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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
Farming is a great skill that is very unique in the game of RuneScape. Unlike other skills, farming does not depend purely on the amount of money you have. Farming is a skill of time, patience and a bit of strategic thinking. It is a skill for the dedicated and hard working players of RuneScape. As you may have guessed, farming is the planting and harvesting of crops. Although it may take a while to grow, your produce can become very rewarding. Farming is a great way to obtain your own herbs for Herblore, ingredients for baking and even hops for brewing. There are also a number of other rewards that only the high leveled farmers will benefit from. 2.0 - Basics of Farming
There are three main steps to farming: getting the seeds, planting and then finally harvesting. Here's the basic information you will need to know in order to complete these steps. 2.1 - Getting Seeds
There are a few methods for getting seeds, none of which are extremely easy. First of all, seeds can be found by thieving from Master Farmers. They require 38 Thieving to thieve from and there is a chance of getting any seed excluding fruit and regular tree seeds. Here is a list of the locations of Master Farmers :
Seeds can also be stolen and bought from the seed stalls in the Draynor Village market. To thieve from these you must have level 27 Thieving. Be aware that these stalls only carry lower leveled seeds so don't expect to find any rare ones through this method. Temple Trekking mini-game provides watermelon seeds faster than thieving or getting them from monster drops. Watermelons are the highest level allotment seeds and provide great experience and as well profit. There are 3 ways to obtain fruit and regular tree seeds; through woodcutting, through taking mole hides and mole claws to Wyson the Gardner in Falador who will trade you a nest for a piece of the mole, or through having your workers in your kingdom cut you maple, teak and mahogany logs which will give you a chance to get a bird nest which may have a tree seed in it. When chopping at a tree there is a chance that a nest will fall to the ground beside you. After picking up and searching the nest you have a chance of receiving a bird egg, gold ring or one of the tree seeds. Be aware that this event is random, although you can increase your chances of getting nests by wearing a rabbit foot necklace. Finally, there are a number of monsters around that drop seeds as well. Like most drops, the high leveled the monster is the better chance you have of getting a better seed. This is not the easiest way to get seeds, but it is definitely an alternative. 
2.2 - The Farming Process
Here is the basic farming process. With different plants this may change, however in general this process is universal.
Sometimes your plants may catch a disease and if they are diseased for too long they may die. To cure vegetables, hops, flowers and herb of disease use a Plant Cure potion on them, which can be bought at any farming store. To cure bushes and trees use Secateurs on bushes and trees to clip off the diseased branches and leaves. Now this may seem like a long and boring process, so why not get somebody else to do it? For a small price the farmers will look after your plants from the moment you plant them to harvest time. Please be aware that farmers will not take care of flower, herb or the special plant patches. The prices for each plant are located in the plant and seed tables below. Remember, you can pay the farmer with notes. 
2.3 - Composting
As mentioned before composting is optional, however it is definitely recommended. Adding compost to the soil before planting your crops will increase yield and decrease the chances of diseased plants. There are two types of compost: compost and Super compost. Normal compost can be bought from any farming store and can also be player made. Super compost must be player made. At every vegetable, herb and flower farming area is a compost bin. To make compost you need to put in 15 items you can compost, close the lid and then wait for the items to rot. When it is done, open the lid and use your buckets on the bin to receive 15 buckets of compost. You will receive 4.5XP for filling a bucket with normal compost and 18XP for using the compost on a farming patch. Super compost will give you 8.5XP for filling a bucket, and 26XP for using the Super compost on a farming patch. Please note that tomatoes will not produce compost but rotten tomatoes. Rotten tomatoes can be thrown at players dueling in the duel arena.
2.4 - Farming Patch Locations
There are many different patches spread out all over the RuneScape World each which may be different from the last. All patches are marked by the Please note that an Allotment Patch is the real name for a Vegetable Patch.
3.0 - Farming Equipment
There are various types of equipment involved with farming. They can be bought from the Farming Stores which are located near all vegetable, flower, and herb patches. This table will show you what types of tools there are and what they are for. Please note that the farmers near some patches will sell you equipment at a much lower cost. Keep in mind however that it will be much harder to buy items in bulk since your purchases will be made though the chat window.
