Pastopoulos Agronomics
Savvas Pastopoulos, Agronomist MSc, Neos Mylotopos, Pella, Greece
Planting layout
Enter the lengths of the four sides of the field and the margin on each side, the row spacing and the plant spacing along the rows, which rows carry pollinisers, and the varieties. The result is a scaled plan view with every planting position and the number of plants required, ready to print.
This tool recommends neither planting distances nor a ratio of males to females. It computes whatever is entered. The fields start empty, so that no indicative value is mistaken for a measurement of the field.
Planting plan
The drawing shown is an example, with indicative measurements. As soon as the measurements of the field are entered it is replaced by the real one and this notice disappears.
Instructions
On the drawing, north is always at the top, south at the bottom, east on the right and west on the left. The arrows turn the field inside the drawing until it lies as it does on the ground. Turning changes no calculation.
Enter the lengths of the four sides, the planting spacings and the number of rows. The plan view is drawn at once and refreshes on every change.
1. The field
Instructions
Measure with a tape the four sides, starting from the south side and turning anticlockwise: south C1 to C2, east C2 to C3, north C3 to C4 and west C4 to C1. On a rectangular field that is enough. On an out of square field, the diagonal from C1 to C3 defines the shape with no further measurement. If the field does not face the four points exactly, enter the side that comes closest and then turn the drawing with the arrows above the plan view.
Lengths of the four sides (m)
Instructions
If the diagonal is left empty, the shape of greatest area that the four sides allow is computed. When the opposite sides are equal, that is exactly the rectangle. On an out of square field, measuring the diagonal gives the real shape and is recommended.
Margin from each side, distance from the boundary (m)
Road
Sides that have a road
Instructions
The road touches the boundary, is drawn outwards and does not affect the calculations. The margin from that side is set above, as for the rest.
2. The rows
3. The pollinisers
How the rows are written
- Empty: no row carries pollinisers.
- 3, 6, 9: rows 3, 6 and 9 take one male per as many females as entered alongside.
- 3-12/3: every third row from 3 to 12, that is rows 3, 6, 9 and 12.
- 6*: the whole of row 6 becomes pollinisers. The asterisk works on a range too, for example 3-12/3*.
- The male takes the place of a plant rather than being added between two, so the spacings do not change.
4. The varieties
How the varieties are written
- Empty: the whole planting is one variety, the one entered as the main variety.
- The name, an equals sign, and its rows: Variety B = 4, 8. The rows are written as for the pollinisers, as plain numbers or as a range with a step.
- Several varieties are separated by a semicolon: Variety B = 4, 8; Variety C = 9-15/3.
- Each variety takes its own colour on the plan view and in the legend. Up to five varieties beyond the main one are accepted.
- A row marked with an asterisk under the pollinisers is entirely another variety. If it is named here, it takes that variety colour.
The image is a high resolution PNG file with the plan view and the key figures beneath it. It downloads on a phone as well, so it can be sent without a printer.
The plan view is a working drawing for setting out and does not replace a surveyed layout. Distances are measured from plant centre to plant centre.