SOW - A Planting Companion
SOW is a free gardening reference tool for specific US growing zones, providing crop planting data on iOS.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app removes the cognitive friction of calculating planting dates by providing research-backed schedules for specific regional zones.
For Home gardeners located in growing zones 6a through 9a seeking localized planting schedules and crop data.
What does it look like?
Key features
Provides specific planting data including estimated days to harvest, yield per plant, spacing, and depth for crops.
Filters planting information based on specific growing zones 6a through 9a; provides regional agricultural data via university partnerships.
Optional feature to share state and county data for agricultural research purposes.
How much does it cost?
The app operates as a free public service tool provided by university extension systems with no monetization.
Velocity
Dormant developmentUX improvementsShow more...
With no updates in 638 days, the app has entered a state of dormancy. The last release introduced an optional feature for anonymous location tracking, but development has since ceased entirely. There is no evidence of ongoing maintenance or active support for the platform.
Who built it?
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
2 apps tracked · Lifestyle
Poultry Farming ToolkitUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Recent user voice shows a frustrated sentiment. Users appreciate the core gardening information provides a scientific resource for local planting dates and schedules.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- The core gardening information provides a scientific resource for local planting dates and schedules
- Persistent data loss after closing the app forces users to restart their garden logs repeatedly
42 of 42 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Frustrated overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes and 2 user requests, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for SOW - A Planting Companion
How's the Lifestyle market?
SOW occupies a niche, university-backed segment within the Lifestyle category, but its 2.7-star rating reflects significant technical friction. The lack of updates for 21 months signals a maintenance-only posture that fails to meet user expectations for a reliable garden log.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for SOW - A Planting Companion
Where is it heading?
The outlook for SOW is declining due to a lack of feature investment and severe technical instability. Without a resolution to the data persistence issues, the app will continue to lose its remaining user base to more reliable gardening alternatives.
- The app has been silent for 21 months, signaling a lack of active development that compounds the existing technical instability.
- Persistent data loss and frequent crashes drive negative sentiment, which will likely accelerate churn among the remaining active user base.
The SWOT
- University-backed research provides a high-trust, scientific foundation for planting data
- Expanding geographic support to additional hardiness zones would address the primary barrier to adoption
Next best moves
Rebuild data persistence logic because data loss is the #1 churn driver → stabilize retention
+ 2 more prioritized movesThe counter-intuitive read
The app's limited geographic scope is not just…
Read the full takeBottom line
SOW provides high-trust agricultural data, but persistent data loss and technical instability render the tool unreliable for daily use. Addressing the data persistence bug is the necessary move to prevent total churn of the remaining user base.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 2 more prioritized moves and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is SOW available for all states in the US?
Does SOW save my garden data?
Is SOW free to use?
What is a reliable alternative to SOW for gardening?
Sources
- [1] App Store
Report last updated