I never have this issue, unfortunately, but I did did up a bug report of other people having similiar issues that has responses from as recently as a few days ago: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Bug-Reports/NEEDS-SAVES-Plants-always-die-before-even-blooming/td-p/10283837
Have you tried planting them in planters rather than on bare ground? I have seen others say that they have better luck with their gardens not being so needy if they use the hydroponic planters from Eco Lifestyles or the garden plots from Cottage Living. I myself plant mostly in the hdyroponic planters and the green planters from the old plantsim challenge, though I don't do it for any reason other than I like how they look.