I want to become a more knowledgeable gardener, and besides research and studying, I think a fun way to enhance my knowledge would be a fun gardening game. Are there any that are particularly accurate or relaxing?
Garden Life looks pretty chill but maybe not challenging or accurate to reality.
And to clarify, by accurate I mean you need to plant in correct lighting, water an appropriate amount, and fertilize to optimize for stems, flowers, fruits, etc.. Bonus points for having the option to pick your planting zone!
If yes, the final boss should be an asshole horde of like 13 deer that jump over your fence and destroy your shit, despite using cayenne pepper, marigolds, and Irish Spring.
Not exactly what you're asking for, but I've learned a lot about agriculture from Farming Simulator. It's neat driving around and understanding what the farmers are doing in their fields.
A good option! Perhaps more industrial than I was picturing but still relevant. Maybe there's a mod that can get me even closer to what I was picturing
I was going to try to make a game like this. Shortly after I started I found that ThinMatrix was working on a game called Home Grown that does most of what I wanted. It's not as in-depth as you're saying, but it might be something you enjoy.
If you want to enhance your knowledge, I would recommend getting involved with a gardening group in your area, or as close as you can get if there isn't one (landscaping, conservation, park maintenance, etc.). The people you work with would have much more relevant real-world experience to share.
In my experience people arnt as fun as games and and I can play a game any time I want. I can't just call people up and hang out with them any time of the day I'm free and feel like it.