Getting a spring crop off to the right start isn’t about luck - it’s about stacking the odds in your favour. The first six weeks after sowing are critical, and small missteps at this stage can echo right through to harvest. Here are five factors that make-or-break crop establishment, and how to get them right.
1. Soil Temperature
Cool soils = slow germination = uneven emergence.
It’s simple: if the soil isn’t warm enough, you’re setting yourself up for a patchy crop before you’ve even started. As a rule of thumb, hold off sowing until soils are warm and, on the rise, - that’s when you’ll get the most even, reliable strike. A few days’ patience can mean the difference between an even, vigorous stand and a paddock that never catches up.
2. Seed Placement
Depth consistency is everything. Even the best genetics can’t perform if they’re not in the right spot.
Target depths:
Fodder beet: 1.5–2.5 cm
Cereals: 3–4 cm
Brassicas: 1–2 cm max
As a general rule of thumb sowing depth in 10x the size of the seed.
3. Seedbed Quality
Think of the seedbed as the crop’s nursery. It needs to be fine, firm, and moist. Anything less, and you’re gambling on patchy establishment.
Watch for:
Cloddy soil → poor seed-to-soil contact
Loose seedbeds → moisture loss and uneven strike
Poor consolidation → patchy germination
A good rule of thumb? Don’t start the drill until you can walk across the paddock without sinking.
4. Paddock History
What’s gone before matters. Herbicide residues, weed load, and nutrient carryover can all set the tone for your next crop. This is where the Catalyst paddock-by-paddock planning process comes in. We’re not guessing - we’re mapping rotations, checking spray history, and making sure you’re set up for success from the start.
What It All Comes Down To
The first six weeks after sowing set the tone for the entire season. Getting it right isn’t about luck - it’s about paying attention to the details. Warm soils, correct sowing depth, and a fine, firm seedbed give crops the best chance to establish evenly. Add in smart paddock planning and awareness of what’s gone before, and you’ve stacked the odds firmly in your favour.
Spring crops are an investment - and the small steps you take now can echo right through to harvest.
Get in touch with your local Catalyst agronomist. We’ll make sure what goes in the ground grows well - and grows profit.