Frame Compare row covers and cold frames with ventilation, pollination access, overheating risk, soil temperature, watering, and crop tolerance.
Drip Irrigation vs Overhead Watering Compare drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and overhead watering with foliage wetness, crop stage, root-zone moisture, soil checks, mulch, and overwatering risk.
Crop Rotation vs Companion Planting Compare crop rotation and companion planting by plant-family history, pest pressure, evidence labels, cover crops, pollinator habitat, and bed maps.
Succession Planting vs Crop Rotation Compare succession planting and crop rotation by bed turnover, plant-family history, fall frost runway, cover-crop windows, and same-family repeat risk.
Raised Bed vs In-Ground Garden Compare raised beds and in-ground garden beds with drainage, compaction, access, irrigation, soil-test, root-depth, and spacing checks.
Staking vs Trellising Compare staking and trellising with cages, netting, sprawl room, bed access, airflow, watering, pollination, and container support.
Wet Soil vs Workable Soil Compare wet soil and workable soil with crumble-test, drainage, compaction, seedbed texture, root-zone moisture, and planting timing checks.
Clay Soil vs Sandy Soil Compare clay soil and sandy soil by texture, water holding, drainage, organic matter, workable moisture, watering, and seedbed checks.
Overwatering vs Underwatering Compare overwatering and underwatering with root-zone moisture, drainage, containers, seedbeds, crop stage, weather, and irrigation method checks.
Heat Stress vs Drought Stress Compare heat stress and drought stress with air temperature, root-zone moisture, mulch, afternoon shade, irrigation depth, covers, and crop stage.
Pollination vs Fruit Set Compare pollination and fruit set with bloom timing, pollinator access, row-cover removal, heat, root-zone moisture, crop type, and flowering stage.

Insect and pest look-alikes (25)

Aphids vs Whiteflies Compare aphids and whiteflies by leaf undersides, honeydew, sooty mold, adult flight, new-growth clusters, ants, natural enemies, and crop stress.
Aphids vs Thrips Compare aphids and thrips by clusters, cornicles, honeydew, ants, silvering, black frass, flower or fruit scars, and natural enemies.
Aphids vs Leaf Miners Compare aphids and leaf miners by clusters, cornicles, honeydew, ants, winding mines, blotches, internal larvae, edible leaves, row covers, and natural enemies.
Aphids vs Flea Beetles Compare aphids and flea beetles by clusters, cornicles, honeydew, ants, curled leaves, shot holes, jumping adults, seedlings, and row covers.
Whiteflies vs Leaf Miners Compare whiteflies and leaf miners by adult flight, honeydew, sooty mold, mines, larvae inside leaves, edible greens, row covers, and natural enemies.
Whiteflies vs Thrips Compare whiteflies and thrips by adult flight, undersides, honeydew, sooty mold, silvering, black frass, flower scarring, and natural enemies.
Leaf Miners vs Thrips Compare leaf miners and thrips by internal mines, surface silvering, black frass, flower or fruit scars, edible leaves, row covers, and re-sowing.
Spider Mites vs Aphids Compare spider mites and aphids by stippling, webbing, tiny moving dots, honeydew, curled leaves, heat, dust, water stress, and natural enemies.
Spider Mites vs Whiteflies Compare spider mites and whiteflies by stippling, webbing, tiny moving dots, adult flight, honeydew, sooty mold, heat, dust, and water stress.
Thrips vs Spider Mites Compare thrips and spider mites by silvering, black frass, flower scarring, webbing, cast skins, tiny moving dots, dust, drought stress, and natural enemies.
Slugs vs Cutworms Compare slugs and cutworms with slime trails, ragged holes, clipped stems, C-shaped larvae, night scouting, collars, mulch, moisture, and row-cover timing.
Slugs vs Flea Beetles Compare slugs and flea beetles by slime trails, ragged holes, night feeding, shot holes, jumping adults, seedlings, weeds, and row covers.
Slugs vs Cabbage Worms Compare slugs and cabbage worms by slime trails, ragged holes, night scouting, white butterflies, underside eggs, frass, row covers, and Bt timing.
Squash Bugs vs Cucumber Beetles Compare squash bugs and cucumber beetles by wilt, egg clusters, nymphs, striped beetles, seedling chewing, bacterial wilt, row covers, and pollination timing.
Flea Beetles vs Cucumber Beetles Compare flea beetles and cucumber beetles by shot holes, jumping adults, striped beetles, cucurbit wilt risk, seedlings, and row-cover timing.
Leaf Miners vs Flea Beetles Compare leaf miners and flea beetles by winding trails, blotches, shot holes, jumping adults, edible greens, seedlings, and row-cover timing.
Thrips vs Flea Beetles Compare thrips and flea beetles by silvering, black frass, flower scars, shot holes, jumping adults, seedlings, and row covers.
Whiteflies vs Flea Beetles Compare whiteflies and flea beetles by adult flight, honeydew, sooty mold, shot holes, jumping adults, seedlings, row covers, and natural enemies.
Spider Mites vs Flea Beetles Compare spider mites and flea beetles by stippling, webbing, moving dots, shot holes, jumping beetles, seedling age, row covers, and plant stress.
Spider Mites vs Leaf Miners Compare spider mites and leaf miners by stippling, webbing, moving dots, winding mines, blotches, internal larvae, edible leaves, row covers, and stress.
Hornworms vs Armyworms Compare hornworms and armyworms by horned larvae, large frass, egg masses, group feeding, skeletonized leaves, fruit gouges, and Bt timing.
Cutworms vs Armyworms Compare cutworms and armyworms by soil-line clipping, C-shaped larvae, egg masses, group feeding, skeletonized leaves, fruit gouges, and re-sowing timing.
Cabbage Worms vs Armyworms Compare cabbage worms and armyworms by white butterflies, velvety larvae, frass, fluffy egg masses, group feeding, skeletonized leaves, and cole crops.
Squash Vine Borer vs Squash Bugs Compare squash vine borer and squash bugs by stem frass, larvae, bronze eggs, gray nymphs, wilt, row covers, flowering, cleanup, and rotation.
Flea Beetles vs Cabbage Worms Compare flea beetles and cabbage worms by shot holes, jumping adults, white butterflies, green caterpillars, frass, row covers, Bt, weeds, and cleanup.