* - Magic secateurs are obtained in the A Fairy Tale Part I quest, and can be rebought near Falador at Malignus Mortifer for 40k gp. 4.0 - Seeds Plants and Harvesting
In the following sections, all information on each type of plant will be displayed. Remember for some patches the farming process changes, so make sure you read each section beforehand. 4.1 - Vegetables
Vegetables give some of the fastest experience in the game for lower levels. To start a vegetable plant you will need to put 3 seeds into the Allotment patch. Upon harvest you will receive between 3 and 56 vegetables each time. Vegetables are also quite unique in the fact that they can be protected from disease by using flowers. To do this, grow flowers in their respective patches at the same time you are growing your vegetables. Here's a list showing how to protect each vegetable crop.
The only way to protect Sweetcorn is by using a scarecrow which requires level 23 Farming to make and gives 25 Farming XP. Scarecrows cannot be traded. Here are the steps needed to make one:
Please remember that you will not need to protect your plants from disease if the farmer is taking care of them.
4.2 - Flowers
As mentioned above flowers have the ability to protect vegetables from disease. Flowers only need 1 seed to be planted, do not need to be watered, and will only give 1 flower when harvested. Since you don't need to care for the flowers after they are fully grown, you may want to leave them in their patches to further protect your vegetables. For more information on protecting your vegetables with flower, see section 4.1. Please note that you will receive 3 limpwurt roots and 3 Woad leaves when their respective plants are harvested. The experience values listed below are for all three of each.
4.3 - Bushes
To start off a bush plant you will need to plant just a single seed into a bush patch. When it is done growing you will need to check the health of the bush before harvesting. Unlike other types of plants, bushes will continue to produce even after their first harvest. When a bush is fully grown it will already have produced 4 berries. After they have been picked more berries will continue to grown over time. Whenever you want to remove a bush simply use a spade to dig it up. Please note that bushes do not need watering.
4.4 - Trees
To start growing regular trees, use a single seed on a plant pot, again like with fruit trees water it, once it becomes a sapling, transplant it into a tree patch filled with compost. Once the tree is done growing, you will need to check the health of the tree before you can cut it down. Once you have done this you will have your own personal tree to cut down. These trees work exactly like normal trees so once you have completely cut the tree down you will be left with a stump. At this point you can either let the tree regenerate or use a spade to take it out. Upon doing this you will get a few roots from the tree. Also, before a willow tree becomes full grown it can be pruned with Secateurs to get its' branches. This gives 12 XP per each branch cut but can only be done at this exact stage. Please note that trees do not need watering. Also note, if you have an empty plant pot, to fill it, simply have a gardening trowel and empty plant pot in your inventory, then use the plant pot on a weeded allotment.
4.5 - Fruit Trees
Fruit trees require 1 seed to be planted in a plant pot, then you need to water the plantpot, once it has grown into a sapling you can plant it in the respective farming patch in order to finish growing the plant. Before you use the plant pot with the sapling on the tree patch, use compost on the patch. When the tree is fully grown, you will need to check the trees health before you can harvest. On the first harvest there will be about 6 fruits to harvest, however like bushes the tree will keep regenerating fruit. If you want to dig up a fruit tree, simply pick all the fruits, chop down the tree with a hatchet and then use your spade to dig up the stump. Please note that fruit trees do not need watering. Also note, if you have an empty plant pot, to fill it, simply have a gardening trowel and empty plant pot in your inventory, then use the plant pot on a weeded allotment.
4.6 - Hops
Hops can be used to make different types of beers and ales with the Cooking skill. To start grown hops you will need to plant four seeds (Jute seeds only use three) in a hops patch. When they are fully grown, you will receive between three and twelve hops.
4.7 - Herbs
Herb seeds obviously need to be planted in the herb patches which are found in the same places as vegetable and flower patches. There is also a herb patch in Trollheim, that will never get diseased. You can only plant your herbs there, after finishing My Arm's Big Adventure. You only need one seed to start growing herbs and you will receive between 4 to 18 herbs every harvest. When you harvest herbs they will be already grimy, so a high Herblore level is advised. Remember that all herbs do not need watering.
