OSRS Ironman Farming Guide 1-99 - OSRS Money Making Guide

Farming in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a vital skill for Ironman accounts, providing essential resources like herbs for Herblore and seeds for self-sufficiency. This guide walks you through leveling Farming from 1 to 99 as an Ironman, where trading and the Grand Exchange are off-limits, making seed acquisition and efficient training critical. Whether you’re aiming for the Farming cape or just need herbs for potions, this SEO-optimized guide offers a clear path with practical tips tailored for Ironmen.

Farming is a cornerstone skill for Ironman accounts because it supplies herbs, seeds, and other materials needed for Herblore, Cooking, and even Construction. Unlike regular accounts, Ironmen can’t buy seeds or ultracompost from the Grand Exchange, so you’ll rely on alternative methods like pickpocketing, Slayer, and minigames. The skill is semi-passive, with crops growing even when you’re offline, but planning efficient farm runs and seed-gathering strategies is key to hitting level 99 without burning out.

Benefits of Farming for Ironmen

Herblore Resources: Herbs like ranarr, snapdragon, and torstol are critical for potions.
Self-Sufficiency: Grow your own seeds and compost to avoid reliance on drops.
Passive XP: Plant crops, log off, and return to harvest experience.
Profit Potential: Excess herbs can be used for potions to support other skills.

Early Levels (1-35): Questing and Low-Level Crops

OSRS Farming Training Guide Fastest Methods To Level 99 Rune Fanatics

The early Farming grind can feel slow for Ironmen due to limited seed access and low XP yields. Fortunately, questing skips the tedious low levels, and planting basic crops sets you up for future runs. Focus on unlocking teleports and gathering seeds early to make farm runs smoother.

Questing for Fast XP

Completing specific quests grants enough Farming XP to jump from level 1 to around 35, bypassing the slowest training phase. Here’s a list of quests with their rewards:

Quest	Requirements	Farming XP
Recipe for Disaster (Goblin Generals)	Cook’s Assistant, Goblin Diplomacy	1,000
Fairytale I – Growing Pains	Lost City, Nature Spirit	3,500
Forgettable Tale…	The Giant Dwarf, Fishing Contest, 17 Cooking, 22 Thieving	5,000
Garden of Death	20 Thieving	10,000
Garden of Tranquillity	Creature of Fenkenstrain, 25 Farming	5,000
Enlightened Journey	20 Firemaking, 20 Quest Points, 30 Farming, 36 Crafting	3,000

These quests yield 27,500 XP total, enough for level 37. Prioritize Fairytale I for Magic Secateurs (boosts herb yield by ~10%) and Garden of Death for a big XP boost.

Low-Level Crop Training

While questing, plant low-level crops like potatoes, onions, and cabbages in allotment patches (e.g., Catherby, Falador). Seeds are scarce, so check out these sources:

Pickpocketing Master Farmers: At 38 Thieving, you can steal low-level seeds like guam and marrentill. Use full Rogue’s outfit for double loot.
Wintertodt: Earn supply crates with seeds, even at 1 Farming. Higher Farming levels improve seed quality.
Tool Leprechauns: Buy basic seeds like potato and onion from Draynor or other farming patches.

Use compost (buy from farming shops or make with weeds) to reduce disease risk. Avoid herbs at this stage unless you need them for Herblore, as they’re inefficient for XP.

Mid Levels (35-70): Tree Runs and Tithe Farm

From level 35, tree runs become the backbone of your Farming training, offering high XP for minimal effort. Supplement with Tithe Farm for unlocks and steady XP, and start herb runs for Herblore supplies.

Tree and Fruit Tree Runs

Trees and fruit trees grow over hours, granting thousands of XP when checked and harvested. Start at level 15 with oak trees and level 27 with apple trees. Here’s a progression plan:

Levels 15-30: Oak trees (467 XP each) and apple trees (1,199 XP each).
Levels 30-45: Willow trees (1,456 XP each) and banana trees (1,750 XP each).
Levels 45-60: Maple trees (3,403 XP each) and orange trees (2,467 XP each).
Levels 60-70: Yew trees (7,069 XP each) and palm trees (10,150 XP each).

Seed Sources: Birdhouse runs (Hunter) and Farming Contracts (Farming Guild, level 45) provide tree and fruit tree seeds. Avoid paying farmers to protect trees; use ultracompost and the Resurrect Crops spell (Arceuus spellbook) to minimize disease.

Tithe Farm for XP and Rewards

Tithe Farm (unlocked at 34 Farming) is a click-intensive minigame but offers great rewards for Ironmen. Aim to complete it at level 34 for these unlocks:

Auto-Weed Perk: Prevents weeds from growing in patches (saves time).
Seed Box: Stores multiple seed types, reducing inventory clutter.
Herb Sack: Holds up to 100 of each grimy herb, perfect for herb runs.
Farmer’s Outfit: 2.5% XP boost (optional, not a priority).

Expect 30,000-50,000 XP per hour at low levels, scaling to 100,000 with experience. Use stamina potions and the 20×5 method if low on energy potions. Medium contracts unlock faster, providing more seeds.

