Crop running
Farm Running, sometimes referred to as crop running, is the act of going through rounds of farming patches in order to level up Farming efficiently (see Farming training). Crop running can be combined with other activities while en route to alleviate monotony, such as doing bits of quests that are in the area of the farm patches being run. Some players like to focus on specific crop types for their runs while others will mix and match the patch types farmed. Regardless, crop running is the most effective way to gain experience in farming as opposed to sitting relatively idle at a farm patch to watch it grow.
Two pieces of jewellery can be helpful while crop running, namely the amulet of farming and amulet of nature as these will allow an aspiring farmer to keep tabs on two patches. Additionally, effective and efficient farming also requires the ability use almost every teleportation method available in RuneScape. Most crops runs can be done by traditionally walking. Lunar Magic is helpful for its Fishing guild and Catherby teleports as well as its cure plant and fertile soil spells, all of which are available at 87 Magic after completion of the Lunar Diplomacy quest.
Recommended quests and tasks
- Tree Gnome Village - Access to spirit trees for transportation .
- The Grand Tree - Access to Spirit Tree in the Tree Gnome Stronghold (if you have completed the Tree Gnome Village quest) and access to the Gnome glider transportation system.
- Fairytale II - Cure a Queen - Access to Fairy ring network.
- My Arm's Big Adventure - Access to disease-free herb patch near Trollheim.
- Enlightened Journey - Access to Balloon transport system.
- Lunar Diplomacy - Access to the Lunar Spells, which have teleports to Catherby and the Fishing Guild (close to two allotment patches), and a supercompost spell.
- In addition, Dream Mentor gives access to Spellbook Swap, allowing easy transport to the Trollheim herb patch while on the Lunar spellbook.
- Complete beginner, easy and medium Lumbridge and Draynor Tasks - Rewarded with Explorer's Ring which allows to recharge energy 3 times a day and quicker and free access to farming patches south of Falador.
- Complete easy and medium Falador Tasks - Falador Shield 2 provides 10% extra experience when harvesting farming patches south of Falador.
- Complete easy Ardougne Tasks - Ardougne cloak 1 gives free teleports to the bush patch by the Ardougne Monastery
- Complete easy & medium Ardougne Tasks - Ardougne cloak 2 gives one free teleport per day to the Ardougne allotment patch. (Completing the Elite tasks will give infinite teleports to the Ardougne allotment patch.)
Recommended magical items
- Amulet of glory with charges
- Skills Necklace with charges
- Explorer's ring 3
- Ectophial
- Ring of duelling
- Broomstick
Vegetable run
Even though vegetables are the first seeds that are to be planted, vegetable runs are not practical for low-level players. Vegetable runs are intended for players with the ability to move across RuneScape rapidly (teleporting, fairy rings, etc.). Each run can be performed approx every 40 minutes.
Inventory
Required:
- 6 Allotment seeds, 1 flower seed, and 1 herb seed for each patch you plan to visit
It's good to have enough seeds for two plantings in all of the patches you plan to visit; that way, as you do the loop, harvesting your crop, you can plant the next crop at the same time, and then once all crops have been harvested, visit the Grand Exchange to sell your crop and purchase another set of seeds. If you use any fruits or vegetables on a tool leprechaun, it will turn your crop into notes.
Optional:
- 1 amulet of farming (for first patch in run)
- 3-5 baskets or sacks (see Seed Table)
- Payment for gardener, which can be noted (if not protected with a flower, see Seed Table)
- Runes for Camelot Teleport, Ardougne Teleport, and Falador Teleport
- Explorer's ring 3 or amulet of glory instead of Falador Teleport runes
- Ectophial (for training levels 31-99)
- Skills Necklace, which will teleport you to the Fishing Guild, which is closer to the Ardougne patch than the Ardougne teleport, though you could simply use the Lodestone Network.
- Falador Shield 2 or Falador Shield 3 (increases farming experience by 10% when using the patches north of Port Sarim)
Vegetable run sequence (teleporting)
Requirements:
- An ectophial
- 51 or 45 and a Skills Necklace or Ardougne cloak 2 or better
- One of the following: Explorer's ring 3 (recommended) or Amulet of glory
Start off with the items in your inventory for the first stop.
