Well, it's the offseason, BBall and Hockey both look like they're going to miss tournament play, and even the Redwings are flirting with missing the playoffs in like 2 decades. I can't bring myself to watch and analyze the football replays because I already know the conclusion: we're not a very good team yet. Sports are not very entertaining to me right now.

So, what's a guy to do with all his spare time?  A guy who's a bit anal and likes to think in spreadsheets...How about doing a cost/benefit analysis for all the seeds available in farmville!! And it's not even completely OT because I remember Brian and Tim talking about it once in a podcast. 

The questions is; 'what to plant?'  That depends on three major considerations.  A) Do you want to maximize money? or B) Do you want to maximize experience and C) How much time are trying to waste on this stupid game? I think this calls for a chart! 

Chart?
Chart.

seed	price	payout	time	xp	profit/hr	xp/day	xp/day M
superpumpkin	30	100	4	1	13.75	12.00	15.00
forgetmenot	45	126	18	2	3.67	4.00	4.67
strawberries	10	35	4	1	2.50	12.00	15.00
eggplant	25	88	48	2	1.00	1.50	1.75
wheat	35	115	72	2	0.90	1.00	1.17
soybeans	15	63	24	2	1.38	3.00	3.50
squash	40	121	48	2	1.38	1.50	1.75
pumpkins	30	68	8	1	2.88	6.00	7.50
artichokes	70	204	96	2	1.24	0.75	0.88
rice	45	96	12	1	3.00	4.00	5.00
raspberries	20	46	2	0	5.50	12.00	18.00
daffodils	60	135	48	2	1.25	1.50	1.75
cotton	75	207	72	2	1.63	1.00	1.17
cranberries	55	98	10	1	2.80	4.80	6.00
bell peppers	75	198	48	2	2.25	1.50	1.75
peppers	70	162	24	2	3.21	3.00	3.50
morning glory	60	123	12	1	4.00	4.00	5.00
aloe vera	50	86	6	1	3.50	8.00	10.00
pineapples	95	242	48	2	2.75	1.50	1.75
red tulips	75	159	24	2	2.88	3.00	3.50
pattypan squash	65	160	16	1	5.00	3.00	3.75
blueberries	50	91	4	1	6.50	12.00	15.00
watermelon	130	348	96	2	2.11	0.75	0.88
grapes	85	270	24	2	7.08	3.00	3.50
tomatoes	100	173	8	1	7.25	6.00	7.50
pink roses	120	254	48	2	2.48	1.50	1.75
potatoes	135	345	72	2	2.71	1.00	1.17
carrots	110	200	12	1	6.25	4.00	5.00
coffee	120	243	16	1	6.75	3.00	3.75
corn	150	380	72	2	2.99	1.00	1.17
sunflowers	135	315	24	2	6.88	3.00	3.50
ghost chili	80	136	6	1	6.83	8.00	10.00
cabbage	140	388	48	2	4.85	1.50	1.75
grean tea	105	191	10	1	7.10	4.80	6.00
black berries	75	117	4	1	6.75	12.00	15.00
red wheat	180	449	72	2	3.53	1.00	1.17
lavender	160	384	48	2	4.35	1.50	1.75
sugarcane	165	239	8	1	7.38	6.00	7.50
peas	190	381	24	3	7.33	4.00	4.50
yellow melon	205	528	96	2	3.21	0.75	0.88
onion	170	275	12	1	7.50	4.00	5.00
broccoli	200	473	48	2	5.38	1.50	1.75
lilies	195	369	24	2	6.63	3.00	3.50
acorn squash	175	258	10	1	6.80	4.80	6.00
asparagus	220	357	16	2	7.63	4.50	5.25

As you can see, the seeds that take the shortest amount of time to mature are the best ones to plant for experience due to the fact that you get 1 xp each time you plow the land.  The seeds that take longer to mature generally give better profit because you don't lose out on the 15 coins for each plow. 

The trade off is that seeds with short incubation periods require much more time from you to be clicking away at them.  This is reduced somewhat after you can afford the vehicles. 

The efficiency numbers for profit and xp are actually exaggerated a bit for the quicker seeds because you usually waste some time between when the crops are ready and when you actually harvest them.  So think of the chart as a best case scenario. This wasted time decreases as a percentage for the longer incubation seeds.

You also have to consider the risk of missing a harvest interval and losing your crops.  So quick seeds carry two negatives, a higher risk of loss, and more loss due to time loss.

Another interesting point is to see what effect mastering a seed to level 3 will have.  After you reach mastery, the crops will give extra experience what seems like a little more than half the time.  So the last column is just an approximation.  But what it does is make raspberries a much better tool for gaining xp quickly.

There are also two limited time seeds listed right now.  As you can see, the super pumpkin is off the charts, so if you have the time to make harvesting appointments, you really shouldn't be planting anything else.