OSRS Ironman Farming Guide: Level 1-99 (Fast & Efficient Methods)

Farming in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a vital skill for Ironman accounts, offering a steady supply of herbs, crops, and resources crucial for self-sufficiency. Unlike regular accounts, Ironmen can’t rely on the Grand Exchange, making Farming an essential skill to master for Herblore, Cooking, and even profit through passive methods. This comprehensive 1-99 Farming guide for Ironman OSRS will walk you through the best strategies, seed-gathering tips, and efficient farm runs to hit level 99 fast. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Ironman, this guide is tailored to help you succeed.

Farming isn’t just about planting seeds and waiting—it’s a cornerstone skill for Ironmen. Herbs from Farming fuel Herblore training, while crops like Snape Grass and Limpwurt Roots provide secondary ingredients for potions. Plus, tree runs offer passive XP and logs for Construction or Fletching. For Ironmen, who can’t trade with others, Farming is the backbone of resource gathering, making it worth the grind to 99.

Key Benefits of Farming for Ironmen

• Herb Supply: Primary source of herbs for potions like Prayer and Super Combat.
• Passive XP: Tree and fruit tree runs give massive XP with minimal effort.
• Self-Sufficiency: Reduces reliance on monster drops or minigames.
• Profit Potential: High-level herbs like Ranarrs can be used or alched as finished potions.

Getting Started: Levels 1-35 (Early Farming Methods)

The early levels of Farming can feel slow, but with the right approach, Ironmen can breeze through to level 35 using quests and low-level planting. Since seed acquisition is a challenge, we’ll also cover how to stockpile seeds efficiently.

Questing for Fast XP (Levels 1-20)

Quests are your best friend for skipping the tedious early grind. Completing these will boost you to level 20+ quickly:

• Recipe for Disaster (Goblin Generals Subquest): 1,000 XP (requires Cook’s Assistant, Goblin Diplomacy).
• Fairytale I – Growing Pains: 3,500 XP (requires Lost City, Nature Spirit).
• Forgettable Tale…: 5,000 XP (requires The Giant Dwarf, Fishing Contest, 17 Cooking, 22 Thieving).
• Garden of Death: 10,000 XP (requires 20 Farming).

By completing these, you’ll hit around level 20-25 with minimal effort. Garden of Death is especially worth rushing as it pushes you straight into viable tree runs.

Low-Level Planting (Levels 1-35)

If quests aren’t your style yet, start with allotment and herb patches. Seeds are scarce early on, so pickpocket Master Farmers (requires Thieving) or loot from early Slayer tasks. Here’s a progression:

• Levels 1-5: Plant Potato Seeds (allotments).
• Levels 5-9: Switch to Onions.
• Levels 9-20: Plant Guam Seeds (herbs) for Herblore prep.
• Levels 20-35: Sweetcorn (allotments) + Limpwurt Seeds (flowers).

Use compost from bins (fill with pineapples from Wintertodt crates) to boost yields and reduce disease risk.

Tree Runs & Passive Gains: Levels 35-75

Once you hit level 35, tree runs become the backbone of your Farming training. These are low-effort, high-XP methods that Ironmen can do daily, paired with herb runs for maximum efficiency.

Tree Run Basics

Trees take 14-16 hours to grow, offering a passive way to rack up XP. You’ll need to source seeds from birdhouse runs (Hunter skill) or Wintertodt crates. Here’s the progression:

Level	Tree Type	XP per Tree	Seed Source
15	Oak	467.3	Birdhouses, Wintertodt
30	Willow	1,456.5	Birdhouses, Slayer
45	Maple	3,403.5	Birdhouses, Farming Contracts
60	Yew	7,069.9	Farming Contracts, Bosses

Pro Tip: Use Ultracompost (Supercompost + Volcanic Ash from Fossil Island) to minimize disease and save seeds. Pay farmers to protect trees if you’re short on compost.

Fruit Tree Runs (Level 27+)

At level 27, add fruit trees to your routine. They grow in 16 hours and stack with regular tree runs for even more XP:

• Level 27: Apple (1,199.5 XP).
• Level 33: Banana (1,750.5 XP).
• Level 39: Orange (2,470.2 XP).
• Level 57: Pineapple (4,605.7 XP).
• Level 72: Papaya (6,146.4 XP).

