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Farm Run OSRS Path to Farming Success

Farming in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is one of those skills that feels like a chore at first but turns into a goldmine once you get the hang of it. As someone who’s spent countless hours tending to patches across Gielinor, I can tell you that farm runs are the backbone of leveling up Farming efficiently while raking in some serious profits. Whether you’re a newbie planting your first seeds or a seasoned player optimizing your runs, this guide is packed with tips, tricks, and personal insights to make your OSRS farm runs smooth and rewarding.
A farm run is a routine where you visit multiple farming patches across the game to plant, check, or harvest crops. It’s like a daily ritual for farmers in OSRS, and trust me, once you get into the rhythm, it’s oddly satisfying. You plant seeds, wait for them to grow (usually 20-80 minutes depending on the crop), and then come back to harvest or check their health for XP. The goal? Maximize efficiency, minimize time, and maybe make some GP along the way.
Why bother with farm runs? They’re hands-down the best way to train Farming without losing your mind. Plus, you can grow valuable herbs or trees that sell for a pretty penny at the Grand Exchange. I remember my first farm run I was clueless, running around with a single rake and no idea where the patches were. Now, I’ve got it down to a science, and I’m here to share that with you.
Why Farm Runs Are a Game-Changer
Let’s be real: Farming can feel slow compared to skills like Woodcutting or Combat. But farm runs? They’re a game-changer. They let you multitask you can do a quick run, log off, and come back later to collect your rewards. It’s low-effort, high-reward, especially if you’re growing herbs like ranarrs or snapdragons. Back when I was grinding for 99 Farming, I’d do farm runs while watching Netflix. By the time an episode was over, my herbs were ready to harvest, and I’d made enough GP to fund my next gear upgrade.
So, how do you make farm runs work for you? It’s all about preparation, timing, and knowing your patches. Let’s break it down.
Getting Started with Farm Runs
Before you start sprinting across Gielinor, you need the right tools and setup. Here’s what I’ve learned from years of farming:
Essential Tools for Farm Runs
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Rake: Clears weeds from patches.
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Spade: For harvesting crops or digging up dead ones.
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Seed dibber: Plants your seeds.
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Watering can: Needed for trees and fruit trees (herbs don’t need watering if you use ultracompost).
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Magic secateurs: Boosts harvest yields by 10% (grab these from the A Fairy Tale Part I quest).
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Teleportation items: Amulets of glory, Xeric’s talisman, or teleports like Ardougne cloak to save time.
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Ultracompost: Reduces disease chance and increases yields. Trust me, it’s worth the investment.
I keep all these in my bank, ready to grab for every run. Early on, I forgot my rake once and had to run back to the bank like an idiot. Don’t be me plan ahead!
Choosing the Right Patches
OSRS has a bunch of farming patches scattered across the map, and not all are created equal. You’ve got herb patches, tree patches, fruit tree patches, and special patches like calquat or celastrus. As a beginner, focus on herb and allotment patches since they’re quick and profitable. When I started, I stuck to the Falador, Catherby, and Ardougne herb patches because they’re easy to reach.
Here’s a quick rundown of key patch locations:
Patch Type |
Teleport/Access |
|
---|---|---|
Herb |
Falador, Catherby, Ardougne, Trollheim, Hosidius |
Amulet of glory, Ardougne cloak, Xeric’s talisman |
Allotment |
Falador, Catherby, Ardougne, Hosidius |
Same as herb patches |
Tree |
Falador, Lumbridge, Varrock, Taverley, Gnome Stronghold |
Teleports or fairy rings |
Fruit Tree |
Catherby, Gnome Stronghold, Gnome Village, Brimhaven, Lletya |
Teleports or spirit trees |
Pro tip: Unlock the Trollheim herb patch ASAP (requires My Arm’s Big Adventure). It’s a lifesaver for high-level herb runs.
Planning Your Farm Run Route
Efficiency is everything in farm runs. You don’t want to waste time zigzagging across the map. After years of trial and error, I’ve nailed down a route that works for me, and it’s flexible enough for most players.
My Go-To Farm Run Route
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Trollheim Herb Patch: Teleport with Trollheim teleport (requires 61 Magic and Eadgar’s Ruse). Plant, check, or harvest.
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Catherby: Use Camelot teleport or Xeric’s talisman. Hit the herb, allotment, and fruit tree patches.
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Ardougne: Ardougne cloak teleport. Herb and allotment patches here.
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Falador: Explorer’s ring or Falador teleport. Herb, allotment, and tree patches.
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Hosidius: Xeric’s talisman or Tithe Farm teleport. Herb and allotment patches.
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Tree/Fruit Tree Check: Use spirit trees or fairy rings to hit tree patches in Lumbridge, Varrock, or Gnome Stronghold.
This route takes me about 5-7 minutes per run, and I can do it multiple times a day. When I was pushing for 99 Farming, I’d do 3-4 runs daily, netting me 50k-100k XP and a nice stack of herbs.
