How the PlotPlanner garden planner works

PlotPlanner turns a few questions about your yard into a practical, zone-matched planting plan. Tell us where you live (your ZIP sets your USDA hardiness zone), what you're hoping to get out of the garden, and how much space you have — then choose the crops you care about. We do the zone math, the timing, and the spacing, so you can skip the binder full of notes and get straight to planting.

What you get

• A zone-matched crop list. Your ZIP maps to a USDA hardiness zone, and every crop recommendation is checked against it — no more planting things that can't survive your winters.
• A season calendar. Frost dates from NOAA, translated into “start indoors,” “plant out,” and “harvest” windows that fit your zone, not a generic national average.
• Space math that makes sense. Raised bed, in-ground row, container, or greenhouse — the plan fits the space you actually have.
• Your plan, saved. Add your email and we'll keep a link so you can come back to it all season. No account required.

Why zone matters

The USDA hardiness zone tells you the average annual minimum winter temperature for your area. A tomato that thrives in Zone 9's long, warm season will struggle in a Zone 4 spring. PlotPlanner bakes that into every recommendation — from when to start seeds under lights to whether a “winter” crop is even worth sowing in your climate.

Frequently asked questions

Is the planner really free?

Yes. The core planner — zone lookup, crop picks, season calendar, and your saved plan — is free with no account required. There's an optional one-time $7 upgrade that turns your plan into a full day-by-day grow guide with month-by-month care tasks, but you can use the free planner forever.

How do I find my USDA growing zone?

Just type your 5-digit ZIP into the box above (or on the homepage). We look up your zone automatically using the same public hardiness-zone data gardeners rely on. You can also browse the full zone-by-zone guides on the Grow Zones page.

Can I change my plans after I start?

Absolutely. Go back and adjust your goals, space, or crops any time — the plan reworks around your changes. That's the whole point of planning before you dig.

Do I need to create an account?

No. You can generate a plan and we'll email you the link with nothing more than your email address. Accounts are optional and only needed if you want to store multiple plans or use the paid grow-guide upgrade.