Introducing a Simple Garden Planner for Mothers
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Prepare well for spring with this free simple garden planner, created especially with busy moms in mind! Grab a pen and print this planner out to set clear intentions and organize your garden dreams.
I’ve heard from so many moms out there who want to start a garden but are just intimidated by the process. They don’t know if they have the time. They don’t know what they’re doing, or how much they could manage. Or maybe they’re working with limited space and they want to do it right. Yet they lack confidence to get started and make a plan. So I created a solution.
Enter my free Simple Garden Planner.
This download is for you if 2026 is the year you want to take action on your gardening dreams! It doesn’t matter if you have only raised beds, no beds at all, or just a few pots for herbs. I don’t know about you, but I need paper to flesh things out. I know how intimidating it is to do something new, or even to expand on your current knowledge/experience. This guide is here to help you!
Inside, you’ll find information regarding plant spacing, companion planting, as well as a way to track what’s gone well and what has been a source of struggle.
You can do this, I promise.
Why you need this simple garden planner
In this planner, I help you set clear intentions and focus on what’s realistic to grow in the season you’re in. It’s not practical to think you can grow all the things your first year– even though you might be tempted.
I help you put on paper in an organized way what you would like to grow this year and then we take it another step by sorting out what we will start from seed and what seedlings to purchase. There’s even a space to sketch your garden vision! After you work though this planner you’ll be ready to get your hands dirty!
This is the prime time to think about your garden and prepare! Late winter-ish is when I like to pull out my books and grid paper and start making my own plan. I have used Family Garden Plan by Melissa K. Norris to help me narrow down how many plants I need for specific yields. Once I have my numbers figured and my plant spacing and rotation worked out, I make my shopping list for the seed store and greenhouse!
How to decide what to start from seed and what to purchase as a seedling
I don’t recommend a beginner start everything from seed. Our first year, we grew direct sow crops and then picked up seedlings from a green house. I didn’t bother with seed starting because at the time I had three young children ages 4, 3, and 1.
Starting plants from seed is a huge learning curve and takes a lot of time. You really have to weigh what you have time for and what is worth purchasing.
Another thing is to ask what plants are available as seedlings in your area. For an example, I can’t buy celery as a seedling locally, so I start my own. Nothing beats the flavor of celery you raise yourself!
If you’re interested in starting your own seeds, you need to allot time for regular monitoring and attention and money for supplies such as a warming mat, grow lights, trays, potting soil, etc. A full list of supplies is below!
Ultimately, you know your time and budget best! There’s nothing wrong with purchasing all your seedlings, and likewise there’s nothing wrong with starting the plants you’d like to grow yourself.
Arranging your garden space
Don’t run off to the greenhouse or start any seeds yet! Before anything is bought we need to determine what we want to grow and how many plants of that vegetable, herb, or flower. And to discern that, we must look at what we have space for first. You can find a chart with the recommended spacing for common vegetables inside the planner!
Raised beds are wonderful, however they limit you too. I leverage raised beds for specific plants. My raised beds usually grow lettuce, kale, spinach, beets, radishes, or carrots and the regular garden plot grows the rest!
My planner also has a page dedicated to common companion plants as well as their foes! I added this with you in mind, to help you arrange the plants in your space wisely! Companion planting is a great way to save space.
The benefits of growing something with my simple garden planner
Growing things is one of the oldest commands to mankind! We were made to nurture, to create, and to steward. There have been countless times I’ve been working in the garden and the Lord has spoken to me. We even see analogies made to growing things in the Bible over and over again. How we are to be like a tree planted by the water, how we should abide in the vine, or have faith like a mustard seed.
Once you decide to grow something and get outside with your family, you’ll realize there’s so much goodness to be experienced. Family time, fresh air, sunshine, not to mention the perk of growing beauty or something delicious to eat!
Recommended supplies (some affiliate links)
- Seedling Heat Mat
- The Family Garden Plan by Melissa K. Norris
- Grow lights. We have these and these as well.
- Seed growing trays (I recommend you buy this locally, so you aren’t buying more than you need.)
- Seed growing cells (also recommend you buy this locally)
- Black Gold Seedling Mix
- Seeds, of course! We have purchased from Berlin Seed for many years as well as some seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.
Get organized and prepared
Spring will be here in just a few short weeks. Make the jump and commit to grow something this year by downloading the free planner today. I know you can do it! I’ll be here, cheering you on. I can’t wait to hear and see what you grow this year!
Great tips! I am so excited to get back out in the garden this year! Thanks for sharing and giving some inspiration!
Me too. Happy growing!!
Love this!
Thanks!