Farming with Stranger Plants

[Alconavt]

Since I’ve noticed in the past that higher farming levels lead to gradual increases in average harvests, I decided to test the level 64 familiar, stranger plant, which boosts farming by 1 + 4% of your level and also forages strange fruit.

In April I recorded my harvests for 300 snap seeds; even if I managed to cure diseased herbs, I considered them dead for the purposes of this test. I used terrorbirds for extra storage and run energy restoration. From the 300 seeds I planted, I harvested 2064 herbs, or 6.88 per seed.

In May, exactly 30 days later to minimize the factor of “luck waves,” I planted 300 snap seeds and used stranger plants during all runs. Prior to each run I collected cactus spines in Al Kharid and then hopped the glider to Feldip Hills to dip in the salt pool for unlimited run energy; this option is much more convenient than terrorbird scrolls. At 99 farming, stranger plants boost my level to 103; since it is impossible to get another boost while your level is above normal, I only boosted 3 times during each run, so I harvested the second patch in each pair at 102 or even 101 farming. From 300 seeds I harvested 2123 herbs, 7.08 herbs per seed, or an extra snap herb per run. Stranger plants also foraged 0.43 strange fruit per run – they were out just for the duration of my farming runs.

Snap herbs have been dropping over the past couple of days and cost 8689 today. Strange fruit price is 915, although they typically sell at the maximum price of 960. Stranger plant pouches cost 1913. At today’s prices, therefore, stranger plants bring an extra 7K profit per run.

Just thought I’d share my findings with other farming enthusiasts.

[Rakshar]

I think running the same test on a lower farming level might prove interesting as it seems to me boosts over lvl 99 don't provide the same results as boosts when your not already the max level. Farming has always been a little frustrating as it doesn't seem as if they put success-rate thresholds in farming like they did cooking. There really is no reason my marigolds should die on me at level 68 but the is just my opinion. My crop death rate last week went through the roof and I always use super-compost (even though there is a rumor it doesn't help). I have gotten in the habit of paying for any tree or fruit tree from maples on up. I just can't see losing that much xp because I didn't pay a farmer his/her blood money. I do think yields are affected by level except for herbs. I get close to the same number of herbs regardless of their level, in other words I average 5-8 herbs whether they be harlanders or snaps, but with my allotments I can easily get 20 plus corn or watermellons using the magic scissors and as I have gone up in levels so have my yields. Just some non-scientific thought....

[Alconavt]

really is no reason my marigolds should die on me at level 68 but the is just my opinion.

All plants are different and flowers are notoriously touchy. Calquats die very frequently at lower levels and very rarely in the 90s; poison ivy never ever dies, no compost and payments required. Evil turnip is indestructible, although I just planted a few of them. I find that this makes farming unique and much more interesting than cooking lol.

My crop death rate last week went through the roof and I always use super-compost (even though there is a rumor it doesn't help).

If you are harvesting corn and melons, I would use scarecrows/flowers to protect them, but this is obviously your call. Watermelons are great xp and cost quite a bit; I would definitely protect them with flowers.

I have gotten in the habit of paying for any tree or fruit tree from maples on up. I just can't see losing that much xp because I didn't pay a farmer his/her blood money.

You will actually save money if you do not protect yews; their death rate is 1 in 7, just take a look at the cost of payments vs. extra seeds you can buy instead. The death rate for palms is 1 in 9, but papayas are much cheaper now than in the past, although they’ve been going up recently. I don’t have the numbers for mages.

[Rakshar]

I actually got farming to the level I did because I became addicted while getting to "the minimum level to accomplish all quests" Of course I dislike quests and only do them when I want something opened up to me but didn't want to be restricted by a level requirement later. So learned the basics and got hooked by the fact I had the seeds and hate wasting xp. Being that my favorite skill is herblore it was easy for Jagex to reel me in.
That being said I only do trees with any seriousness getting all my seeds from the kingdom or the Mole. I have no real level goal for farming I'm just compulsive in doing my runs once a day normally. With this as a background let me reply to a couple of your suggestions.

