Two solid garden planners. One is built for the UK. The other is built for Australia. Here is how they compare for Australian gardeners in 2026.
| Feature | Planting Season | GrowVeg |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier, $34.95 AUD/yr, or $99 AUD lifetime | $47 USD/yr (~$72 AUD). No free tier after 7-day trial |
| Planting data source | Built from scratch for Australian climates | Based on UK frost dates and growing seasons |
| Australian regions | 10 regions from Darwin to Hobart | No dedicated Australian 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 | Australian-suited varieties | Primarily UK varieties |
| Growing year model | Follows Australian 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 Australian gardeners.
Planting Season was built from scratch for 10 Australian climate regions. Every planting window, variety recommendation, and growing tip is based on local Australian 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 Australian 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 Australia, 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 Australian gardening without a forced mid-year reset.
GrowVeg costs $47 USD per year, which works out to roughly $72 AUD. 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 AUD per year or $99 AUD 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 Australian 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 Australian growing seasons. Australian gardeners often find that sowing and harvest times are off. A planner built specifically for Australian conditions will give you more accurate guidance.
GrowVeg charges $47 USD per year, which converts to approximately $72 AUD. 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 AUD 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 Australian climate regions, with planting calendars, variety guides, and companion planting data that reflect how Australians actually garden. If you are in Australia, Planting Season will give you more relevant advice.
Start with 1 bed and 115+ plants for free. No credit card, no trial expiry.
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