- Teleport to Falador with the Explorer's ring and run north to the allotment patch
- Alternatively you can teleport to Draynor with an Amulet of Glory and run northwest (Not recommended as the Explorer's ring gives unlimited teleports and brings you closer).
- Also, if you're in a clan you could use your clan vexillum to teleport to clan camp, then run east to the allotment patch.
- Farm the allotment patch and use the amulet of farming on it
- Use the harvested items on the tool leprechaun to exchange them for bank notes (repeat this at each farming patch).
- Use the Ectophial to teleport to Port Phasmatys.
- Farm the allotment patch that is west of Port Phasmatys.
- Teleport to Ardougne (or to the Fishing Guild using the Skills Necklace or to the patch itself using the Ardougne cloak's Ardougne farm teleport)
- Farm the allotment patch that is in Hemenster.
- Teleport to Camelot and run east to the allotment patch that is north of Catherby.
- Farm the allotment patch that is north of Catherby.
- Run south to the bank at Catherby and deposit all of your harvest.
Vegetable run sequence (Fairy Rings)
Requirements:
- Started A Fairy Tale Part II
- 21 (optional)
- Skills necklace (optional)
- Ectophial (optional)
Start off with the items in your inventory for the first stop.
- Use Explorer's ring 3 cabbage-port to teleport to the cabbage patch and run north to the allotment patch.
- Farm the allotment patch and use the amulet of farming on it.
- Keep this compost bin busy at all times - get enough buckets that you can empty it as soon as it becomes full, and fill it with cabbages from the field when it's empty.
- If you have planted trees in Falador and Lumbridge, check on them now.
- Run south to the fairy ring behind the wizard's tower, use it, from the fairy kingdom use the fairy ring again to the Legend's Guild (code BLR)
- Run west to the allotment patch north of East Ardougne and farm it.
- An alternative route to this patch is to use a skills necklace to teleport to the Fishing Guild, then run east. This is shorter then running to the wizard's tower if you do not intend to check tree patches.
- Run northeast to the allotment patch that is north of Catherby and farm it.
- Run north-west to the hops patch that is north-west of Seers' Village and farm it.
- Run northeast to the fairy ring by Sinclair Mansion, then head to Morytania (code ALQ). Have enough run energy available that you can run north past the level 61 vampyres and level 52 leeches.
- If you choose to omit the hops patch, an ectophial is a faster way to reach the Morytania patches than running to a fairy ring.
- If you have agility level 21, you can use the fairy ring to get to Edgeville (code DKR) and then use the underwall tunnel to access the Grand Exchange. If you have planted a tree in Varrock, check on it now.
- Cabbage-port back to the cabbage patch and repeat as needed.
Farm the vegetables
- Remove spade, seed dibber, watering can, and a bucket of compost (or supercompost) from the Tool Leprechaun.
- Harvest the crop.
- If inventory becomes full from the harvest, use the harvest on the Tool leprechaun and he will note them in your inventory.
- Treat soil with compost (supercompost for sweetcorn and above).
- Plant seeds and water them.
- Return Farming tools to Tool Leprechaun.
- Pay gardener (if not protected with a flower or scarecrow).
- Bind amulet of farming to first patch in run.
Recommended Seeds
Farming level | Allotment | Flower | Herb | Hops | Tree | Fruit Tree | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Tomatoes |
Marigolds to protect your tomatoes | Tarromin | Yanillian hops | Oak tree | Apple tree |
Sweetcorn gives more experience than tomatoes, but it's more expensive and more difficult to grow. |
Prior to your first run, purchase or prepare:
| |||||||
Each subsequent run, purchase (or purchase multiples in advance):
Fill the basket with tomatoes at one of the patches prior to reaching your hops patch. | |||||||
31 | Strawberries |
Woad | Harralander | Wildblood hops | Willow tree | Apple tree | Gout tuber gives more experience than harralander, but is prohibitively expensive. |
Prior to your first run, purchase or prepare:
| |||||||
Each subsequent run, purchase (or purchase multiples in advance):
Fill the baskets with apples for your next run, to pay for protection for your strawberries. |
Hop run
Hops patches are not nearly as convenient to standard teleportation sites, have only one patch versus allotment sites which have 2 allotment, 1 flower, 1 herb patch, and a compost bin. Only barley and Jute fibres are used as payments to gardeners to watch over other crops.