Starting Herb Runs

At level 35, begin herb runs to stockpile Herblore materials. Plant ranarr or higher-tier seeds in all available patches (Catherby, Falador, Ardougne, Hosidius, etc.). Key tips:

Use Ultracompost: Craft with pineapples (charter ships) and volcanic ash (Fossil Island). Guarantees at least 6 herbs per patch.

Magic Secateurs: Equip for +10% yield. Obtained from Fairytale I.
Teleports: Unlock Explorer’s Ring (Lumbridge Diary), Ardougne Cloak, and Ectophial for efficient patch access.
Seed Sources: Master Farmers (94 Thieving + Ardougne Hard Diary for no fails), Slayer drops (nechryaels, aberrant spectres), and Farming Contracts.

Combine herb runs with limpwurt or snape grass for extra XP and resources. Expect 10,000-20,000 XP per run, depending on patches unlocked.

High Levels (70-99): Optimizing Farm Runs

From level 70, focus on maximizing XP through frequent tree, fruit tree, and herb runs, with occasional Tithe Farm sessions for variety. Hardwood trees and special crops like calquats boost efficiency.

Scaling Up Tree Runs

Continue planting the highest-level trees you can:

Levels 70-85: Magic trees (13,768 XP each) and dragonfruit trees (17,335 XP each).
Levels 85-99: Spirit trees (19,501 XP each, requires 83 Farming) and papaya trees (27,099 XP each).

Farming Contracts in the Farming Guild are your best seed source at this stage. Always plant an anima seed (Farming Guild) for increased herb yield and sustain them by killing Hespori (drops more anima seeds). Check tree health before harvesting for maximum XP.

Hardwood Trees and Calquats

At level 35, unlock hardwood trees (teak/mahogany) on Fossil Island after Bone Voyage. They’re cost-effective and yield decent XP:

Teak Trees: 7,290 XP every 2.5 days (~60,000 XP/week).
Mahogany Trees: 15,720 XP every 2.5 days (~100,000 XP/week).

From level 72, plant calquat trees (12,096 XP each) in Tai Bwo Wannai. They’re cheap and grow in 21 hours. Combine with daily fruit tree runs for 100,000-150,000 XP per day.

Maximizing Herb Runs

Herb runs remain crucial for Herblore. Unlock all patches (e.g., Trollheim at 73 Farming, post-My Arm’s Big Adventure). Use these boosts:

Kandarin Diary: 5-15% extra yield at Catherby.
Morytania Elite Diary: Unlocks a disease-free patch.
Bottomless Compost Bucket: From Hespori (Farming Guild), holds 10,000 ultracompost uses.

A single herb run with 9 patches yields ~20,000 XP and hundreds of herbs. Do 2-3 runs daily for 50,000+ XP and a steady potion supply.

Ironman-Specific Tips and Tricks

Ironmen face unique challenges in Farming, but smart strategies make the grind manageable. Here are advanced tips to streamline your journey to 99.

Seed Acquisition Strategies

Seeds are the bottleneck for Ironmen. Prioritize these methods:

Master Farmers: At 94 Thieving with Ardougne Hard Diary, expect 60+ high-level herb seeds per hour.
Slayer: Nechryaels, aberrant spectres, and kurasks drop herbs and seeds. Use herb sack to collect during tasks.
Farming Contracts: Medium (level 45) and hard (level 65) contracts yield tree, fruit tree, and herb seeds.
Birdhouse Runs: Passive Hunter XP and tree/fruit tree seeds every 50 minutes.
Wintertodt: Supply crates give seeds, scalable with Farming level.

Focus on ranarr, snapdragon, and torstol seeds for Herblore, and palm/dragonfruit for XP.

Compost and Disease Management

Ultracompost is non-negotiable for herb and tree runs. Make it by:

Buying pineapples from charter ships or harvesting watermelons.
Adding 25 volcanic ash (Fossil Island) to supercompost in a compost bin.
Using the bottomless compost bucket for convenience.

Reduce disease with ultracompost (1/7 disease chance vs. 1/5 for supercompost) and Resurrect Crops spell. Unlock disease-free patches via quests (e.g., My Arm’s Big Adventure).

Efficient Farm Run Setup

Optimize your farm runs with these teleports and items:

Teleports: Explorer’s Ring, Ardougne Cloak, Ectophial, Xeric’s Talisman, and Fairy Rings (after quests).
Inventory: Magic Secateurs, seed box, herb sack, bottomless compost bucket, rake, spade, and noted buckets for Tool Leprechauns.
Route: Start at Falador (Explorer’s Ring), hit Catherby, Ardougne, Hosidius, and Trollheim. Use POH teleports at high Construction.

A full tree + herb run takes 10-15 minutes and yields 50,000+ XP at high levels. Do runs daily for steady progress.

Conclusion: Path to the Farming Cape

Reaching 99 Farming as an Ironman is a rewarding grind that blends passive XP with active planning. Start with quests to skip early levels, lean on tree and herb runs for the bulk of your XP, and use Tithe Farm for key unlocks. Seed gathering through Master Farmers, Slayer, and contracts keeps your patches full, while ultracompost and teleports maximize efficiency. With consistent daily runs, you’ll hit 99 in a few months and unlock the Farming cape’s teleport to the Farming Guild. Keep planting, and enjoy the self-sufficient Ironman journey!