Diseases and fruit problems (12)

Powdery Mildew vs Downy Mildew Compare powdery mildew and downy mildew by leaf surface, humidity, leaf wetness, airflow, watering method, crop family, and response timing.
Bacterial Wilt vs Squash Vine Borer Compare bacterial wilt and squash vine borer by day wilt, beetles, ooze, stem-base frass, internal larvae, crown rot, row covers, and rotation.
Fusarium Wilt vs Verticillium Wilt Compare Fusarium and Verticillium wilt by lower-leaf yellowing, vascular browning, soil temperature, resistant varieties, rotation, and diagnosis.
Root-Knot Nematodes vs Fusarium Wilt Compare root-knot nematodes and Fusarium wilt by root galls, patchy stunting, vascular browning, resistance letters, crop history, and soil checks.
Blossom-End Rot vs Sunscald Compare blossom-end rot and sunscald by lesion location, dark leathery fruit ends, pale sun-facing patches, watering swings, calcium movement, and foliage loss.
Tomato Cracking vs Blossom-End Rot Compare tomato cracking and blossom-end rot by crack location, blossom-end lesions, rain after dry weather, calcium-water balance, mulch, and harvest timing.
Tomato Catfacing vs Cracking Compare tomato catfacing and cracking by blossom-end scars, cavities, stem-end cracks, cool bloom weather, moisture swings, variety, and harvest timing.
Tomato Anthracnose vs Sunscald Compare tomato anthracnose and sunscald by ripe-fruit sunken dark spots, salmon spores, pale sun-facing patches, leaf cover, splash, and harvest timing.
Early Blight vs Bacterial Spot Compare early blight and bacterial spot by bull's-eye lower-leaf rings, tiny water-soaked spots, fruit scabs, seed risk, wet foliage, and cleanup.
Early Blight vs Septoria Leaf Spot Compare early blight and Septoria by bull's-eye rings, gray spots, pycnidia, fruit or stem lesions, splash, wet foliage, mulch, pruning, and airflow.
Late Blight vs Early Blight Compare late blight and early blight by water-soaked blotches, white fuzz, cool wet weather, stems, fruit, tubers, bull's-eye rings, and cleanup.
Bacterial Spot vs Septoria Leaf Spot Compare bacterial spot and Septoria by tiny dark spots, fruit blisters, seed risk, gray centers, pycnidia, splash, wet foliage, mulch, pruning, and sanitation.

Pair a guide with your dates

Use the planting calendar with your own frost dates, the regional planting guides for extension timing in your state, or the plant-now pages for what is still worth sowing.