[gavinjconway]

Thanks for all your comments.

In summation: there isn't a decent FREE on-line allotment planner. Now semi-retired I want to minimise my outgoings so I don't even want to spend an extra £15 per year.

I agree a planner isn't essential. However rather than starting my working life on a farm I started mine in a drawing office so plans and planning are second nature to me.

I could use an Excel spreadsheet but it wont give me the graphical look I'd like to achieve.
I could use a drawing package like Corel Draw but it wont give me the organisational layout.

I could use Google sketch up as this would give me a 3D image but wont give the organisational control, however I think it would also allow me to post my design on Google Earth which could be fun.

I'll look into using Google Sketch Up and see where it leads.

Hi Jerryd... what about getting your drawing board and scale ruler out of retirement..     :blink:   have fun...

[CDave]

I use excel too. My beds are pretty much fixed so I print off a few blank vopies (in greyscale/draft of course) and spend my winter nights planning and tweaking. I stick the previous years' plan into a book and list the things that went well (and didn't) for consideration in subsequent years.

[allotmentor]

Thought this was a nice example of a simple Excel plan: http://malsallotment.blogspot.com/2011/11/sad-bring-on-colour.html
..and am very impressed by keeping track of seed supplies like that as well.
This page on seed longevity on this site could be useful here:
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/general/seed-storage-life.php

[allotmentor]

Just come across this one too:

http://www.plangarden.com/?pgref=25215

as recommended by:

http://igrowveg.com/2011/03/my-veg-plot-plan-back-to-basics/

Thought this was a nice example of a simple Excel plan: http://malsallotment.blogspot.com/2011/11/sad-bring-on-colour.html
..and am very impressed by keeping track of seed supplies like that as well.
This page on seed longevity on this site could be useful here:
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/general/seed-storage-life.php

[SkipRat]

All this high tech stuff to plan a plot  what ever happened to the good old pen and paper, I wonder if good old Harry Dodson would have ever been tempted to use a computer to plan his veg plot 

[Growster...]

Ha ha ha Skip!

However, I'm absolutely certain that I saw an Apple Mac in the kitchen cupboard in the rerun of 'Victorian Farm', last night...;0)

[SkipRat]

Ha ha ha Skip!

However, I'm absolutely certain that I saw an Apple Mac in the kitchen cupboard in the rerun of 'Victorian Farm', last night...;0)

Ha ha ha, you.l be telling me next that he used to listen to heavy metal on an i-pod while sideshooting  in the greenhouse next   

[Growster...]

Ha ha ha Skip! Well. last night she was boiling up a football, which I'm sure was used in the 1901 Cup Final, between Accrington Stanley and Stanley Accrington...

I'll have to get the DVD and check...

[Allotment Jon]

Excel has worked for me because I do a colour code plan. I then start a new worksheet and label each worksheet by year. I can then go back 4 or 5 years to see what has been in that bed in the past should things go wrong or for crop rotation reasons.

[Growster...]

Excel has worked for me because I do a colour code plan. I then start a new worksheet and label each worksheet by year. I can then go back 4 or 5 years to see what has been in that bed in the past should things go wrong or for crop rotation reasons.

Man after my own heart Jon!

Got a back up as well?