Two solid garden planners. One is built for the UK. The other is built for New Zealand. Here is how they compare for New Zealand gardeners in 2026.
| Feature | Planting Season | GrowVeg |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier, $34.95 NZD/yr, or $99 NZD lifetime | $47 USD/yr (~$72 NZD). No free tier after 7-day trial |
| Planting data source | Built from scratch for New Zealand climates | Based on UK frost dates and growing seasons |
| New Zealand regions | 8 regions, from Kerikeri to Invercargill | No dedicated New Zealand regions |
| Works offline | Yes (full PWA) | No (internet required) |
| Companion planting in planner | Yes (warnings built into the bed planner) | Separate reference only |
| Free tier | Yes (1 bed, 115+ plants, free forever) | 7-day trial, then paywall |
| Variety recommendations | New Zealand-suited varieties | Primarily UK varieties |
| Growing year model | Follows New Zealand seasons (no mid-year reset) | Resets in July (UK growing year) |
GrowVeg is a well-known garden planner with a strong user base in the UK and United States. It does what it does well. But it was designed around Northern Hemisphere growing seasons, and that matters for New Zealand gardeners.
Planting Season was built from scratch for 10 New Zealand climate regions. Every planting window, variety recommendation, and growing tip is based on local New Zealand conditions rather than adapted from UK frost-date calculations. GrowVeg uses UK frost dates as its foundation, which means the planting windows it suggests for New Zealand locations can be off by weeks or even months in some regions.
GrowVeg's "continuous garden" feature resets in July because that is when the UK growing year turns over. In New Zealand, growing seasons do not follow that pattern. Winter crops overlap with spring planting, and tropical regions grow year-round. Planting Season follows the rhythms of New Zealand gardening without a forced mid-year reset.
GrowVeg costs $47 USD per year, which works out to roughly $72 NZD. There is no lifetime option. Planting Season offers a free tier with 1 bed and 115+ plants that never expires. If you want more beds, it is $34.95 NZD per year or $99 NZD for lifetime access.
In Planting Season, companion planting warnings are built directly into the bed planner. When you drag a tomato next to a fennel, you see the conflict straight away. GrowVeg offers companion planting as a separate reference page, which means you need to check it yourself before placing plants.
Planting Season is a progressive web app that works fully offline. Install it on your phone and use it out in the yard with no signal. GrowVeg requires an internet connection, which can be a problem on larger properties or in rural areas.
If you are gardening in the UK or parts of North America, GrowVeg is a strong option. It has years of development behind it, a large plant database tuned to those climates, and a loyal community. It also has a journal feature and email reminders that some gardeners find helpful.
For New Zealand gardeners, though, the planting data gap is hard to work around. A planner that tells you the wrong time to sow will cost you more in wasted seeds and missed windows than the subscription ever would.
GrowVeg is a quality product, but it was built for UK and US climates. Its planting data uses UK frost dates, which do not align with New Zealand growing seasons. New Zealand gardeners often find that sowing and harvest times are off. A planner built specifically for New Zealand conditions will give you more accurate guidance.
GrowVeg charges $47 USD per year, which converts to approximately $72 NZD. There is no lifetime plan. After a 7-day free trial, you need a paid subscription to keep using it. Planting Season starts free (1 bed, 115+ plants) and paid plans begin at $34.95 NZD per year.
No. GrowVeg is a web application that requires an internet connection to load and use. Planting Season is a progressive web app (PWA) that installs to your device and works fully offline, so you can check planting times and update your bed plan out in the garden without needing a connection.
The biggest difference is regional accuracy. GrowVeg calculates planting times using UK-based frost date data. Planting Season was built from the ground up for 10 New Zealand climate regions, with planting calendars, variety guides, and companion planting data that reflect how New Zealands actually garden. If you are in New Zealand, Planting Season will give you more relevant advice.
Start with 1 bed and 115+ plants for free. No credit card, no trial expiry.
Try Planting Season Free