Plan Sheet
Choose crops, record your site, and plan your next decisions.
Open Plan Sheet (2 pages) ↗Free tools for beginner food growers
Free Garden Resources
Free Planning Sheets
Download the garden planning sheets free. Everyone is welcome to use them. No email required.
Printable PDFs: open and print. Fillable PDF: download and open in Adobe Acrobat Reader to type and save. Drawing your garden? Use the printable version.
Garden Record
Track planting, harvests, and what you learn.
Open Garden Record (1 page) ↗Check Log
Observe, understand, decide, apply, and reassess.
Open Check Log (1 page) ↗Start small. Grow what you eat.
Getting Started
New here? Start with these three steps.
- Look at your space. Note the sunlight, room to grow, and water access you have.
- Choose a few foods you enjoy. Check your local Extension planting calendar before deciding what fits this season.
- Use the Plan Sheet. Write down your choices and the questions you still need to answer. Keep the Garden Record and Check Log for planting and follow-up.
Choose the printable sheets if you want to write or draw, or the fillable PDF if you want to type.
Choose two or three crops that fit your light, space, and local planting season. These eight are good possibilities—not a list to plant all at once.
Cool-season choices
Leaf lettuce, radishes, kale, and cilantro. Check your local planting calendar; heat can shorten the harvest window.
Warm-season choices
Bush beans, basil, cherry tomatoes, and peppers. Plant when local guidance says conditions are warm enough. Tomatoes and peppers need suitable containers and support.
A rough first-garden budget
| Starting space | Planning range (USD) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| One container (5–10 gallons) | $25–$75 | Container with drainage, potting mix, seeds or a plant. |
| Small raised bed (about 4 × 4 ft, 8–12 in deep) | $100–$300 | Basic frame, growing mix, seeds or plants. |
| Small in-ground bed (about 4 × 8 ft) | $30–$100 | Seeds or plants, mulch, and a modest allowance for soil testing or amendments. |
Illustrative starting budgets, not quotes. Prices vary by area, materials, and soil needs. These assume access to water and basic tools; fencing, irrigation, delivery, major soil work, and ongoing costs are extra. Reuse safe materials and test soil before buying amendments.
From setup to first harvest
Setup weekend: check sun and water access, choose your space, make a plan, and gather supplies. Send an in-ground soil sample early; results or bed preparation may take longer than a weekend.
Planting: sow or transplant when the crop’s local planting window and soil conditions fit. Check moisture and seedlings regularly.
First harvest: some radishes and baby greens may be ready about 3–6 weeks after sowing; beans and herbs often take roughly 6–10 weeks. Tomatoes and peppers usually take longer. Use the seed packet or transplant label and actual plant growth as your guide.
Starter-crop reference: Easy starter crops (Iowa State University Extension) ↗. Use your local Extension planting calendar to decide when to plant.
Rather learn with a group? See classes.
Keep these handy
Helpful gardening links
Frost dates
Use UGA Extension’s Georgia maps to estimate the last spring frost and first fall frost in your area. Outside Georgia, ask your local Extension office for frost dates and a vegetable planting calendar. Average dates are planning guides, not guarantees.
View UGA’s Georgia frost-date maps ↗USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Look up winter hardiness for perennial plants. Your zone is not a vegetable planting calendar.
Find your hardiness zone ↗UGA Weather Network
Find the UGA Weather Network and other forecast and monitoring tools through UGA Extension. Pair local weather information with crop-specific planting guidance.
Explore UGA Extension’s weather resources ↗UGA NPK Fertilizer Calculator
Convert a soil-test fertilizer recommendation for your growing area and available product. Check the units and product directions.
Open the fertilizer calculator ↗Your local Cooperative Extension office
Ask for local planting dates and help identifying plant problems. Outside Georgia, contact your state’s land-grant university Extension service.
Ask your county Extension office for a soil-test kit and instructions for collecting and submitting your sample.
Find a Georgia Extension office ↗Outside Georgia? Find your state’s Extension office.
Choose your state in USDA’s land-grant university directory, then look for the university’s Cooperative Extension service.
These independent resources are provided for learning. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement of Grow Generational Roots.
Want the full walk-through? See the book.
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