Game Plan

Creating New Plantings

Understanding Pre-Populated Data in Heirloom

In Heirloom, the planting creation process is designed to be both efficient and accurate, thanks to pre-populated data fields. These fields are populated with data sourced directly from the Data Charts, which serve as the backbone for agronomic information in the system.

The Data Charts within Heirloom contain detailed agronomic data for each crop, including recommended row spacing, expected yields, and revenue per unit. This information is derived from the Masterclass at the Market Gardening Institute.

When you begin creating a new planting, Heirloom automatically pulls in relevant data from these Data Charts to populate the fields. However, you’re not locked into these values—each field can be adjusted for this particular planting, or in the Data Charts for all plantings of a specific crop.

Getting Started with Creating Plantings

There are two primary ways to create a new planting in Heirloom:

1. Using the Red “+” Icon: Located near the crop name in your game plan or other relevant views, this option allows you to quickly add a new planting associated with a particular crop.
2. Clicking on a Specific Week: If you have a timeline view open, you can click directly within the week where you want to add the planting. This method is particularly useful when planning successions or staggered plantings.

Navigating the Planting Interface

The planting interface is divided into several tabs, each providing a set of fields and options to fine-tune your planting details.

1. Planting Details:
   • Cultivar and Planting Method: Start by selecting the specific cultivar and the planting method (e.g., Direct seeding, Transplant, or Transplant from purchased). These options allow you to define how the crop will be planted.
   • Location Type: Choose where the crop will be planted, such as in the Field, Greenhouse, or various types of tunnels. Depending on your choice, this will affect how you can assign it to a field block or greenhouse in the Crop Map.
   • Number of Plantings and Time Between Plantings: If you plan to create a succession of plantings, you can specify the number of plantings and the interval between them. This will create multiple duplicate of the same planting – with the same settings – a few days or weeks or months apart.
   • Harvest Period: Define the field planting date, days to maturity, first harvest date, and the length of the harvest window. These dates will be used to generate tasks and project yields.
2. Row Spacing:
   • Visualization of Row Spacing: This feature gives you a top-down view of the crop spacing based on the parameters set in the Data Charts. It helps you visualize how the crop will be spaced within the bed.
   • Adjusting Row and Plant Spacing: You can modify the number of rows, spacing between rows, and spacing within the row if needed. These adjustments can be saved as defaults or used just for the current planting.
     
3. Harvest and Revenues:
   • Unit of Harvest and Revenue: Select or override the default unit of harvest. For instance, you can choose to measure yield in kilograms, pounds, bunches, etc., and set the expected revenue per unit.
   • Override Feature: If the pricing or yield expectations differ from the Data Charts for this specific planting, you can override the default values.
     
4. Nursery (for Transplants):
   • Nursery Requirements: If your planting involves starting in a nursery, this tab allows you to specify the seed requirements, tray sizes, and any additional potting up that might be needed.
   • Seed Calculation: Heirloom will calculate the total number of seeds required based on the parameters you set.
5. Tasks:
   • Automatic Task Generation: Based on the planting Chart, Heirloom automatically generates a list of tasks, including field preparation, planting, weeding, and harvesting. These tasks are linked to the Task Calendar, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
   • Task Customization: While tasks are pre-filled according to the crop’s Data Chart, you can add, remove, or adjust tasks specifically for this planting. This flexibility allows you to tailor the management of each planting to its unique needs.
6. Notes:
   • Adding Notes: This final tab is for adding any specific notes related to the planting. These notes can include observations, special instructions, or reminders that may be relevant during the season.