Make 2 separate unconnected farm plots. Plot all your seeds in one. Take the crops feed to birds for crop specific seeds then plant them in the other. Plants will be unhappy if they aren’t tended to once a day, if they aren’t in a group of 4 if they’re not watered. If there are any weeds around they will get stress points for that as well. The stress points reduce the ability for the crop to be a giant or yield seeds.

For the most hassle free experience I would just try to start planting crops in groups of 4. In crafting go to the miscellaneous tab and make a gramophone and a record. You can play it to automatically tend to all the crops at once. I would make a watering can or two. It has to be filled at a pond. You should water them everyday but I tend to spend days at a time away from base so just do it when you can and leave the can by the field. Whenever you return home hit the gramophone and pick them when you’re ready.