What this skill does

--- name: seasonal-planting-guide description: Seasonal planting calendar for gardeners. Find what to plant each month in your growing zone. Use when planning your garden, checking planting schedules, or finding plants for the current season. Security: file exports restricted to safe directories. Perfect for home gardeners, small farmers, and anyone planning a productive garden. --- # Seasonal Planting Guide Plan your garden with region-specific planting schedules for every month. ## Quick Start ### See what to plant this month ```bash seasonal_planting.py now --zone "8a" ``` ### Get planting calendar for a month ```bash seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "6b" ``` ### Get full year calendar ```bash seasonal_planting.py year --zone "7a" ``` ### Search for plants ```bash seasonal_planting.py search "tomato" ``` ### Get plant details ```bash seasonal_planting.py show "tomato" ``` ### Add custom plants to your calendar ```bash seasonal_planting.py add "tomato" --planting "april,may" --zone "6a,6b,7a,7b,8a,8b" ``` ## Usage Patterns ### For new gardeners ```bash # Check what to plant right now seasonal_planting.py now --zone "7a" # Get full calendar for your zone seasonal_planting.py year --zone "7a" # Learn about specific plants seasonal_planting.py show "lettuce" seasonal_planting.py show "tomato" ``` ### For experienced gardeners planning ahead ```bash # Check what to plant next month seasonal_planting.py month --month "may" --zone "7a" # Plan succession planting seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "7a" seasonal_planting.py month --month "june" --zone "7a" # Add your local varieties seasonal_planting.py add "local-corn" --planting "may,june" --zone "7a" --notes "Silver Queen variety" ``` ### For small farmers ```bash # Get full production schedule seasonal_planting.py year --zone "6b" > planting-schedule.txt # Plan staggered planting seasonal_planting.py month --month "march" --zone "6b" # Early crops seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "6b" # Main crops seasonal_planting.py month --month "may" --zone "6b" # Late crops # Export calendar for team seasonal_planting.py year --zone "6b" --export "~/farm-calendar.md" ``` ### For container/indoor gardeners ```bash # Search for container-friendly plants seasonal_planting.py search "lettuce" seasonal_planting.py search "herbs" # Check planting windows seasonal_planting.py show "basil" ``` ## Planting Zones Understanding your **USDA Hardiness Zone** helps plan correctly: | Zone | Temperature | Typical Plants | |------|-------------|----------------| | 3-4 | Very cold | Kale, peas, lettuce, carrots | | 5-6 | Cold | Tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | | 7-8 | Mild | Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn | | 9-10 | Warm | Year-round growing, tropical plants | | 11+ | Tropical | Everything year-round | **How to find your zone:** - Search online for "USDA hardiness zone [your city]" - Most garden resources reference zones - Use neighboring zone if unsure ## Plant Categories ### Cool-Season Crops Plant in spring (March-May) or fall (August-October): - Lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula - Peas, radishes, carrots - Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts ### Warm-Season Crops Plant after last frost (May-June): - Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant - Beans, corn, squash - Cucumbers, melons, zucchini ### Herbs (Year-Round or Seasonal) - Perennial: Rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, chives - Annual: Basil, cilantro, dill, parsley ### Root Vegetables - Early spring: Radishes, turnips - Mid-season: Carrots, beets, parsnips - Late season: Garlic (fall planting), onions ## Examples ### Spring garden planning ```bash # Zone 6b - April seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "6b" # Output: tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers # Zone 8a - April seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "8a" # Output: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, okra (earlier start) # Plan succession planting seasonal_planting.py month --month "april" --zone "6b" seasonal_planting.py month --month "may" --zone "6b" seasonal_planting.py month --month "june" --zone "6b" ``` ### Fall garden planning ```bash # Zone 7a - August (fall crops) seasonal_planting.py month --month "august" --zone "7a" # Output: lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, peas # Zone 5a - September (fall crops) seasonal_planting.py month --month "september" --zone "5a" # Output: lettuce, spinach, kale, garlic (for overwintering) ``` ### Year-round planning ```bash # Get full calendar for your zone seasonal_planting.py year --zone "7a" # Export for reference seasonal_planting.py year --zone "7a" --export "~/garden-calendar-2026.md" ``` ### Adding local knowledge ```bash # Add your region-specific advice seasonal_planting.py add "corn" --planting "may,june" --zone "7a" \ --notes "Silver Queen variety best, plant in blocks for pollination" # Add heirloom varieties seasonal_planting.py add "heirloom-tomato" --planting "april,may" --zone "6b,7a" \ --notes "Brandywine, Cherokee Purple - start indoors 6 weeks before last frost" ``` ## Search Features - Find plants by name or category - See planting windows for each plant - Get zone-specific recommendations - Find similar plants (e.g., "tomato" finds all tomato varieties) ## Security ### Path Validation The `export` function validates output paths to prevent malicious writes: - ✅ Allowed: `~/.openclaw/workspace/`, `/tmp/`, and home directory - ❌ Blocked: System paths (`/etc/`, `/usr/`, `/var/`, etc.) - ❌ Blocked: Sensitive dotfiles (`~/.bashrc`, `~/.ssh`, etc.) ## Data Storage - Planting calendar stored in: `~/.openclaw/workspace/planting_calendar.json` - Custom plants tracked alongside built-in database - JSON format makes it easy to backup or extend - Zone-specific recommendations for each plant ## Best Practices 1. **Know your zone** - Determines planting windows 2. **Watch last frost date** - Zone is guide, local weather matters 3. **Plan succession planting** - Stagger plantings for continuous harvest 4. **Use plant-tracker** - Combine with plant-tracker skill for full garden management 5. **Add local knowledge** - Customize calendar with regional varieties 6. **Export for reference** - Keep planting schedule handy ## Companion Planting Tips Combine with **companion planting** for better results: | Plant | Good Companions | Avoid | |-------|----------------|--------| | Tomatoes | Basil, carrots, onions | Cabbage, potatoes | | Lettuce | Carrots, radishes, strawberries | Parsley | | Beans | Corn, carrots, cucumbers | Onions, garlic | | Peppers | Basil, onions, carrots | Fennel, kohlrabi | ## Related Skills - **plant-tracker** - Manage individual plants, care schedules, harvest tracking - **garden-layout-planner** (planned) - Design your garden layout Use together for complete garden management!