Inventory
- 4 Hop seeds (only 3 jute seeds are needed)
- Payment for gardener (see Seed Table)
- Runes for Watchtower Teleport or Teleport to House (if house is in Yanille), Camelot Teleport, and Varrock Teleport
- Amulet of glory if not going to Yanille
- Combat Bracelet is optional
Hops run sequence
- Start off with the items in your inventory for all four patches (it is now possible to complete all four without banking, by getting the leprechaun to convert harvested items into notes).
- Teleport to Camelot and run to patch north of McGrubor's Wood. The Seer's Headband 3 will place you closer to the hops patch.
- Farm the hops patch north of McGrubor's Wood.
- Teleport to Varrock and run towards Lumbridge. The Combat bracelet option to the Champions' Guild will place you closer.
- Farm the hops patch south of Varrock.
- Teleport to Yanille and run west to hops patch.
- Farm the hops patch along the northern wall of the town.
- To get to the patch on Entrana, either teleport to Draynor by using the amulet of glory or use Explorer's ring 3 to cabbage port to cabbage patch south of Falador and run to Draynor. Deposit items that are not able to go to Entrana then run to Port Sarim and ask monks to take you to Entrana.
- Alternatively, use Ring of Duelling to teleport to Castle Wars, bank all items that are not able to go to Entrana, withdraw 1 set of normal logs and use the Balloon Transport System to travel to Entrana. The balloon pad is next to the hops patch.
- Farm the hops patch in Entrana.
- Bank your harvest!
Farm the hops
- Remove spade, seed dibber, watering can, and a bucket of compost (or supercompost) from the Tool Leprechaun.
- Harvest the crop.
- Treat soil with compost (supercompost for yanillian seeds and above).
- Plant seeds and water them.
- Return Farming tools to Tool Leprechaun.
- Pay gardener.
Herb run
Herb runs are the same as Allotment runs (they can be done at the same time) apart from a Herb patch without an allotment patch in Trollheim. An average herb run can take less than five minutes if moving quickly and can therefore be a good money maker for the time it takes, assuming the player is planting more profitable crops, such as ranarr or snapdragon. Remember that tools, compost, supercompost, and empty buckets can be stored with the leprechauns. Also remember that leprechauns can exchange your crops for notes to save space on crop runs.
Inventory
- 5 Herb seeds
- 4 seeds for the flower patches
- Runes for Trollheim and runes or tab for Camelot teleports (if teleporting, see below for cheaper travel alternatives)
- Ardougne Cloak
- Ectophial, Explorer ring 3 or 4, Skills Necklace (jewellery can be worn to save space)
- Seed dibber, Spade, Rake, and secateurs (or Magical secateurs, remember to wield them!) can be stored on toolbelt.
- Falador Shield, for the xp bonus at the Falador allotment
- Climbing or Rock climbing boots if using secret troll entrance
Herb run sequence
- The patches can be done in any order, though it is a good idea to end up in Catherby as that has the closest bank:
- Use the cabbage port option on your Explorer's ring to teleport to the patch south of Falador .
- Teleport to Trollheim (the quest My Arm's Big Adventure needed) and use the agility shortcuts to the west. Continue through an area filled with aggressive trolls and into the stronghold. Run south through the stronghold, to a door, and then north to a ladder. Climb it to get to the patch. A less click-heavy alternative to this route is to use a slayer ring or the fairy ring code AJR to the Fremennik Slayer Dungeon entrance - head north and then east to the secret door (see image). Climbing boots are required to climb over the rocks. Enter the door, go to the other end of the troll jail, go up the stairs, go up the next stairs, and then proceed to patch - this route takes 10–15 seconds longer but no runes are needed.
- Empty the Ectophial to Port Phasmatys and run west.
