EMMAUS, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Just in time for the kickoff of this year’s gardening season, Organic Gardening magazine, in partnership with Safer® Brand garden products, announces the release of Planting Planner, a free app designed to take the guesswork out of planning a garden. Planting Planner’s easy-to-use virtual platform lets users research, plan and manage their garden concept all in one place while offering growing advice that is tailored to each plant hardiness zone.
“One of the largest hurdles for new organic gardeners is knowing what they can grow and where they can grow it. Providing both new and experienced organic gardeners with the resources and tools necessary to create and maintain their gardens will increase their ability to achieve success and further fuel their passion,” says Justin Emig, Category Development Associate, Safer® Brand.
Planting Planner helps users get the timing right to determine when to start seeds indoors and when to plant outside based on the frost dates for the given device’s GPS location. Users can create a plant wish list, learn new growing techniques, and save multiple garden plans that can be referenced and edited throughout the season.
“All gardeners have different goals: Some may want to grow better tomatoes; others may be looking to try something new and unfamiliar,” says Jeff Tkach, Publisher, Organic Gardening. “No matter what the interest or experience level, Planting Planner will provide peace of mind for a more enjoyable, successful gardening season.”
Available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android, the app is easy to use. Users simply download it, search for ideas using the “Browse” tab, select plants to grow, and save their virtual garden selection under the “My Garden” tab. Then it’s time to check the weather and start planting!
Planting Planner key features include:
Searchable Plant Database
- From artichoke to zucchini, alyssum to zinnia, the app includes a comprehensive range of popular vegetables, herbs, and flowers, both annuals and perennials. Just click the “Browse” tab!
User-friendly “Planner” Tab
- Access crucial, plant-specific growing advice in a lean, quick-facts format to facilitate decision making and feasibility.
- Click any item on the alphabetized plant list to view helpful growing advice such as seed spacing and depth, planting techniques like raised rows or hills that facilitate maintenance, and timing from sowing to first harvest.
- When plants that are not suited for a given planting zone are selected, the Planting Planner lets users know that the choice is not recommended.
“My Garden” Management Tab
- Add plant selections on the go to save a customized virtual garden plan.
- Looking to grow several veggie patches this year? Save multiple garden plans that can be referenced and edited throughout the season.
Programmable “Weather” Tab
- Handy “Weather” tab provides current conditions and the forecast based on a user-selected nearby weather station.
- Quick reference National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Frost Date chart based on device GPS location helps gardeners determine when to get out and grow. The Frost Date chart shows dates for the probable first and last occurrence of frost for a given area in correlation with the probability of experiencing a given temperature, allowing gardeners to better evaluate risk in planning garden timing.
Download the Planting Planner at the Apple App store.
About Organic Gardening (www.organicgardening.com)
Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2012, Rodale’s Organic Gardening is the leading magazine resource for an organic approach to home, food, and garden. With the mission of “living lightly from the ground up,” the magazine empowers readers to lead simpler, healthier lives by making positive connections with the world through gardening. Featuring fresh ideas for home-cooked meals, accessible tips, tools, and tricks for gardeners of all skill levels, and gorgeous photography that inspires, Organic Gardening helps readers garden to truly live their whole lives. Follow Organic Gardening on Twitter @OGMag and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/OrganicGardening. Organic Gardening is also available on the iPad.
About Safer® Brand
The world leader in organic insect control, organic plant disease control, and organic gardening products for more than 20 years, Safer® Brand offers the broadest and deepest selection of quality insect control and plant disease control products at competitive prices. The company is a division of Woodstream Corporation. Learn more and see the entire line of Safer® Brand products at http://www.SaferBrand.com.