Interesting plot planning software?

[Moggle]

Have recently been mucking around with MS Visio for plot planning as per this page on microsoft's web site:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010778441033.aspx

So far have come up with this:



Have mostly used clipart pics for the veg shapes. One grid square equals 20cm in the real world.

I already used excel this year for plot planning, and will probably try to convert to this as I get time this year  ;D

[Moggle]

[Mubgrub]

Blimey Moggle, high tech stuff ;D  I'm still using pencil and paper.  Is that software free?

[TEL]

just bunging plants when i get the space.
Not the best way but it works for me.

[Ed^Chigliak]

Well I like it   :)

If your feeling extra geeky a pocket PC is great tool down the allotment. I'm not sure how I would manage without a recuring to do list.

I'm hopeless with pen and paper. I end up with pages of crossing out and scribble and I can't do a search to find things.

[Moggle]

Blimey Moggle, high tech stuff ;D  I'm still using pencil and paper.  Is that software free?

There is a trial version available from the microsoft site. I've got the program at work so have no idea how much it costs!

Well I like it   :)

If your feeling extra geeky a pocket PC is great tool down the allotment. I'm not sure how I would manage without a recuring to do list.

I'm hopeless with pen and paper. I end up with pages of crossing out and scribble and I can't do a search to find things.

Cheers Ed :D

No pocket PC for me, but the laptop does have a decent sized battery. Planning on printing it out any way, but always seem to end up forgetting the plan and going from memory. Well you've got to do something in all those winter months!

I know it is pretty geeky, but when I started, I just had this big lump of land, and no idea of how much space stuff would take up and how many lots of seed spuds to order, etc.

Had more fun mucking round with this after I posted the above, and have now almost completed my bean bed :D Will try posting the final document eventually - which was based on this year's excel plan

[Svea]

i found your excel plan very helpful for precicely this reason, moggle: not knowing how much space stuff took etc
now after (well still in the middle of) my first season i can appreciate how stuff works, just how much two rows of rocket are :o and what we like and what we will not bother with again next time, but try something else instead :)

i have done my own version in excel, printed and taken to the allotment to scribble in in pencil when i was planting/sowing stuff - then taken the plan home and updated the spread sheet.

worked well so far.

this reminds me, more successional sowings of kohlrabi and lettuces need to go in this w/e :)

svea

[Mubgrub]

I'm hopeless with pen and paper. I end up with pages of crossing out and scribble and I can't do a search to find things.

Tee hee, me too. ;D  I usually end up doodling all over it with crossed out slugs and piccies of the hedgehog house totally not to scale ;D

[Ed^Chigliak]

There is a trial version available from the microsoft site. I've got the program at work so have no idea how much it costs!

It's quite expensive but I expect there is an open source free alternative that does a similar thing.

You have me wondering if it's possible to make a game mod and have a virtual allotment inside something like like Neverwinter Nights or Morrowind. Both games have a construction kit so I think it's would be possible. They're old games too so the cost is minimal at less than £10 each. There are plants, farm buildings & fields already in the games so perhaps not too much modeling work. A steep learning curve for the construction kit but hey I'm not tech shy and I'm sure I can find some tutorials. I am however a bit short on time with the allotment but come winter maybe it will be a fun thing to do.

[carloso]

i just loveee excel but i have no nice pics of veggies like yours :'( maybe ill try and insert piccie of each one ;)

[slug_hunter]

Moggle, is there any chance you can put the stencil up somewhere because I cant draw my crops  :)

BTW I am new on here, took on a few plots in yorkshire and have been clearing and weeding for a month now.  Managed to get a second hand greenhouse, shed hunting now :D

Chris

[spacehopper]

JennyM has got a great excel spreadsheet that is very helpful. I like the visio idea too.