dvcrn Seasonal Planting Guide
Plan your garden with region-specific planting schedules for every month.
Quick Start
See what to plant this month
seasonal_planting.py now --zone "8a"
Get planting calendar for a month
seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "6b"
Get full year calendar
seasonal_planting.py year --zone "7a"
Search for plants
seasonal_planting.py search "tomato"
Get plant details
seasonal_planting.py show "tomato"
Add custom plants to your calendar
seasonal_planting.py add "tomato" --planting "april,may" --zone "6a,6b,7a,7b,8a,8b"
Usage Patterns
For new gardeners
# Check what to plant right now
seasonal_planting.py now --zone "7a"
# Get full calendar for your zone
seasonal_planting.py year --zone "7a"
# Learn about specific plants
seasonal_planting.py show "lettuce"
seasonal_planting.py show "tomato"
For experienced gardeners planning ahead
# Check what to plant next month
seasonal_planting.py month --month "may" --zone "7a"
# Plan succession planting
seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "7a"
seasonal_planting.py month --month "june" --zone "7a"
# Add your local varieties
seasonal_planting.py add "local-corn" --planting "may,june" --zone "7a" --notes "Silver Queen variety"
For small farmers
# Get full production schedule
seasonal_planting.py year --zone "6b" > planting-schedule.txt
# Plan staggered planting
seasonal_planting.py month --month "march" --zone "6b" # Early crops
seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "6b" # Main crops
seasonal_planting.py month --month "may" --zone "6b" # Late crops
# Export calendar for team
seasonal_planting.py year --zone "6b" --export "~/farm-calendar.md"
For container/indoor gardeners
# Search for container-friendly plants
seasonal_planting.py search "lettuce"
seasonal_planting.py search "herbs"
# Check planting windows
seasonal_planting.py show "basil"
Planting Zones
Understanding your USDA Hardiness Zone helps plan correctly:
| Zone | Temperature | Typical Plants |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | Very cold | Kale, peas, lettuce, carrots |
| 5-6 | Cold | Tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash |
| 7-8 | Mild | Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn |
| 9-10 | Warm | Year-round growing, tropical plants |
| 11+ | Tropical | Everything year-round |
How to find your zone:
- Search online for "USDA hardiness zone [your city]"
- Most garden resources reference zones
- Use neighboring zone if unsure
Plant Categories
Cool-Season Crops
Plant in spring (March-May) or fall (August-October):
- Lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula
- Peas, radishes, carrots
- Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
Warm-Season Crops
Plant after last frost (May-June):
- Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- Beans, corn, squash
- Cucumbers, melons, zucchini
Herbs (Year-Round or Seasonal)
- Perennial: Rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, chives
- Annual: Basil, cilantro, dill, parsley
Root Vegetables
- Early spring: Radishes, turnips
- Mid-season: Carrots, beets, parsnips
- Late season: Garlic (fall planting), onions
Examples
Spring garden planning
# Zone 6b - April
seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "6b"
# Output: tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers
# Zone 8a - April
seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "8a"
# Output: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, okra (earlier start)
# Plan succession planting
seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "6b"
seasonal_planting.py month --month "may" --zone "6b"
seasonal_planting.py month --month "june" --zone "6b"
Fall garden planning
# Zone 7a - August (fall crops)
seasonal_planting.py month --month "august" --zone "7a"
# Output: lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, peas
# Zone 5a - September (fall crops)
seasonal_planting.py month --month "september" --zone "5a"
# Output: lettuce, spinach, kale, garlic (for overwintering)
Year-round planning
# Get full calendar for your zone
seasonal_planting.py year --zone "7a"
# Export for reference
seasonal_planting.py year --zone "7a" --export "~/garden-calendar-2026.md"
Adding local knowledge
# Add your region-specific advice
seasonal_planting.py add "corn" --planting "may,june" --zone "7a" \
--notes "Silver Queen variety best, plant in blocks for pollination"
# Add heirloom varieties
seasonal_planting.py add "heirloom-tomato" --planting "april,may" --zone "6b,7a" \
--notes "Brandywine, Cherokee Purple - start indoors 6 weeks before last frost"
Search Features
- Find plants by name or category
- See planting windows for each plant
- Get zone-specific recommendations
- Find similar plants (e.g., "tomato" finds all tomato varieties)
Security
Path Validation
The export function validates output paths to prevent malicious writes:
- ✅ Allowed:
~/.openclaw/workspace/,/tmp/, and home directory - ❌ Blocked: System paths (
/etc/,/usr/,/var/, etc.) - ❌ Blocked: Sensitive dotfiles (
~/.bashrc,~/.ssh, etc.)
Data Storage
- Planting calendar stored in:
~/.openclaw/workspace/planting_calendar.json - Custom plants tracked alongside built-in database
- JSON format makes it easy to backup or extend
- Zone-specific recommendations for each plant
Best Practices
- Know your zone - Determines planting windows
- Watch last frost date - Zone is guide, local weather matters
- Plan succession planting - Stagger plantings for continuous harvest
- Use plant-tracker - Combine with plant-tracker skill for full garden management
- Add local knowledge - Customize calendar with regional varieties
- Export for reference - Keep planting schedule handy
Companion Planting Tips
Combine with companion planting for better results:
| Plant | Good Companions | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Basil, carrots, onions | Cabbage, potatoes |
| Lettuce | Carrots, radishes, strawberries | Parsley |
| Beans | Corn, carrots, cucumbers | Onions, garlic |
| Peppers | Basil, onions, carrots | Fennel, kohlrabi |
Related Skills
- plant-tracker - Manage individual plants, care schedules, harvest tracking
- garden-layout-planner (planned) - Design your garden layout
Use together for complete garden management!