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The Winter Gardening Algorithm
The Winter Gardening Algorithm

Get a quick understanding of our experimental winter gardening algorithm

Paul Dysinger avatar
Written by Paul Dysinger
Updated this week

Want to try it yourself? Go set it up and start planning winter crops here.

Step-by-Step Guide to the Winter Gardening Algorithm in Seedtime

1. Introduction (0:00-0:11)

  • Learn how to use the Winter Gardening Algorithm in Seedtime, designed to estimate harvest delays for crops grown closer to winter.

2. Understanding the Winter Gardening Algorithm (0:11-0:37)

Key Features:

  1. Accounts for slower crop growth as winter approaches.

  2. Calculates expected harvest delays based on seeding or transplanting dates.

  3. Works best for crops with 40–50 days to maturity (e.g., lettuce, bok choy, and similar greens).

3. Activating the Winter Gardening Algorithm (0:37-1:05)

Steps:

  1. Go to your calendar settings in Seedtime.

  2. Scroll down and toggle on the Winter Gardening Algorithm.

  3. Save changes, and a pop-up will appear with two options:

    • Keep current harvesting dates (maintains your current planting schedule).

    • Update according to the Winter Gardening Algorithm (recalculates harvest dates).

  4. Choose an option to proceed, and your calendar will update accordingly.

4. Viewing Updates in the Calendar (1:05-1:37)

Steps:

  1. Open the timeline view of your calendar.

  2. Filter to a crop (e.g., lettuce) to see how harvest times adjust based on the algorithm.

  3. Notice that later-seeded crops will have longer delays before harvest.

5. Adjusting Advanced Winter Gardening Settings (1:37-3:24)

Steps:

  1. Edit an individual crop’s settings:

    • Click Edit on the planting.

    • Scroll to the Winter Gardening section in advanced settings.

  2. Adjust Number of Covers for crop protection:

    • No Covers: Crop is grown outdoors without protection.

    • One Cover: Crop is grown under a row cover or plastic in a hoop house.

    • Two or More Covers: Crop is grown in a hoop house with additional row covers.

  3. Choose whether the algorithm calculates based on the Seeding Date or Transplanting Date.

  4. Save changes, and the harvest time will update based on your selections.

6. Examples of Adjustments (3:24-4:11)

Scenarios:

  1. Adding covers:

    • Adding protection will pull the harvest date closer, as growth is faster under cover.

  2. Seeding vs. transplanting dates:

    • Use seeding date for crops grown outdoors after seeding.

    • Use transplanting date for crops started indoors and transplanted later.

7. Succession Planning with the Algorithm (4:11-4:38)

Steps:

  1. Plan succession plantings for crops like lettuce to create a continual harvest.

  2. Seed crops at one-week intervals to stagger harvests.

  3. The algorithm adjusts harvest times based on delayed growth in winter, resulting in later harvests spaced further apart.

8. Conclusion (4:38-4:43)

  • The Winter Gardening Algorithm simplifies winter crop planning by accounting for slower growth and adjusting harvest schedules.

  • Experiment with settings to optimize your winter garden, and use it to plan continual harvests for greens and other crops.

  • Enjoy winter gardening and share feedback to help improve the tool.

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