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Garden Planner

Plan your backyard garden — cost and yield.

Enter bed dimensions, plants, and prices. See total startup cost, cubic yards of soil, ongoing annual cost, and estimated seasonal yield.

$199

startup cost

Vegetable garden · 32 sq ft

Bed & materials

Materials & yield

Soil needed

1.19 cu yd

Mulch needed

0.30 cu yd

Soil cost

$53

Mulch cost

$11

Plants cost

$54

Tools cost

$80

Startup total

$199

Annual cost

$87

Seasonal yield $

$144

Net year 1

-$55

Freedom Coach™

Vegetable garden startup: ~$199, ~$87/yr after.

Estimated grocery-equivalent yield: ~$144 per season.

  • Buy in bulk — a full cubic yard of soil is ~40% cheaper than the same volume in bagged form.
  • Start smaller than you think. A 4×8 bed produces more than most families eat.
  • Save seeds from year 1 for year 2 — cuts the annual seed line ~60%.

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Save scenarios & unlock all tools

Save garden plans across seasons, track spend vs yield, and get planting-window reminders by zone.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to start a garden?

A 4×8 raised-bed vegetable garden typically runs $200–$400 in startup costs (soil, plants, tools) and $80–$150/yr thereafter.

Are vegetable gardens worth it financially?

Yes — a well-tended 4×8 vegetable bed produces $150–$250 of grocery-equivalent produce per season. Payback is usually year 1 or 2.

How much soil do I need?

For a raised bed: length × width × depth (in feet) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. Our calculator does this automatically.

When should I start a garden?

In most US zones: seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost, then transplant 1–2 weeks after last frost. Herbs and cool crops (lettuce, peas) can go in earlier.

What's the highest-yield backyard crop?

Tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, herbs (basil, mint), and salad greens deliver the most $/sq ft. Corn and pumpkins take huge space for low value.

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