Farming keeps you fed, supplied with cloth, and stocked on the tea buffs that give real combat and gathering edges in Rust. This guide covers planter boxes, water and sprinklers, what to grow, indoor grows, and the genetics system for high-yield crops.
Planter boxes & water
Grow crops in planter boxes — the large planter holds more plants and is the standard. Plants need water: pipe it in from a water source or water catcher, and use sprinklers to keep soil saturation high automatically so you’re not hand-watering. Add fertilizer (from a composter fed scrap food, or animal dung) to speed growth.
What to grow
- Hemp — cloth for sleeping bags, gear and bandages; the most-grown crop.
- Pumpkins & Corn — food and water on the go.
- Berries — the base for teas, which give temporary buffs to farming, healing, scrap and more.
- Potatoes — reliable food.
Indoor grows
Indoor farms are safer from raiders than outdoor planters but need ceiling lights for artificial sunlight — which means power (see the electricity guide). A sealed grow room with lights, sprinklers and a composter is the standard secure setup.
Genetics
Seeds carry genes — letters that control yield, growth rate and water needs (G = growth, Y = yield, H = hardiness, W/X are weaker traits). Plant clones, read their genes, and selectively breed the best to build a high-yield strain. Genetics is the late-game farming meta and dramatically increases output per planter.
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