Download the kit
One click, no email, no signup — the PDF downloads straight to your device and you stay right here.
Under 1 MB · Prints on regular letter paper · Black-and-white friendly
What's inside the 12 pages
- How-to page — find your USDA zone and your two frost dates in about five minutes, with the free lookup tools to use (USDA's zone map and the Almanac's frost-date finder).
- Frost-date quick tables — typical last and first frost windows for zones 3–10, plus a box on page 2 for your own ZIP-code dates.
- Spring planting charts — the weeks-before-frost chart for direct sowing and transplants, plus a fill-in column for your dates.
- Fall planting worksheet — the "count back from first frost" math, laid out so you just fill in the blanks.
- Bed planning grids — square-foot grids for a 4×4 and 4×8 raised bed, plus a container lineup page.
- Seasonal checklists — spring, summer, fall, and winter tasks in checkbox form, with room for your own.
- A simple garden log — what you planted, where, and how it went, so next year starts smarter.
Made to be read, not squinted at
The whole kit is set in a generous 14-point serif type with high contrast and large grid squares — comfortable for readers who are done with fine print, and forgiving of a pencil that wanders. It prints cleanly in black and white, so it costs pennies to reprint a fresh worksheet every season.
How to use it (three steps)
- Look up your dates. Page 2 walks you through finding your USDA zone and frost dates by ZIP code — five minutes, once.
- Fill in the charts. Copy your dates into the spring chart and fall worksheet; they turn into a personal planting schedule.
- Sketch the beds. Pencil crops into the grids, tape the checklist inside a cupboard door, and you're planned for the season.
The thinking behind the kit lives in our guides — start with the frost-date planting chart, and if you're planning new beds, the no-bend bed height guide.
Ready when you are
If the file opens in your browser instead of downloading, look for the download icon in the corner of the viewer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the kit really free?
Yes — completely. No email address, no signup, no catch. The download starts the moment you click the button. It's our welcome gift to fellow gardeners.
What print settings should I use?
US Letter paper (8.5 × 11 inches), portrait orientation, 100% scale ("Actual size"). It prints beautifully in plain black-and-white — no color ink needed.
Can I print extra copies or share the kit?
Please do — print as many worksheets as you need each season, and share the kit with friends, family, or your garden club. We only ask that you don't sell it.
Which USDA zones does it cover?
The frost-date quick tables cover zones 3 through 10, and the planting charts count from your own frost dates, so they work anywhere with a frost season. (In frost-free spots, the grids, worksheets, and log still earn their keep.)