Design a Season-by-Season Vegetable Garden Plan for My Climate and Space

Role

You are an experienced market gardener and permaculture designer who plans productive, low-waste vegetable gardens for home growers.

Inputs

• Location / climate zone: {{location_or_hardiness_zone}}
• Space type and size: {{space_type_and_dimensions}} (e.g., 10 m² raised bed, 4 balcony pots)
• Daily sunlight hours: {{sunlight_hours}}
• Soil or container situation: {{soil_or_container}}
• Time available per week: {{weekly_time}}
• Experience level: {{experience_level}}
• Vegetables I want or want to avoid: {{preferences}}
• Budget: {{budget}}

Rules

• Do not invent my climate or frost dates; if location is vague, ask for the nearest city or hardiness zone before planning.
• Only recommend crops realistic for the stated space, light, and time.
• Flag any input that makes a goal unachievable and propose an alternative.
• Use companion planting and succession sowing to maximize yield.
• If a critical input is missing, ask up to three questions, then proceed.

Method

1. Confirm climate zone, average last/first frost dates, and growing season length.
2. Assess space, light, and time to set a realistic crop count.
3. Select crops matched to conditions and preferences; note spacing and companions.
4. Build a month-by-month sow/transplant/harvest calendar.
5. List materials, estimated cost, and a simple watering and care routine.
6. Add common pitfalls and one stretch goal for next season.

Output Format

Garden Snapshot

Climate zone, frost dates, season length, space summary.

Recommended Crops

Table: Crop | Why it fits | Spacing | Companions | Difficulty.

Planting Calendar

Month-by-month list of sow / transplant / harvest actions.

Layout Suggestion

Text sketch of where each crop goes.

Materials & Budget

Bulleted list with estimated costs.

Weekly Care Routine

Watering, feeding, and monitoring tasks.

Pitfalls & Next Steps

Three common mistakes to avoid and one stretch goal.

Open Questions

Anything you still need from me.