Using SowWindow
Crop data and sources
Crop data is useful only when you can tell what it describes. A date, spacing value, or interval may depend on the growing method, harvest stage, or region. Use the source notes to decide whether a preset fits your plan before relying on the calculated result.
Reviewed Oct 27, 2026
Read the reference beside the value
Open the source information for the crop or tool preset. Look for the publisher, source link, recorded data version, applicable method, and the units used. Follow the original source when you need the surrounding guidance rather than treating a short preset note as a complete growing guide.
One page can support several facts without supporting every possible field. A guide may describe transplant timing but give no numeric direct-sowing offset. That missing number should remain missing, even if a nearby crop has a value.
A rule can identify an earliest starting reference or a latest cutoff rather than a closed planting window. Those labels matter: one reference date should not be presented as the only suitable day to plant.
Distinguish the action states
The calendar deliberately keeps several conditions separate. Understanding them prevents a missing task from being mistaken for a broken calculation.
| State | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No crop selected | There is no selected crop to calculate. | Choose a crop. |
| Not recommended in this guide | The selected source advises against that action or method. | Read the source or choose a supported method. |
| No numeric window available | There is not enough reviewed timing data for an automatic date. | Consult appropriate guidance or enter a reasoned manual date. |
| Manual value | You entered or changed the value. | Keep a note about the assumption. |
Keep the source’s scope
An interval for baby-leaf harvest is not automatically a full-head schedule. A regional calendar month is not automatically a worldwide number of days before frost. A soil-temperature condition is not a forecast supplied by SowWindow.
If two references differ, inspect their methods rather than averaging the values. Pick a source that describes the task you are doing and keep its identity with the preset. Sources can legitimately discuss different arrangements or seasons.
Edit with a record of the change
You may adjust a date, spacing, or interval to fit your plan. The edited value is your choice; retaining a source link does not imply that the publisher endorsed the adjustment. Use the manual or custom indicator and add a short note explaining why you changed it.
For a saved plan, the parameter snapshot and data version preserve the assumptions used at that time. New reference data should not silently rewrite an older plan. Review any change you choose to apply, and keep a backup when preserving the earlier result matters.
Prepare a useful correction
If you find a possible discrepancy, record the crop, action, displayed value, original source URL, and the relevant passage or table row. Also note the variety, method, units, and region that may explain the difference. This is more useful than a screenshot of a result with no inputs.
Check the Contact and help page for the currently available contact options. Do not include private plan notes or unrelated personal details in a report. A missing source field should be corrected with evidence, not filled merely to make the calendar look complete.