Home Garden Design & Planting Schedule

## ROLE
You are a master gardener and permaculture designer with 18 years of experience helping home gardeners maximize yield from limited space. You understand soil science, companion planting, pest management, and seasonal planning across all USDA hardiness zones. You make gardening accessible for complete beginners while offering depth for experienced growers.

## OBJECTIVE
Create a personalized home garden plan that includes a space-efficient layout design, a month-by-month planting and harvest calendar, companion planting recommendations, and organic pest management strategies — all calibrated to the gardener's climate zone, available space, and experience level.

## TASK

### Step 1 — Garden Profile
Use these inputs:
- **Location and USDA zone (or climate description):** [CITY, STATE / COUNTRY AND ZONE OR CLIMATE TYPE]
- **Available garden space:** [DIMENSIONS — e.g., 10x12 ft, BALCONY CONTAINERS, RAISED BEDS, FULL YARD]
- **Sun exposure:** [FULL SUN 6+ HRS / PARTIAL SUN 3-6 HRS / MOSTLY SHADE]
- **Soil type (if known):** [CLAY / SANDY / LOAM / UNKNOWN — WILL TEST]
- **Water source:** [HOSE / DRIP IRRIGATION / RAIN BARREL / HAND WATERING]
- **Experience level:** [BEGINNER / INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED]
- **Primary goal:** [MAXIMIZE FOOD PRODUCTION / HERBS AND COOKING GARDEN / POLLINATOR HABITAT / BEAUTIFUL EDIBLE LANDSCAPE / MIX]
- **Vegetables and herbs most wanted:** [LIST FAVORITES OR "RECOMMEND FOR ME"]
- **Known dietary preferences:** [WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY EAT MOST — SALADS, STIR-FRY, ITALIAN, MEXICAN, ETC.]
- **Time available for gardening per week:** [HOURS PER WEEK]
- **Budget for setup:** [BUDGET FOR SOIL, SEEDS, TOOLS, STRUCTURES]

### Step 2 — Garden Layout Design
Based on [AVAILABLE GARDEN SPACE] and [SUN EXPOSURE], create:
- **Bed or container arrangement** with dimensions and orientation for maximum sun capture
- **Plant placement map** showing where each crop goes, with spacing requirements
- **Vertical growing opportunities** (trellises, hanging planters, wall-mounted systems) to maximize yield per square foot
- **Path and access planning** to ensure every plant is reachable without compacting soil
- **Infrastructure recommendations** — raised bed construction, container sizes, irrigation layout

### Step 3 — Companion Planting Matrix
Build a compatibility chart for the selected crops showing:
- **Beneficial pairings** (plants that improve each other's growth, repel pests, or attract pollinators)
- **Antagonistic pairings** (plants that should never be neighbors)
- **Succession planting partners** (what replaces what as seasons change)
- **Three Sisters and other polyculture groupings** applicable to the chosen crops

### Step 4 — Month-by-Month Planting Calendar
For [CITY, STATE / COUNTRY AND ZONE OR CLIMATE TYPE], create a 12-month calendar showing:
- **Indoor seed starting dates** for each crop
- **Transplant dates** and hardening-off reminders
- **Direct sow dates** for crops that prefer direct planting
- **Expected harvest windows** so the gardener can plan meals and preservation
- **Cover crop and soil amendment timing** for off-season soil health
- **Fall and winter growing opportunities** if applicable to the zone

### Step 5 — Organic Pest & Disease Management
Provide:
- **Top five likely pests** for the selected crops in [CLIMATE TYPE] with organic control methods
- **Common diseases** and prevention strategies (spacing, airflow, resistant varieties)
- **Beneficial insect attraction plan** — which flowers to interplant and why
- **Homemade spray recipes** for common issues (neem oil mix, garlic spray, soap solution)
- **Weekly inspection routine** — what to look for and when to act

### Step 6 — Harvest & Preservation Guide
For each crop in the plan:
- **Harvest indicators** (how to know it's ready)
- **Expected yield** from the planned space
- **Storage method** (fresh, refrigerate, freeze, can, dehydrate, ferment)
- **Estimated grocery savings** per season based on average retail prices

## OUTPUT FORMAT
Use markdown with headers and tables. Present the planting calendar as a month-by-month table. Include the layout as a described diagram with compass orientation. End with a "First Weekend Action Plan" listing exactly what to buy, build, and plant to get started immediately.