4.8 - Special Plants
The main difference between all other plants and special plants is that they each have their own different patches located through out the world of RuneScape. Each of the special plants only needs 1 seed to begin growth in their patches. The spirit trees act like the regular teleportation trees. If you talk to it, it will take you back to the home of the gnomes and the main spirit tree. You can then teleport to the regular tree from there. Please keep in mind that you can only plant 1 spirit tree. Like tree seeds, cacti also regenerate their spines. Please note that all trees do not need watering. Also note that there are now farmers to watch over your spirit trees so you do not need to worry about them dying on you. To pay a farmer to watch over your spirit tree, you need to pay them 5 monkey nuts, 1 monkey bar and 1 ground suqah tooth.
5.0 - Tool Leprechauns
Tool Leprechauns can be found at every farming patch throughout the world of RuneScape. They have a tendency to stray away from the patches, but stay within the mini maps scope. They can store only a certain amount of items, and these are: one rake, one seed dibber, one spade, a pair of secateurs (and magic secateurs), one water can, one gardening trowel, 31 empty buckets, 255 normal compost, and 255 Super compost. When you click on the Leprechaun, they will greet you and ask you if you would like to deposit or withdraw something from them. After that, he gives you options; simply click 'yes please' to get straight to the items. 6.0 - Training Strategy
I am going to break these strategies down into Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced. Some may be able to afford to do it more than others. One thing is for sure, bank as much as you need to, since most of these places in the guide will be very close to a bank. Don't be afraid to drop fruit. They can always grow back. Though I recommend that you DO bank Limpwurt Roots and Herbs (Higher leveled herbs) 
Beginners
For those that can afford it and have a good amount of seeds and law runes as well as an abundance of Glory Amulets I suggest starting off at the plot in NW of Draynor Village that can be accessed by teleporting to Falador or to Draynor Village through Amulet and plant potatoes/marigolds. There, teleport to Catherby and go East to the plot above the bank in Catherby. Plant there as well, and once you are finished, teleport to Ardougne and go north to the plot west of the Legends' Guild . Once you finish there, you can Teleport back to Draynor Village/Falador and continue the cycle. Continue this trend until you are able to farm Asgarnian Hops. If you are not able to teleport back and forth, then I would recommend you staying in the area stretching from Catherby to Ardougne There you can run back and forth to each other and in the time that you are running/walking the vegetation is growing. Once you are able to make Asgarnian Hops you can change your course in Seers' Village to go west to the Hops patch above McGrubor's Woods. Teleport back to the Camelot spot and walk/run towards the Catherby patch and continue this cycle. Also, once you hit level 8, you can change your vegetation farming up to cabbage. At level 9, start adding the herb patch to your cycle. Continue with Cabbage and Marigolds until you are able to make BOTH Rosemary and Tomatoes. This is for optimum growth, harvest and XP. If you wish to change as you go, then so be it. Strategy: You can get cabbage seeds by picking cabbages near Falador. One strategy is to buy enough empty sacks to leave 11 empty spaces in your inventory, then pick 10 cabbage, fill a sack, repeat. Once you start getting seeds you can just fill your inventory with cabbages until you can't hold anymore, then fill a sack, repeatr until all sacks are filled and store them in your bank. You can use these sacks of cabbages to get people to watch your crops for you. Intermediate
Once you get to about level 30 you can consider yourself an Intermediate Farmer. I suggest that you as well take the same cycle of patches as the beginners. From here, what you would like to do for optimum XP is plant Strawberries and Limpwurt in the Flower and Vegetable Plots, and from there also plant Ranarr seeds. In this, you can also take a small detour every few cycles by teleporting to Varrock and running/walking down to behind the Champions' Guild at level 36 and plant a dwellberry bush and just water it every other 3 cycles, and wait until it gets full and then pick them, and start all over. Do this same trend until level 50. If you wish to annex the tree patch in Falador, then you have no need for a Glory Amulet and just walk down to the patch near by the chicken den north-west of Draynor Village. Advanced/People with Lots of money
First and foremost, to do this you will need some tree seeds. The easiest way to obtain these is buy them from other players, and this can be done ingame or on a forum. Another way is to get seeds from the Birds Nest random event. Nine seeds in total are required, five tree and four fruit tree. Find a Tool Leprechaun, by any Farming spot, and equip him with every Farming item available. You will also need around 500 coins, and eight plant pots. Plant pots are buyable from Farming stores. Plant all the seeds in the plant pots, and water them accordingly. Refill your watering can from a nearby water supply. The seeds will grow into seedlings within five to fifteen minutes. You will then need to plant the trees in their corresponding areas as shown. To save time and effort, Farmers will grow your crops for you, at a price. Also farmers can cut down the trees for you, at a price. Thankfully this is cheap and will gain you Farming experience in some cases. The payment needed and items needed are as follows.
