Plan the planting project before you buy the seed.
Professional planning tools for growers, agronomists, greenhouse operators, seed distributors and procurement managers. Size the project, model the budget, and generate a supplier-ready specification — all locally in your browser, no login, no data uploaded.
Plan a planting project in four steps
The unique planning workflow behind SeedMatchGroup — from your climate, crop and area straight to a supplier-ready RFQ and financing pathway.
- 1. Location & climate
- 2. Crop & field
- 3. Timing & target
- 4. Plan output
Modular planning calculators
Each tool runs locally and includes agronomic assumptions and recommended ranges. Use the print button in your browser to export any result as PDF.
Size the seed order and confirm the stand you actually want in the field.
Convert row and in-row spacing into a real field density.
Confirm the growing window and the achievable stand for your soil and climate.
Base temperatures: maize 10°C, wheat 4°C, tomato 10°C, cotton 15°C.
Estimate seasonal water demand and daily irrigation load.
ETc = ET0 × Kc. Design the system around peak Kc, not the season average.
Size greenhouse footprint and on-farm water storage for reliable operation.
Rule-of-thumb yields: tomato high-tech 55–75, cucumber 90–120, pepper 25–35, leafy 20–30 kg/m²/yr.
Reservoir size = peak daily irrigation × required autonomy days.
Model the full project economics — seed, inputs, revenue and payback.
All costs and revenue in the same currency. Payback is expressed in seasons.
Amortise infrastructure over its economic life and compare to per-hectare revenue.
Turn your plan into a specification suppliers can bid against.
Confirm every specification below before opening the RFQ to suppliers.
Plan storage and containerisation before the shipment lands.
Rough logistics sizing based on bag weight, seed bulk density and standard container volumes.
Rough landed cost = ocean freight + inland haulage + import duty. Assumes 22 t payload per 40' container.
Indicative sowing window per hemisphere and climate zone. Cross-check with a local agronomist.
General guidance for temperate & sub-tropical latitudes. Always validate locally.
| Crop | Northern hemisphere | Southern hemisphere | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maize (grain) | Apr – Jun | Oct – Dec | Soil ≥ 10 °C at 5 cm depth. |
| Wheat (winter) | Sep – Nov | Apr – Jun | Requires vernalisation. |
| Soybean | May – Jun | Nov – Dec | Warm soil, avoid frost risk. |
| Sunflower | Apr – May | Sep – Oct | Warm-season, drought-tolerant. |
| Canola / Rapeseed | Aug – Sep | Feb – Mar | Cool establishment window. |
| Tomato (open field) | May – Jun (transplant) | Sep – Oct | After last frost. |
| Onion (sets) | Feb – Mar / Sep – Oct | Aug – Sep / Feb – Mar | Day-length-sensitive. |
| Cotton | Apr – May | Oct – Nov | Soil ≥ 15 °C at 10 cm. |
| Alfalfa | Apr – May / Aug – Sep | Sep – Oct / Feb – Mar | Establish before extremes. |
Estimates Only: This calculator is provided for general informational purposes only. Results are approximate and may contain errors, omissions, or outdated information. They do not constitute legal, financial, engineering, tax, technical, or professional advice. Users are solely responsible for independently verifying all calculations, specifications, prices, regulations, and requirements with qualified professionals before making any decisions. By using this calculator, you acknowledge that the website owners, operators, and affiliates accept no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, or decisions resulting from its use.
Editable planning & procurement templates
CSV and plain-text templates you can open in Excel, Google Sheets or any editor. No sign-up, no upload.
RFQ template
Structured request-for-quotation covering variety, class, germination, TSW, treatment, packaging, delivery and phytosanitary.
Download CSVTechnical specification
Formal seed spec sheet suppliers can sign off on. One row per lot.
Download CSVSupplier evaluation matrix
Score suppliers on price, lead time, certifications, references and trade finance support.
Download CSVCrop planning worksheet
Season plan per crop — area, target density, seed order volume, sowing window, budget.
Download CSVSeasonal planting calendar
12-month grid for multi-crop rotation planning across up to five fields.
Download CSVProcurement checklist
Pre-shipment gate list — samples, contracts, permits, phytosanitary and insurance.
Download TXTBest-practice planning for commercial growers
Seed selection
Match the variety to your climate zone, disease pressure, market window and end-use. F1 hybrids deliver uniformity and disease packages; open-pollinated types suit seed-saving and specialty markets. Always request the technical sheet — TSW, germination, purity and resistance package — before committing volume.
Plant population optimisation
Target density is a function of variety architecture, row spacing, expected losses and end market. Over-seeding wastes money and creates disease pressure; under-seeding leaves yield on the table. Use the seeding-rate calculator to convert target density into a realistic order volume.
Germination management
Lab germination is measured under ideal conditions. Field emergence is typically 10–25% lower due to cold, crusting, seed-bed quality and pests. Adjust your order upward with a realistic field-loss factor rather than assuming the bag figure.
Irrigation planning
Total seasonal water demand is set by crop coefficient (Kc) and reference evapotranspiration (ET0). Design the system around peak-stage Kc, not the season average, or the crop will stress at flowering and yield collapses.
Budget planning
Seed is usually 5–15% of variable costs but drives 100% of the genetic yield ceiling. Model the full project — seed, fertiliser, irrigation, labour, harvest and post-harvest — and compare cost per hectare to expected revenue per hectare before signing.
Agricultural procurement
A well-written specification (variety, class, germination, purity, TSW, treatment, packaging, delivery, phytosanitary) turns supplier quotes into a like-for-like comparison. The RFQ Builder produces exactly this document.
Financing agricultural projects
Structured trade finance, supplier credit, working-capital lines and export finance can smooth the seed-to-harvest cash cycle. Bring a documented plan — area, yield target, price assumption and off-take — to any financing conversation.
International seed sourcing
Origin, phytosanitary certification, import permits and shipping windows drive lead time far more than seed price. Start supplier discovery at least one full season ahead for multi-container programmes.
Greenhouse planning
Yield density in protected cultivation is 4–10× open field. Size the structure around target annual tonnage, choose truss density (tomato) or plant spacing (cucumber, pepper), and confirm heating/cooling load before signing a turnkey. Water demand peaks in July–August at latitudes 30–40°.
Seed storage
Store commercial seed at ≤15°C and ≤50% RH; each 1% moisture reduction or 5°C temperature drop roughly doubles viable shelf life (Harrington's rule of thumb). Segregate treated seed and keep an SDS on file.
Import & phytosanitary
Every seed shipment needs a phytosanitary certificate matching the importing country's pest list, plus an import permit for regulated species. Missing a treatment declaration at destination can hold containers 3–6 weeks.
Turn the plan into private supplier quotes
A dedicated SeedMatchGroup sourcing specialist — supported by our proprietary matching technology — opens the RFQ to the full field of qualified global producers and returns side-by-side offers.