Frequently Asked Questions

What is Plot My Garden?

Plot My Garden is a free online tool designed specifically for UK allotment holders and gardeners to plan their vegetable plots. It features:

• Visual grid-based planner with drag-and-drop functionality
• 3D visualization with realistic plant models
• Planting and harvest schedules
• Companion planting suggestions
• Multi-plot management for crop rotation
• Export and print capabilities

Best of all, it works entirely in your browser with no account required!

Do I need to create an account?

No! Plot My Garden uses your browser's local storage to save your data. This means:

• No email or personal information required
• Your plot plans remain completely private
• Data is only accessible on your device
• Works offline once loaded

Important: Clear your browser data or use incognito mode will erase your saved plots. Consider exporting your plot as JSON for backup!

Is Plot My Garden free?

Yes, completely free! We display affiliate links to gardening suppliers (seeds, tools, compost) to help support the service. There are no premium features or hidden costs.

How do I create my first plot?

1. Enter your plot dimensions (width and height in meters)
2. Choose a cell size (25cm, 50cm, or 1m)
3. Click "Create Grid"
4. Click the floating "Add Plant" button to browse plants
5. Select plants and click cells to place them
6. Switch to 3D view to see your garden visualized!

How do I add plants to my plot?

There are several ways to add plants:

• Floating Button: Click the "Add Plant" button to open the plant browser modal, search or filter plants, then click to add
• 3D View: Click an empty cell in 3D view to see a plant selection menu
• Drag in 3D: In 3D view, you can drag plants directly onto the grid

What cell size should I choose?

• 25cm (intensive): Perfect for salad crops, radishes, spring onions, and herbs in raised beds or square-foot gardening
• 50cm (standard): Best for most UK vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beetroot, and beans - the traditional allotment spacing
• 1m (spacious): Ideal for large brassicas (cabbages, cauliflower), pumpkins, courgettes, and fruit bushes

How do I save my plot?

Your plot is automatically saved to local storage as you work. For additional security:

• Click "Save Plot" button to manually save
• Use "Export JSON" to download a backup file
• Use "Print View" for a physical copy

Can I plan multiple plots?

Yes! The "Manage Plots" section lets you:

• Create multiple plot plans with different names
• Switch between plots using the dropdown
• Rename plots for better organization
• Delete old or unused plots

This is perfect for managing different raised beds, planning crop rotation, or preparing for different seasons.

What's the difference between 2D and 3D view?

• 2D View: A top-down grid view, perfect for detailed planning, editing, and getting an overview of your plot layout
• 3D View (Default): Renders realistic plant models so you can visualize what your garden will actually look like with proper scale and spacing

Both views are fully interactive - you can add, edit, and remove plants in either mode.

How do I navigate in 3D view?

• Rotate: Click and drag to orbit around your plot
• Zoom: Mouse wheel or pinch gesture on mobile
• Pan: Right-click and drag, or use keyboard arrows/WASD keys
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Arrow keys or WASD to move, +/- to zoom, 0 to reset

The 3D models look accurate to real plants?

Yes! We use detailed 3D models for over 50 common UK vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits. Models are scaled realistically so you can see:

• Relative plant heights and spreads
• How plants will look at maturity
• Spacing issues before you plant
• Visual appeal of your plot design

What is companion planting?

Companion planting is growing certain plants together for mutual benefits:

• Pest control: Marigolds repel aphids, nasturtiums attract aphids away from crops
• Nutrient enhancement: Legumes fix nitrogen in soil for neighboring plants
• Growth support: Three Sisters (corn, beans, squash) support each other
• Space efficiency: Fast crops (radishes) between slow crops (parsnips)

Plot My Garden includes companion planting suggestions when you select plants!

When should I plant in the UK?

UK planting times vary by region and crop, but general guidelines:

• Early Spring (Feb-Mar): Onions, shallots, broad beans (under cover)
• Mid Spring (Apr-May): Most vegetables after last frost
• Late Spring (May-Jun): Tender crops like tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Succession planting, autumn crops
• Autumn (Sep-Oct): Garlic, overwintering onions, broad beans

Always check your local frost dates and adjust accordingly!

How accurate is the planting schedule?

The schedule shows planting dates you set and estimated harvest times based on typical UK growing seasons. However:

• Times vary by region (Scotland vs. Cornwall)
• Weather affects growth rates
• Variety differences (early vs. maincrop)
• Growing conditions (greenhouse vs. outdoor)

Use the schedule as a guide and adjust based on your experience and local conditions.

How do I plan crop rotation?

Crop rotation prevents soil depletion and reduces pests/diseases. A simple 4-year rotation:

1. Year 1 - Legumes: Peas, beans (add nitrogen)
2. Year 2 - Brassicas: Cabbage, broccoli, kale (use nitrogen)
3. Year 3 - Roots: Potatoes, carrots, beetroot
4. Year 4 - Onions & others: Onions, leeks, squash, salads

Use Plot My Garden's multi-plot feature to plan each year's rotation!

Can I use Plot My Garden on mobile?

Yes! Plot My Garden is mobile-first and works great on:

• Smartphones (iOS and Android)
• Tablets
• Desktop computers

The interface automatically adapts to your screen size. The sidebar collapses on mobile for maximum grid space.

Which browsers are supported?

Plot My Garden works on all modern browsers:

• Chrome, Edge, Brave (recommended)
• Firefox
• Safari (iOS and macOS)
• Samsung Internet

We recommend keeping your browser updated for the best experience, especially for 3D rendering.

My plot disappeared! How do I recover it?

If your plot is missing:

1. Check if you're using the same browser and device
2. Make sure you didn't clear browser data
3. Check the plot selector dropdown for multiple plots
4. If you exported JSON, use "Load Plot" to restore from backup

Prevention: Regularly export your plot as JSON to have a backup!

The 3D view is slow or not loading

Try these solutions:

• Refresh the page (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R)
• Close other browser tabs to free memory
• Use 2D view on older devices
• Update your browser to the latest version
• Try a different browser (Chrome recommended for 3D)

Can I print my plot plan?

Yes! Click the "Print" button in the navigation bar for a printer-friendly version of your plot. This includes:

• Grid layout with plant names
• Plot statistics
• Planting schedule

Perfect for taking to the allotment!

Who created Plot My Garden?

Plot My Garden was created for UK allotment holders and gardeners who want a simple, free tool to plan their vegetable plots without complicated software or accounts.

How do you make money?

Plot My Garden displays affiliate links to reputable UK gardening suppliers for seeds, tools, and compost. We may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the tool free for everyone!

Is my data private?

Absolutely! All your plot data is stored locally on your device only. We don't have accounts, databases, or any way to access your information. Your garden plans are yours alone.

Can I suggest new features?

We'd love to hear your ideas! While we don't have a formal feedback system yet, we're always looking to improve Plot My Garden for the UK gardening community.