- Teleport to Ardougne and run north-east; or use the fishing guild teleport on a Skills Necklace and run east to reach the patch north-east of Ardougne. If the monastery teleport from the cloak is used, the bush outside of there can be picked to add to farming xp on each run. If the Ardougne lodestone has been activated, teleport there, and run north and around the fence. Optionally you can go straight east, and climb over both the stiles, and through the gate, then a bit north, but the forementioned method is a bit faster. With the new update this is faster than the Ardougne teleport.
- Teleport to Camelot and run east until you reach the patch north of Catherby. A slightly longer (14 seconds), but cheaper alternative is to run to Catherby from the Ardougne allotment. Remember to check the fruit tree in Catherby for more farming xp. If the catherby lodestone has been activated you can teleport there, and the patches will be just a few steps to the northeast.
Farming the herbs
- Have your Seed dibber, Spade, Seeds and Compost ready.
- Harvest the crop.
- Treat soil with Supercompost, Lunar Spell Fertile Soil , or Compost (Supercompost has a better crop yield, and the crop does not die as often).
- Plant your herb seed.
- Clean herbs or not, depending on your goals, just remember when you get them noted, it's better if they are all the same.
- Use a herb on the Tool leprechaun to get them noted.
- Change out empty bucket for more Supercompost (or Compost) from leprechaun.
- Head to next patch, or ...
- Return Farming tools to Tool Leprechaun (only do this on the last patch).
Tree run
Tree runs are performed to check on the health of the tree. All the sites can be run to instead of teleporting. It is impractical to run to the patch in the Tree Gnome Stronghold. For a faster run, ensure that saplings have been prepared in advance.
Inventory
- Payment to gardener (see Seed Table)
- Sapling
- Hatchet
- Amulet of nature (for first tree in run)
Example tree run sequence
Assumes Tree Gnome Village quest was completed. If house is in Taverley, use the Teleport to House spell, or if you have completed Love Story , use a chisel to chip a house tablet for Taverley. Otherwise use a Ring of duelling and a Log to teleport to Castle Wars and ride the Balloon to Taverley.
- Start off at the bank in the Grand Exchange and withdraw items for the first stop.
- Farm the tree at the Varrock Castle Courtyard tree patch and use the amulet of nature on the patch.
- Deposit the harvest at the bank in the Grand Exchange and withdraw items for the next stop.
- Use the spirit tree teleport at the north-east corner of the Grand Exchange to the Tree Gnome Stronghold.
- Farm the tree at the Tree Gnome Stronghold patch.
- Deposit items at the Tree Gnome Stronghold bank and withdraw items for the next stop.
- Teleport to Falador.
- Farm the tree at the Falador Park patch.
- Deposit the harvest at the east Falador bank and withdraw item for next stop.
- Teleport to Taverley.
- Farm the Taverley tree patch.
- Teleport to Lumbridge.
- Deposit the harvest at the Lumbridge Castle bank.
- Farm the tree patch west of Lumbridge Castle.
Farm the tree
- Remove a spade from the Tool Leprechaun.
- Check the health of the tree.
- Chop down tree with hatchet.
- Remove stump with spade.
- Plant sapling.
- Return the spade to Tool Leprechaun.
- Pay gardener.
- Bind amulet of nature to first tree in run.
Willow branch run
Willow branches cannot be harvested immediately after a willow tree has its health checked on. This run is used to harvest the willow branches and is performed in the same manner as a tree run. Best if performed 30 minutes after the willow tree's health has been checked on to yield 6 willow branches. This run yields very little Farming experience.
Inventory
Willow tree run sequence
- Similar to a normal tree run. Less banking is required though.
Example willow branch run sequence
Assumes completion of the Tree Gnome Village quest. If house is in Taverley, use the Teleport to House spell. Otherwise use a Ring of duelling and a Log to teleport to Castle Wars and ride the Balloon to Taverley.
- Start off at the bank in the Grand Exchange and withdraw secateurs/magic secateurs.
- Farm the tree at the Varrock Castle Courtyard tree patch and use the amulet of nature on the patch.
