Plantelvica was created with a clear purpose: to give Swiss gardeners reliable, locally relevant information that makes their time in the garden more productive and more enjoyable. We believe that good gardening information should be specific, not generic — advice that works in Spain does not necessarily work at 800 metres above sea level in the Swiss Mittelland. Our goal is to close that gap by producing content that reflects actual Swiss conditions, real growing seasons and the plants that genuinely perform well in this country's varied landscapes. We are committed to expanding our library continually, adding new plant profiles, refining existing calendars with feedback from gardeners across Switzerland and incorporating findings from Swiss agricultural research. Ultimately, we want every person who uses Plantelvica to feel more confident and competent in their own garden.
Every piece of content on Plantelvica is checked against conditions specific to Switzerland — its climate zones, soil types and legally available plant varieties. We do not republish generic content and do not make planting recommendations without verifying they suit Swiss latitudes and elevations.
We advocate for gardening methods that build long-term soil health, minimise synthetic inputs and support local biodiversity. Our recommendations prioritise composting, organic pest control and planting native or regionally adapted species wherever possible.
Gardening knowledge evolves, and so does Plantelvica. We update our calendars each season based on observed growing conditions, reader feedback and new research from institutions such as Agroscope, Switzerland's federal agricultural research centre.
We write for people who have never grown anything as well as for experienced horticulturalists. Our content structure uses plain language, clear step sequences and visual cues so that the information is genuinely usable rather than impressive-sounding but impractical.
Plantelvica aims to become the go-to reference point for gardeners across all 26 Swiss cantons. We plan to expand our regional content to cover canton-specific microclimates and to create forums where gardeners can share observations and results.
Home-grown vegetables reduce food miles, improve freshness and connect families to the natural rhythms of the seasons. We want to make it easier for Swiss households to grow a meaningful proportion of their own produce regardless of plot size or experience.
Healthy gardens support ecosystems beyond their borders. Part of our mission is to educate gardeners on the role of pollinators, beneficial insects and soil microorganisms, and to recommend planting choices that strengthen rather than deplete these systems.
We measure our success by whether Swiss gardeners who use Plantelvica see real improvements in their harvests, plant survival rates and confidence levels. We actively seek feedback through seasonal surveys to understand what guidance is most valuable.
Every calendar and care guide goes through a review process before publication. We benchmark our planting dates against historical meteorological data and consult with experienced Swiss horticulturalists to validate our recommendations.
Plantelvica tracks how many gardeners from different cantons and language regions access our resources, using this data to identify gaps and prioritise new content. Our goal is to serve gardeners in all parts of Switzerland equitably.