PlantingCalendar vs Almanac Garden Planner: Free USDA Zone Lookup vs $35/Year
The Almanac Garden Planner costs $35/year after a 7-day trial. PlantingCalendar gives you USDA hardiness zone lookup and planting calendar free.
| Feature | __SITENAME__ (Free) | The Old Farmer's Almanac Garden Planner (Paid) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $35/year (after 7-day trial) |
| USDA zone lookup | Instant, free | Included in planner |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Garden layout design | No — focused on calendar | Yes — drag-and-drop planner |
| Planting dates | By zone, free | Included |
$35/year for a planting calendar
The Old Farmer's Almanac Garden Planner is a polished visual layout tool with a 7-day free trial — then $35/year. It includes a planting calendar, but you are paying mostly for the drag-and-drop garden design features.
PlantingCalendar gives you the planting calendar part — USDA zone lookup, first/last frost dates, and planting windows — for free. No trial, no subscription, no registration.
When the Almanac makes sense
If you are designing raised beds and want a visual drag-and-drop layout with companion planting suggestions, the Almanac planner is worth $35/year. For everyone who just needs to know what to plant and when — PlantingCalendar is fast and free.
FAQ
- Does PlantingCalendar do garden layout design?
- No — PlantingCalendar focuses on USDA zone lookup and planting dates. For visual garden layout, the Almanac planner is the better tool.
- How accurate is the USDA zone data?
- PlantingCalendar uses the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map data, updated to the 2023 revision.
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