A new chart of simulation method, named J-chart, has been developed for predicting the long-term average performance of solar drying systems. The result of many simulations allows to develop a simple graphical method, represented by 3 charts and their polynomial correlations, to obtain a general design procedure for a partially solar heated dryer. The first one is the drying time, the second one is the fraction of heating load supplied by solar energy and the third one is the fraction of economized energy. These charts and the correlations are used in establishing relationships between the collector area and the weight of the produce to be dried or the dried produce. This method is developed by using the monthly average values for a moderate climate (Perpignan, Φ = 42.41°) and with the assumption that the dryer is used daily over a year and the duration of drying operation is assumed to be less than 24 hours.