* Pineapples are also available in the gnome stronghold cooking store, charter ships and pineapple plants on Brimhaven. Once all seeds become seedlings, you should be ready to start planting them. Start at Ardougne wielding a hatchet, no armour, and Boots of Lightness. For information on getting the Boots of Lightness see the Temple of Ikov quest guide. It's advisable to bring a charged glory amulet as well. Make sure your Tool Leprechaun is fully stocked, and you have enough runes for a Camelot teleport. Go south and take the boat to Brimhaven and N. Karamja. Make your way to the fruit tree patch, check the health of any previous fruit tree you planted, and pick the fruits (only keep pineapples, papaya fruits and coconuts, as all other products obtained from fruit trees are not necessary). Cut the tree down and remove the stump. Plant the tree, then speak to the nearby Farmer and pay him or her for the trouble of growing it. Head south of the Brimhaven and N. Karamja patch along the western side of the building and further south until you see 5 or 6 pineapple plants. Pick an inventory-full every time you are here, they are very important for payment later, or growing Super compost. Teleport to Camelot and bank your collected pineapples (and any picked fruit) and walk to Catherby. Grab another one of your fruit tree plant pots and appropriate supplies. Head East and as before, check health of your previous tree, picking the fruits and keeping them if needed. Cut it down and remove the stump, then plant as before and pay the farmer. Teleport to Al-Kharid using your glory amulet and bank your fruits (if any). Withdraw the remaining two fruit tree plant pots and their appropriate supplies. Head north to the gnome glider and fly to the gnome stronghold. This is your chance to obtain oranges if needed. Climb down to the bottom of the stronghold and head south until you see the fruit tree patch. Repeat the procedure; check health, pick fruits, cut tree, remove stump, plant and pay the farmer. Head west until you see the Spirit tree (shown on the minimap), and ask it to take you to the Battle of Khazard. Make your way to the last Farming patch. You should know what to do by now. Use your glory amulet to teleport to Draynor Village and bank all your gatherings. Withdraw three water, one fire, four law runes, and all four of your normal tree plant pots and all their appropriate supplies. Run to the tree patch on the northwestern corner of Lumbridge castle. Check health, and cut the tree down. Dig up the stump and you will get a root proportionate to the kind of tree you grew. Any kinds of roots may be used for Super compost, but if you decide to dig up magic tree stumps, it is advisable to save the roots for Saradomin brews. You may choose to keep the root or drop it. Proceed to planting one of your trees and paying the Farmer. Teleport to Varrock, make your way north/north-east to the tree patch and follow standard procedure. Teleport to Falador, head east towards the tree patch, and follow standard procedure. Make your way to the final tree patch in Taverly and follow standard procedure. Teleport to Ardougne and bank everything. To complete the cycle, cut Willow logs or buy more seeds and wait for the old trees to mature. Then, once all have been cut down (time depends on the type of tree), simply repeat the process from step one. This is a good way to gain experience whilst doing other activities, and gives a plentiful supply of Super compost materials. 7.0 - Random Events
Capt' Arnav shows up and he wants you to complete a chest combination on a chest he had buried nearby. To break the combination change the center pictures of each column so that they match up with the words below them. He will reward you with something made of gold like a gold necklace or ring. (Click Here For a Picture). Your rake or spade head may fly off. All you need to do is pick the rake/spade head up and attach it back onto the handle. 8.0 - Experience from Quests
Quests with a choice Experience
9.0 - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an amulet of nature and what does it do? Q: My trees aren't growing; what's wrong? Q: Why do I get farming xp when I put plants into my player owned house? Q: Can I pay farmers empty coconut shells instead of coconuts to have them look after my poison ivy bush or magic tree? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Author: Geniusdude |
icon on the minimap. This table will tell you exactly where you will be able to find every type of patch.
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