Lesson 10 — Phasing to 25,000 Plants (4–5 year build plan)

Goal: expand without rework. Build the “spine” first, then add blocks.

Phase concept

Phase 1 (Year 1): core spine + potting + water + basic production blocks
Phase 2 (Years 2–3): add blocks + shade + better zoning
Phase 3 (Years 4–5): duplicate systems + expand shipping + automation

Phase 1 — build the core

• Master plan finalized
• Main lane + potting pad + shipping pad
• Water system built with expansion stubs
• Basic irrigation zones with valves and filtration
• Drainage fixes for known wet spots
• Receiving/quarantine area

Phase 2 — efficiency and protection

• Shade structures / wind protection
• More zones (container-size-specific irrigation)
• More storage + better organization
• Standardized spacing plan

Phase 3 — scale and automation

• Duplicate what works (avoid one-off systems)
• Monitoring + controller upgrades
• Increase loading capacity (orders, staging, access)
• Build SOPs for repeatable tasks