- Use the spirit tree teleport at the north-east corner of the Grand Exchange to the Tree Gnome Village. Use the spirit tree there and teleport to the Tree Gnome Stronghold.
- Farm the tree at the Tree Gnome Stronghold patch.
- Deposit the harvest at the Tree Gnome Stronghold bank and withdraw methods to teleport to both Falador and Taverley.
- Teleport to Falador.
- Farm the tree at the Falador Park patch.
- Teleport to Taverley.
- Farm the Taverley tree patch.
- Teleport to Lumbridge.
- Farm the tree patch west of Lumbridge Castle.
Farm the willow branches
- Requires the player to use the secateurs/magic secateurs on the tree to obtain 1 willow branch. Typically, this is done 6 times per stop.
Fruit tree run
Fruit tree patches should be easily accessible to most players except for the one in Lletya (see Farming/Patch locations). Fruit trees take approx 15 hours to grow (includes time when not logged in). For all practical purposes, a fruit tree run is done once per day so you do not need to use an amulet of nature. For a faster run, ensure that saplings have been prepared in advance.
Inventory
- Payment to gardener (see Seed Table)
- Sapling
- Hatchet
- Spade (alternatively a spade can be withdrawn from the Tool leprechaun)
Example fruit tree run sequence
- Start off at the bank in the Grand Exchange and withdraw items for the next stop.
- Use the spirit tree teleport at the north-east corner of the Grand Exchange to then Tree Gnome Stronghold.
- Farm the fruit tree at the Tree Gnome Stronghold patch.
- Deposit items at the Tree Gnome Stronghold bank and withdraw items for the next 2 stops. Withdraw method to travel to Brimhaven.
- Use the spirit tree teleport to take you back to the Tree Gnome Village. Talk to Elkoy to quickly take you through the maze.
- Farm the fruit tree at the patch west of the Tree Gnome Village maze.
- Teleport to Ardougne. Deposit at the south Ardougne bank the harvest and withdraw items for the next 2 stops plus 30 coins for the boat ride to Brimhaven. Withdraw method to teleport to Catherby.
- Talk to Captain Barnaby at the Ardougne docks and take boat to Brimhaven.
- Farm the fruit tree at the patch north of Brimhaven.
- Teleport to Camelot and travel east to Catherby, or use the Charter Ship from brimhaven docks for 480 gold.
- Farm the fruit tree at the patch east of Catherby.
- Deposit items at the Catherby bank and withdraw items for the next stop.
- Teleport to Lletya.
- Farm the fruit tree patch in Lletya.
An alternative fruit tree run that assumes you have a spirit tree planted north of Brimhaven (takes 5–10 minutes). This one is used for only harvesting your trees rather than planting them:
- Start off at the bank in the Grand Exchange and withdraw 1 law rune, 5 air runes (or an air staff), and a Teleport crystal (no other items are necessary).
- Use the spirit tree teleport at the north-east corner of the Grand Exchange to Brimhaven.
- Farm the fruit tree to the west of the spirit tree.
- Use the spirit tree to teleport to Tree Gnome Stronghold.
- Farm the fruit patch just to the east of the spirit tree.
- Use the spirit tree to teleport to the Tree Gnome Village.
- Talk to Elkoy to quickly take you through the maze and then farm the fruit tree to the south-west.
- Use the teleport crystal to teleport to Lletya (don't forget to have Eluned recharge it if you have no charges left).
- Farm the fruit tree to the south-east.
- Teleport to Camelot and travel south-east to Catherby.
- Deposit your items in the Catherby bank.
- Farm the fruit tree by the agility shortcut to Taverley.
- As a bonus..do any other farming in the Catherby farming patch while you are there.
Farm the fruit tree
- Remove spade and gardening trowel from the Tool Leprechaun.
- Check the health of the tree.
- Harvest the fruit (picked by hand).
- Chop down fruit tree with hatchet.
- Remove stump with spade.
- Plant sapling.
- Return Farming tools to Tool Leprechaun.
- Pay gardener.
Bush run
Bush runs are efficiently performed by using fairy rings. They require the player to have started Fairytale II - Cure a Queen, but do not require completion – this means you do not need Farming level 49.
