Farming in Old School RuneScape is one of the most unique skills in the game. Not only is it required for quests and diary completions, but it also provides a steady stream of passive profit. On unrestricted Old School RuneScape accounts, it's a money-making machine. For Ironmen, however, it's non-negotiable—you literally can't play the game properly without it. Imagine trying to progress without potions when most herbs and secondaries are realistically only obtainable through farming. That's why a solid 1–99 Farming route is essential.

This 2025 version is a complete revamp of my original 2023 guide. A lot of players pointed out flaws in the first version, and after putting those criticisms to use, this remaster should be more efficient, practical, and iron-friendly.

Why Questing is the Fastest Start

Like my 1–99 Melee guide, we don't start by grinding the skill directly. Early farming levels are slow and painful, and planting the lowest-tier seeds takes ages. Instead, the fastest path is questing.

Here's the optimal quest route:

· Cook's Assistant → unlocks Recipe for Disaster

· Goblin Diplomacy → opens RFD: Goblin subquest (1,000 Farming XP)

· Restless Ghost, Priest in Peril, Nature Spirit, Lost City → setup quests for Fairy Tale

· Fairy Tale Part I → grants 3,500 XP and the Magic Secateurs, a mandatory farming tool

· Garden of Death → requires level 20 Farming (achieved from earlier quests) and gives 10,000 XP

By the end of this chain, you'll have 14,500 XP—level 30 Farming—without touching a single seed. For Irons especially, this is the biggest time-saver you can ask for.

Early Farming Setup

Now that you're level 30, it's time to plant. The Farming system revolves around patches where you rake, compost, plant, optionally protect, and harvest crops. Unlike the early 2000s, you don't need to wait at patches anymore.

Tools & Essentials

· Rake, Seed Dibber, Spade, Watering Cans, Compost Bin → buy from farming shops

· Tool Leprechaun → stores all farming tools, seeds, and compost

· Teleport Unlocks: Ectophial (Ghosts Ahoy), Kharedst's Memoirs (Client of Kourend/Depths of Despair), Ardougne Cloak, Explorer's Ring, etc.

· Rune Teleports: Falador, Camelot, Ardougne, Trollheim, etc.

Pro tip: install the Time Tracker plugin on RuneLite so you'll always know when crops are ready.

From Level 30 to 34 (and Beyond)

This is a small push, but it's important: level 34 Farming unlocks Tithe Farm, the only truly active farming method in OSRS.

Option 1: Regular Patch Runs

Start with basic allotments (cabbage, sweetcorn, etc.), flowers, and herbs (if you can get seeds). Run Falador → Catherby → Ardougne → Morytania → Hosidius.

Option 2: Construction Trick

Buy Bagged Plants (1) and place/remove them in your Player-Owned House. Each gives 31 XP in both Farming and Construction. It's a money sink (200k–300k GP), but it'll get you to 34 faster.

Tithe Farm (Level 34+)

At level 34, you unlock Tithe Farm in Hosidius. This is where Farming finally becomes “trainable” instead of waiting for crops.

· Plant seeds → water three times → harvest → deposit fruit

· Up to 110k XP/hour with higher-tier seeds

· Earn points for rewards:

  · Auto-weed

  · Farmer's Outfit (XP bonus)

  · Herb Sack

  · Seed Packs (amazing for Irons)

Stay here until at least level 45 to unlock the Farming Guild.

Farming Guild (Level 45+)

The Farming Guild is the ultimate farming hub. It has:

· Contracts (like Slayer for Farming): give you seed packs on completion

· Bank + Seed Vault (perfect for Irons)

· A wide range of patches for herbs, trees, bushes, anima plants, and more

You unlock higher-tier areas at levels 65 and 85, but even the tier 1 guild at level 45 is worth visiting every run.

Herb Runs (Profitable & Core Training)

Herb runs are your bread-and-butter. They take ~80 minutes to grow, and you can clear 7–10 patches per run depending on your unlocks.

Best herb patch route:

1. Falador

2. Catherby

3. Ardougne

4. Hosidius

5. Morytania

6. Weiss / Trollheim (disease-free)

7. Farming Guild

8. Harmony Island (after diary completion)

Tips:

· Always use Ultra Compost for better yield

· Protect patches with Magic Secateurs

· Use the wiki's Herb Run Calculator to see profitability at your level

· As Iron, plant everything—don't waste seeds

Tree & Fruit Tree Runs

Tree runs provide massive XP bursts but are expensive.

· Regular Trees: Oak → Willow → Maple → Yew → Magic → Redwood

· Fruit Trees: Apple → Banana → Orange → Curry → Pineapple → Papaya → Palm → Dragonfruit

Growth times:

· Regular trees vary (8–120 hours)

· Fruit trees = 16 hours flat

Best route includes Catherby, Brimhaven, Gnome Stronghold, Gnome Village, Lumbridge, Varrock, Falador, Taverley, Prifddinas, and the Farming Guild.

Special Patches

Don't ignore the unique patches:

· Hardwood Trees (Fossil Island, Valamore Savannah) → Teak/Mahogany, slow but huge XP

· Redwoods (5 days growth, best pet chance)

· Spirit & Celastrus Trees (endgame, great XP)

· Anima Plants (Farming Guild tier 2+) → unique buffs

For Irons, these patches are a massive resource generator.

From Level 45 to 99

Your long-term Farming training should be a mix of:

· Daily Tree & Fruit Tree Runs (big XP bursts)

· Herb Runs Every 80 Minutes (money + herbs)

· Farming Guild Contracts (steady seed supply)

· Tithe Farm (active XP if you're grinding hard)

· Special Patches (hardwoods, redwoods, anima, celastrus)

Final Thoughts

Farming may feel overwhelming at first, but once you establish your rhythm, it becomes second nature. The key is efficiency: stack quests early, unlock teleports, and combine your routes with other daily activities. Whether you're a main looking for OSRS gold profits or an Ironman desperate for herbs, this 2025 Farming Guide should help you hit 99 while keeping your gameplay smooth.

RSorder Team