Timing Your Runs
Crops grow in real-time, so timing is key. Herbs take about 80 minutes, allotments 40-80 minutes, and trees or fruit trees can take days. I like to set a timer on my phone for herb runs so I don’t forget. Ever lost a whole patch of ranarrs to disease? Yeah, I’ve been there, and it stings. Use ultracompost to avoid that heartache.
What to Plant for Maximum Gains
What you plant depends on your Farming level, budget, and goals. Are you chasing XP, GP, or both? Here’s what I’ve learned works best:
Herbs for Profit
Herbs are the money-makers. Ranarrs and snapdragons are my go-to because they’re in high demand for prayer and super restore potions. Here’s a quick table of profitable herbs:
Herb |
Farming Level |
Avg. Profit per Patch (GP) |
---|---|---|
Ranarr |
32 |
20,000-30,000 |
Snapdragon |
62 |
25,000-35,000 |
Toadflax |
38 |
15,000-20,000 |
Kwuarm |
56 |
10,000-15,000 |
I always plant snapdragons once I hit level 62. They’re pricey seeds but worth it when you’re banking 100k+ per run.
Allotments for XP
Allotments are great for XP early on. Watermelons (level 47) or snape grass (level 61) give solid experience and don’t break the bank. I used watermelons to grind from 40 to 60 Farming, and they’re super reliable.
Trees and Fruit Trees
For higher levels, trees like magic (level 75) or fruit trees like palm (level 68) are fantastic. They’re slow but give massive XP. I planted my first palm tree and felt like a king when it yielded coconuts worth 20k each.
Boosting Efficiency with Tips and Tricks
Want to take your farm runs to the next level? Here are some tricks I’ve picked up:
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Use the Farming Guild: At level 45, unlock the Farming Guild in Hosidius. It’s got a herb patch, tree patch, and more, all in one spot.
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Fairy Rings: Unlock the fairy ring network (Fairy Tale Part II). Codes like CIR (Gnome Stronghold) or CKS (Canifis) make tree runs a breeze.
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Graceful Outfit: Speeds up your running between patches. I swear by it.
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Seed Vault: Store your seeds in the Farming Guild vault for quick access.
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Compost Bin: Make your own ultracompost with watermelons or pineapples. It’s cheaper than buying it.
One time, I forgot to use ultracompost on a ranarr patch, and half my plants died. Lesson learned: always double-check your compost!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even veterans mess up sometimes. Here are pitfalls to watch out for:
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Forgetting Tools: Always check your inventory before teleporting.
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Ignoring Disease: Ultracompost is a must. Don’t skimp on it.
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Bad Timing: Don’t start a run if you can’t check back in time. Dead crops = wasted GP.
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Skipping Patches: Even if it’s out of the way, hit every patch you can. It adds up.
I once skipped the Trollheim patch for a week because I was lazy. When I finally checked it, I’d missed out on thousands of XP and GP. Don’t make my mistake!
Advanced Farm Run Strategies
Ready to go pro? Here’s how I maxed out my farm runs:
Stacking Runs
Do multiple types of runs in one go. I check herbs, allotments, and fruit trees in the same trip. It saves time and keeps things interesting.
Using the Chronicle
The Chronicle (bought from Diango for 150 GP) is a cheap teleport to Edgeville. From there, you can hit the Falador patches quickly. I used this a ton when my Magic level was low.
Boosting Yields
Magic secateurs and the Farming cape (at 99) boost your harvests. I noticed a huge difference in my herb yields after getting the secateurs.
Tithe Farm for Extra XP
If you’re close to Hosidius, try the Tithe Farm minigame. It’s intense but great for XP. I grinded it for a weekend and jumped from 65 to 70 Farming in no time.
My Personal Farm Run Journey
When I started Farming, I was overwhelmed. Patches were scattered, crops kept dying, and I barely made any money. But after sticking with it, I found my groove. Now, farm runs are my favorite part of OSRS. There’s something satisfying about watching your patches grow while you’re off doing quests or slaying bosses. Last month, I made over 2M GP just from herb runs, which funded my new dragon claws. Not bad for a few minutes of work each day!
What’s your favorite crop to plant? Herbs for cash or trees for XP? Let me know in the comments I’m curious!
FAQ for OSRS Farm Runs
How long does a farm run take?
About 5-10 minutes, depending on your teleports and route.
What’s the best herb to plant?
Snapdragons or ranarrs for profit, toadflax for budget runs.
Can I do farm runs as an Ironman?
Absolutely! Focus on snape grass or watermelons for self-sustaining crops.
Do I need high Magic for farm runs?
It helps, but items like the Explorer’s ring or Chronicle work fine for low levels.
Final Thoughts
Farm runs in OSRS are your ticket to Farming success. They’re quick, profitable, and honestly kind of fun once you get the hang of it. Whether you’re planting herbs for GP or trees for XP, a solid routine will make your Farming journey a breeze. Take it from me someone who went from losing crops to disease to hitting 99 Farming with a bank full of ranarrs. Plan your route, grab your tools, and start planting. You’ll thank yourself when the GP starts rolling in.
Got any farm run tips I missed? Drop them below, and let’s keep the Farming grind going strong!