All plants are different and flowers are notoriously touchy. Calquats die very frequently at lower levels and very rarely in the 90s; poison ivy never ever dies, no compost and payments required. Evil turnip is indestructible, although I just planted a few of them. I find that this makes farming unique and much more interesting than cooking lol.

I feel level should have more of an effect on death rate but if not at least let the compost or no (super) compost have a noticable effect I get more benefit from selling my excess super C than I do in actually using it. I will also agree that the Evil Turnip seems to be death proff.

If you are harvesting corn and melons, I would use scarecrows/flowers to protect them, but this is obviously your call. Watermelons are great xp and cost quite a bit; I would definitely protect them with flowers.

I normally protect my melons but stopped protecting my corn when I started growing marigolds and limproots and out of the principle that at my level and the level required to grow corn "should" mean they survive at a better rate then they do.

You will actually save money if you do not protect yews; their death rate is 1 in 7, just take a look at the cost of payments vs. extra seeds you can buy instead. The death rate for palms is 1 in 9, but papayas are much cheaper now than in the past, although they’ve been going up recently. I don’t have the numbers for mages.

In regards to Yews the only reason I have a cactus is to get spines to protect my Yews so for me it is a wash. Like I said since I have no level goal I have no real reason to buy seeds other than maybe a corn or melon seed to round out a set of three. I normally only buy an item needed to protect a tree, but I have been saving targeted fruits up for a while so normally I have the payment already in the bank. I just planted my first Palm and found that I don't have nearly enough papayas to not have to eventually resort to the GE.

Overall I know I'm not real effeicient in my farming but it is one of the few skills I consistently make a profit at and with my work schedule it requires less of a time commitment than many other skills to get a similar benefit. Farming is as I mentioned a rather addictive skill.

[Neo Avatars]

Calquats die very frequently at lower levels and very rarely in the 90s

The other thing with Calquats is that they appear to die more when you are approaching a level (over 50% of the way) than having just passed a level. The lower level aspect could be influenced by this because you're closing in on a level much more often so keep seeing waves of death with potentially one or two survivors in between.

[Alconavt]

The other thing with Calquats is that they appear to die more when you are approaching a level (over 50% of the way) than having just passed a level. The lower level aspect could be influenced by this because you're closing in on a level much more often so keep seeing waves of death with potentially one or two survivors in between.

If this were the case, calquats would die quite a bit in the 90s when levels are so far apart and 50% is often hundreds of thousands of xp. I think just farming level is the key here.

[Neo Avatars]

If this were the case, calquats would die quite a bit in the 90s when levels are so far apart and 50% is often hundreds of thousands of xp. I think just farming level is the key here.

If it's based purely on level, I find it hard to believe that I'd be able to grow 6 Calquats in a row successfully just after level 98, then past the 50% mark find myself with 4 dying in a row, with similar effects happening at earlier levels.

I kept a log of xp over time, but keeping one of Calquat death rates wasn't something that came to mind. 'twould be an interesting thing to look at if recorded from an early level.

[Alconavt]

If it's based purely on level, I find it hard to believe that I'd be able to grow 6 Calquats in a row successfully just after level 98, then past the 50% mark find myself with 4 dying in a row, with similar effects happening at earlier levels.

I discussed calquat death rates with several high level farmers and we all saw very few deaths in the 90s; for example, I grew 21 healthy calquats in a row between 93 and 95. I think you just hit a patch of very bad luck. Calquats are fantastic value, their very low prices (even lower now with the GE) have always amazed me.

[nescap]

I discussed calquat death rates with several high level farmers and we all saw very few deaths in the 90s; for example, I grew 21 healthy calquats in a row between 93 and 95. I think you just hit a patch of very bad luck. Calquats are fantastic value, their very low prices (even lower now with the GE) have always amazed me.

I've always had bad luck with calquats dieing as I get very close to obtaining a new farming level. However, this last time I levelled up (to 85), amazingly my calquat didn't die. I was quite happy and very surprised.