Free gardening resources

From Seed to Spoon (iOS/Android)

What to plant now by location, reminders, companion planting

• Location-aware calendars
• Beginner-friendly prompts

PlantNet (iOS/Android)

Accurate plant identification powered by community data

• Fast photo ID
• Large species database

Seek by iNaturalist (iOS/Android)

Gamified plant and pollinator ID with badges/challenges

• Great for pollinator gardens
• No account required to use

Gardenate (Web/iOS/Android)

“Plant now” by ZIP and sowing method

• Monthly sowing prompts
• Simple, quick decisions

Planter: Garden Planner (iOS/Android)

Drag-and-drop layouts, spacing, companion planting

• Visual raised-bed planning
• Companion cues to avoid mistakes

Gardena My Garden

Free drag-and-drop yard/bed planner, sprinkler layouts

VegPlotter

Month-by-month vegetable plans with rotation tools

Kitchen Garden Planner

Raised bed templates and printable plans

Johnny’s Selected Seeds calculators

Seed quantity and sowing schedules by frost dates

USDA National Plant Germplasm System

Request small seed quantities (research/preservation)

• Account required
• Read request guidelines

Public library seed libraries

“Check out” seeds; return saved seeds if you can

County conservation districts

Free native plant/seed giveaways and low-cost sales

Community garden initiatives

Seeds for participants, shared transplants, swaps

FreeHeirloomSeeds.org

Free heirloom seed requests (limits apply)

Balcony/rental-friendly setup

• Planter: layouts and spacing
• From Seed to Spoon: schedule
• Gardenate: monthly “plant now”

Mini habitats

• Grow natives; stagger bloom times
• Use Seek to ID pollinators
• Avoid pesticides; add a pebble water dish

Quick container mix

• 2 parts potting mix
• 1 part compost
• 1 part perlite

Seed and plant swaps

Meetup, Facebook Groups, Buy Nothing, community gardens

Extension & Master Gardener events

Free classes, plant clinics, seasonal demos

Tool libraries & makerspaces

Borrow tools; DIY trellis/bed workshops