Ultimate Guide To Farming OSRS: Tips, Tricks, And Techniques For Success

Farming in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is one of the most rewarding and versatile skills, offering players the chance to grow crops, trees, and herbs while earning experience and crafting resources. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the game, mastering farming OSRS opens up numerous opportunities to improve your gameplay, make money, and explore new content. By understanding the fundamentals of the farming skill, you can optimize your time and resources to reach your goals efficiently.

In OSRS, farming is unique because it involves growing plants over time, meaning you don't have to be actively tending to them. This passive nature of farming makes it an excellent skill to train alongside other activities like combat, woodcutting, or crafting. However, farming does require careful planning, proper use of tools, and knowledge of the best locations and crop types for maximum yields. From planting seeds to harvesting fully grown crops, each step is an adventure that demands strategy and attention to detail.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about farming OSRS, including the best farming methods, efficient training techniques, and money-making strategies. We'll also explore essential equipment, farming patches, and how to handle diseases affecting crops. Whether you’re aiming to achieve level 99 Farming or simply want to grow your favorite herbs, this guide will equip you with the tools and insights to excel in this rewarding skill. Let's dig in!

Table of Contents

1. What is Farming in OSRS?
2. Why Train Farming in OSRS?
3. Essential Farming Tools and Equipment
4. Farming Patches and Locations
5. Farming Levels and Unlockables
6. Best Crops for Experience
7. Money-Making with Farming OSRS
8. Managing Crop Diseases
9. Efficient Farming Training Methods
10. Farming Contracts
11. Herb Runs and Profitability
12. Tree Runs and Experience Gains
13. Farming Minigames
14. Tips for Reaching 99 Farming
15. Frequently Asked Questions

What is Farming in OSRS?

Farming in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a skill that allows players to plant, grow, and harvest various crops such as vegetables, herbs, flowers, trees, and special plants. Unlike other skills, farming is largely time-based, meaning that crops grow over real-world time and don’t require constant attention. This makes the skill unique and provides opportunities to multitask while training farming alongside other activities.

The farming skill was first introduced to OSRS on July 11, 2005, as part of the Farming update. It has since become a staple skill for players looking to make money, train efficiently, or engage with other game content such as Herblore and Cooking. Farming patches are scattered across Gielinor, and each patch can grow specific types of crops depending on the player's farming level and the seeds they use.

Players can also use compost, supercompost, or ultracompost to improve crop yields and reduce the chance of crops becoming diseased. Tools like a rake, seed dibber, watering can, and spade are essential for farming, and additional items like magic secateurs and the farmer’s outfit provide significant benefits. Mastering farming OSRS requires a combination of knowledge, planning, and strategic resource management.

Why Train Farming in OSRS?

Farming is more than just a way to grow crops; it provides numerous benefits that can enhance your OSRS experience. Here are some key reasons why you should consider training farming:

• Money-Making Potential: Certain crops, like herbs and high-level trees, can generate significant profits when harvested and sold. For example, herb runs are a popular money-making method, especially if you grow high-value herbs like Ranarr or Snapdragon.
• Experience Gains: Farming offers some of the best experience rates in the game, especially through tree and fruit tree runs. These runs provide consistent experience and can be done daily for optimal results.
• Complementary Skills: Farming is closely tied to other skills like Herblore and Cooking. Herbs grown in farming patches are used to make potions, while crops like sweetcorn and potatoes are essential for certain Cooking recipes.
• Access to Additional Content: Training farming unlocks various game content, such as the Tithe Farm minigame, farming contracts, and access to the Hiscores for competitive farming achievements. High farming levels are also necessary for certain quests and diary tasks.
• Relaxed Gameplay: Since farming is a time-based skill, it allows you to train at a relaxed pace. You can plant your crops and come back later to harvest them, leaving you free to participate in other activities in the meantime.

With so many benefits, farming OSRS is a skill worth investing in, whether you’re aiming for profit, experience, or simply the satisfaction of growing your crops to fruition.

Essential Farming Tools and Equipment

To succeed in farming OSRS, you'll need the right tools and equipment. These items make the farming process smoother and more efficient. Here’s a breakdown of the essential tools:

• Rake: Used to clear weeds from farming patches before planting seeds.
• Seed Dibber: Required to plant seeds in cleared patches.
• Watering Can: Keeps plants hydrated, especially in early growth stages.
• Spade: Necessary for harvesting crops and removing dead plants.
• Compost Bin: Used to create compost, supercompost, or ultracompost, which are vital for improving crop health and yield.
• Magic Secateurs: An invaluable tool that boosts crop yields when wielded.
• Farmer’s Outfit: Provides a small experience boost when worn while farming.

In addition to these tools, you’ll also need seeds, plant pots, and plant cures to manage your farming patches effectively. Having a tool leprechaun nearby can help store your tools and save inventory space, making your farming trips more efficient.

Farming Patches and Locations

Farming patches are where you plant and grow your crops. There are multiple types of patches in OSRS, each designed for specific crops. Some of the most commonly used farming patches include:

• Allotment Patches: Used for growing vegetables and flowers.
• Herb Patches: Perfect for growing herbs for Herblore training or profit.
• Tree Patches: Used to grow trees, which provide significant experience.
• Fruit Tree Patches: Ideal for growing fruit-bearing trees.
• Special Patches: Designed for unique crops like spirit trees and celastrus trees.

Farming patches are located across Gielinor, and some of the most popular locations include Catherby, Ardougne, Falador, and the Farming Guild. Each patch has its own requirements and benefits, so understanding these locations is crucial for efficient farming runs.

Farming Levels and Unlockables

As you level up your farming skill, you’ll unlock the ability to grow new crops, use better tools, and access more advanced farming methods. Here’s a quick overview of some key unlockables:

Reaching higher farming levels not only allows you to plant more valuable crops but also provides access to exclusive farming content like farming contracts and the Tithe Farm minigame.