Start with real growing locations
Record the dimensions of beds, rows, and containers you plan to use. Treat the resulting area as gross capacity until you account for paths, supports, unusable edges, and crops already occupying space.
Spacing and plant quantity
Plant spacing is distance between plants. Row spacing is distance between rows. A compact-bed area estimate and a traditional-row footprint answer different layout questions and should not be interpreted as identical designs.
Plan across the season
Succession planting spreads sowing or transplanting dates. Rotation uses crop-family history to help plan what follows. Companion guidance describes potentially useful or unfavorable relationships but does not guarantee an outcome.
Move from planning to planting
For a supported crop, Add a Plant can send the selected crop, garden, and sized growing location to Food Planner. A saved estimate remains a plan until you deliberately return one recommendation to Add a Plant or create linked succession drafts. Review the resulting My Garden records before treating the plan as settled.