Crop Turns Calculator for Indoor Farming
Plan crop rotation schedules and annual harvest projections. Configure grow positions, cycle times, and stagger intervals to visualize rack utilization, succession planting timelines, and total annual yield.
What Are Crop Turns?
A crop turn is one complete cycle from transplant (or seeding) to harvest for a single grow position. The number of annual turns determines your facility’s throughput — it is the multiplier that converts per-cycle yield into annual production. Turns are calculated as 365 divided by total cycle days (propagation + grow-out + any downtime). Stagger planting — starting new cohorts at regular intervals rather than all at once — creates a continuous harvest schedule and maximizes rack utilization throughout the year.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1 Select your crop to load default cycle times. Each crop has a preset propagation period and total cycle length.
- 2 Configure your facility: number of grow positions and square feet per position.
- 3 Adjust cycle timing: propagation days, total cycle days, and stagger interval between cohorts.
Crop Cycle Reference Data
| Crop | Total Cycle (days) | Propagation (days) | Yield Unit | Yield/sqft/Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterhead | 25 | 10 | heads | 1.1 |
| Romaine | 32 | 12 | heads | 0.9 |
| Leaf Lettuce | 23 | 10 | heads | 1.2 |
| Basil | 28 | 12 | oz | 0.6 |
| Arugula | 25 | 8 | oz | 0.8 |
| Kale | 30 | 10 | oz | 0.5 |
| Microgreens | 12 | 0 | oz | 0.7 |
| Strawberry | 60 | 21 | lb | 0.25 |
| Tomato | 75 | 28 | lb | 0.55 |
| Cucumber | 55 | 18 | lb | 0.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate annual crop turns?
Divide 365 by your total cycle length in days. For example, butterhead lettuce with a 25-day cycle gives 365 / 25 = 14.6 turns per year. In practice, allow 1–2 days between turns for cleaning and replanting, so realistic turns might be 13–14.
What is stagger planting?
Stagger planting means starting new crop cohorts at regular intervals (e.g., every 3–4 days for lettuce) rather than planting all positions at once. This creates a continuous harvest schedule where you harvest a portion of your crop every few days, providing steady supply to buyers and maximizing rack utilization.
Why do microgreens have zero propagation days?
Microgreens are direct-seeded onto trays and germinate in place — there is no separate propagation or transplant step. The entire cycle (seeding, blackout/germination, greening, harvest) happens on one tray, which is why the total cycle is just 10–14 days.
How does cycle time affect profitability?
Shorter cycle times mean more turns per year, which multiplies annual yield per square foot. Reducing a lettuce cycle from 28 to 25 days increases turns from 13 to 14.6 — a 12% increase in annual throughput from the same footprint. This is one of the highest-impact levers for indoor farm profitability.
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