Combine two tree runs and one fruit tree run daily for 50K-100K XP depending on your level.

Seed Gathering for Ironmen

Seeds are the bottleneck for Ironmen. Here’s how to stockpile them:

• Pickpocket Master Farmers: At 38+ Thieving, you’ll get herb and allotment seeds (94 Thieving with Ardougne Hard Diary stops failures).
• Birdhouse Runs: Passive tree/fruit tree seeds via Hunter (5-44+).
• Farming Contracts: Unlock at 45 Farming in the Farming Guild—best for tree seeds.
• Slayer Drops: Tasks like Aberrant Spectres or Nechryaels drop herbs and seeds.

High-Level Farming: Levels 75-99

At 75+, you’re in the endgame of Farming. Focus on maximizing XP with advanced tree runs, Tithe Farm, and herb runs to round out your 99 grind.

Advanced Tree Runs

Upgrade to the highest trees and fruit trees available:

• Level 75: Magic Trees (13,768.3 XP) – Expensive but massive XP.
• Level 81: Dragonfruit Trees (17,335 XP) – Rare seeds from Contracts or bosses.
• Level 85: Celastrus Trees (14,130 XP) – Great XP and bark for Construction.

Two runs daily with Magic and Dragonfruit trees can net 150K-200K XP.

Tithe Farm (Level 34+)

Tithe Farm in Hosidius is an active training method with solid XP and rewards like the Seed Box and Herb Sack—must-haves for Ironmen. XP rates scale with level:

• Level 34: Golovanova Seeds (40K XP/hr).
• Level 54: Bologano Seeds (60K XP/hr).
• Level 74: Logavano Seeds (80K-100K XP/hr).

Prioritize this at 34 for the auto-weed perk (saves time on allotments) and gear up with the Farmer’s Outfit for a 2.5% XP boost.

Herb Runs for XP and Herbs

Herb runs complement tree runs and supply Herblore materials. Use all 9 patches (unlock via quests like My Arm’s Big Adventure) and plant the best herbs you can:

• Level 32: Ranarr (26.7 XP/seed) – High profit, key for Prayer Potions.
• Level 38: Toadflax (34.9 XP/seed) – Decent XP and profit.
• Level 85: Torstol (199.5 XP/seed) – Best XP, moderate profit.

With Ultracompost and Magic Secateurs (from Fairytale I), expect 6-10 herbs per patch, netting 10K-20K XP per run (every 80 minutes).

Ironman Farming Tips & Efficiency

To hit 99 fast, optimize your routine and gear. Here are some game-changers:

Essential Gear and Unlocks

• Magic Secateurs: 10% yield boost (Fairytale I).
• Seed Box/Herb Sack: From Tithe Farm—saves inventory space.
• Explorer’s Ring/Ardy Cloak: Teleports near patches.
• Farming Guild Contracts: Steady seed income at 45+.

Efficient Farm Run Route

Minimize travel time with this order for herb/tree runs:

1. Catherby: Teleport with Explorer’s Ring.
2. Falador: Teleport with Ring or house tab.
3. Ardougne: Ardy Cloak teleport.
4. Trollheim: After My Arm’s Big Adventure.
5. Hosidius: Xeric’s Talisman or Tithe Farm teleport.

Managing Resources

Stockpile Ultracompost by composting watermelons (from Slayer) or pineapples (Wintertodt). Mine Volcanic Ash on Fossil Island for the upgrade. Always keep patches planted to maximize contract completions.

Final Push to 99: How Long Will It Take?

With consistent tree, fruit tree, and herb runs, plus occasional Tithe Farm, you can hit 99 in 2-4 months as an Ironman. Here’s a breakdown:

• Daily XP: 100K-200K with 2 tree runs + herbs.
• Tithe Farm Boost: Add 50K-100K/hr when active.
• Total XP Needed: 13M for 99.

Stay disciplined with daily runs, and you’ll be rocking the Farming Cape in no time—complete with its unlimited teleports to patches!

Conclusion: Farming to 99 on an Ironman account is a grind, but with this guide, you’ve got a roadmap to success. From early quests to endgame tree runs, every step is designed to keep you efficient and self-sufficient. Start planting today, and watch your levels (and herb stash) grow!