Fastest Run
Inventory
- Payments to gardener for each seed (see Seed Table)
- 4 Bush seeds
- Combat Bracelet
- Teleport to house (have house in Rimmington)
- Varrock teleport
- Ardougne Cape
- Spirit tree on Etceteria
- Rub your combat bracelet and teleport to the Champion's Guild
- Farm the bush patch.
- Teleport to house and exit the portal (assuming your house is in Rimmington.) (Alternatly you can use a Skills necklace to teleport to the Crafting Guild
- Farm the bush patch.
- Use Ardougne Cape 1 to teleport Ardougne and run south to bush patch.
- Farm the bush patch.
- Teleport to varrock and run to the spirit tree in the north-east of the grand exchange.
- Teleport to Etceteria using the spirit tree.
- Farm the bush patch.
Alternately
Inventory
- Payments to gardener for each seed (see Seed Table)
- 4 Bush seeds
- Ardougne, Falador Varrock teleports
- Dramen or Lunar Staff
- Amulet of Glory
- Teleport to Varrock and run south to the Champion's Guild
- Farm the bush patch.
- Teleport to falador and run south to rimmington
- Farm the bush patch.
- Teleport to Ardougne and run to south to bush patch.
- Farm the bush patch.
- Rub your glory amulet and telport to edgeville..
- Run to the fairy ring, and dial C-I-P.
- Run east to Etceteria
- Farm the bush patch.
Farm the bush patch
- Remove spade and seed dibber from the Tool Leprechaun.
- Check the health of the bush (if applicable).
- Harvest the crop.
- Use the spade on the bush patch and remove the bush.
- Plant the Bush seed.
- Return Farming tools to Tool Leprechaun.
- Pay gardener.
Supercompost run
Supercompost runs are performed in the same manner as vegetable runs. Once supercompost runs are started, the buckets of supercompost can either be stored with Tool Leprechaun or sold on the Grand Exchange. Supercompost runs are not intended to train the Farming skill.
Inventory
- Amulet of glory with charges
- 15 supercompost ingredients
- Runes for Camelot Teleport, Ardougne Teleport, and Falador Teleport
- Explorer's ring 3 instead of Falador Teleport runes
- Ectophial (for training levels 31-99)
- Empty buckets
- 100 empty buckets can be purchased in Port Phasmatys at the General Store for 2 coins each (wear Ghostspeak amulet), or get 84 free buckets of sand (which need to be emptied) daily from Bert in Yanille
Supercompost run sequence
- Start off with inventory full of buckets instead of the ingredients for the supercompost.
- Teleport to Camelot and run east to the allotment patch just north of Catherby. Deposit the buckets with Tool Leprechaun.
- Run south to the bank in Catherby and withdraw items into inventory.
- Run back and farm the supercompost.
- Teleport to Ardougne and run to the northern bank in East Ardougne and deposit the supercompost and withdraw items for the next stop.
- Farm the supercompost at the allotment patch that is in Hemenster.
- Run back to the northern bank in East Ardougne' deposit the supercompost and withdraw items for the next stop.
- Teleport to Falador and run south to the allotment patch.
- Use Explorer's ring 3 cabbage-port to teleport to the cabbage patch and run north to this allotment patch.
- Farm the supercompost.
- Falador can be the last stop in the run for levels 1-30.
- Use the Ectophial to teleport to Port Phasmatys, deposit the supercompost and withdraw items for the next stop.
- Farm the supercompost at the allotment patch that is west of Port Phasmatys.
- Run back to the bank in Port Phasmatys and deposit the supercompost.
Farm the supercompost
- Remove empty buckets from Tool Leprechaun until inventory is full.
- Use an empty bucket on compost bin to fill buckets with supercompost.
- To completely empty the compost bin, two trips to the Tool Leprechaun will be needed.
- Deposit buckets of supercompost with Tool Leprechaun and enough empty buckets to empty the compost bin.
- Once again use an empty bucket on compost bin to fill buckets with supercompost.
- Fill compost bin with supercompost ingredients.
- Either deposit buckets of supercompost with Tool Leprechaun or withdraw them to sell on the Grand Exchange.