Gardening has long been a cherished pastime, a passion that many hold dear. For those balancing the demands of a full-time job and family life, however, the time to nurture a garden can be scarce. With a busy household that includes a full-time teacher and an active 11-year-old, finding moments to tend to the garden can feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, technology has stepped in to alleviate some of the burdens associated with gardening.
Enter Tertill, a compact robotic weeder that navigates garden plots much like a Roomba. Priced at 0, this little marvel has become an essential ally for busy gardeners, allowing them to focus on the more enjoyable aspects of gardening while it takes care of the tedious weeding tasks. This season marks a significant milestone for Tertill, as it has officially sold out, reflecting its growing popularity among gardening enthusiasts.
Seedtime: A Gardener’s Digital Companion
Alongside Tertill, the Seedtime app has emerged as a powerful tool for both novice and seasoned gardeners. With an extensive database of plants, including a variety of vegetables and herbs, Seedtime offers a free version that provides ample functionality for beginners. For those seeking additional features, a premium subscription starts at approximately .55 per month.
Getting started with Seedtime is straightforward. Users begin by naming their garden, selecting their region, and inputting the crops they plan to cultivate. The app then takes the reins, calculating optimal planting times, preparation schedules, and even harvest dates, all neatly organized within a calendar. Its intelligent scheduling feature adapts to changes, automatically rescheduling tasks based on user input, which is particularly beneficial for those who may fall behind on their gardening duties.
While the app excels in providing guidance, it also allows for manual input of crops not found in its database, such as fruit trees or bushes. This flexibility ensures that users can still benefit from the app’s scheduling capabilities, even when planting less common varieties.
Once the crops are selected, users can create a visual layout of their garden using the app’s layout section. Although currently accessible only via web browser, this feature enables gardeners to design their plots with precision, ensuring proper spacing and organization. The visual representation not only enhances planning but also integrates seamlessly with the calendar, offering a comprehensive view of tasks and locations within the garden.
AI-Enhanced Gardening
Recent updates to Seedtime have introduced an AI-powered companion planting feature, providing users with tailored suggestions for plants that thrive alongside their chosen crops. This innovative addition enhances the gardening experience by suggesting beneficial companions, such as marigolds to deter pests or dill to enhance the flavor of cucumbers. The AI functionality extends to crop-specific queries, allowing users to receive planting dates for cultivars not already in the app’s database.
As the app continues to evolve, the integration of AI promises to make gardening more intuitive and efficient. While the current AI features are in their infancy, the potential for future enhancements, such as crop rotation schedules, has been acknowledged and is under consideration.
For those who often feel overwhelmed by the myriad tasks that gardening entails, Seedtime may very well be the solution to streamline the process. By alleviating the stress of planning and scheduling, this innovative app aims to transform the gardening experience, making it more accessible and enjoyable for all. As the gardening season unfolds, the hope is that technology will not only enhance productivity but also rekindle the joy that comes from nurturing a garden.
