OSRS Herb Grow Time Guide for Efficient Farming
In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), herb farming is a cornerstone of both profit and Herblore training. Understanding herb grow times, disease mechanics, and yield optimization can transform your farming runs into a reliable gold-making machine. This guide dives deep into everything you need to know about OSRS herb grow times, from patch mechanics to maximizing efficiency, ensuring you get the most out of every seed planted.
Herbs in OSRS follow a predictable growth cycle, but several factors influence their success and yield. Whether you’re a main account chasing profits or an Ironman gathering Herblore supplies, knowing these mechanics is key to efficient farming.
Growth Time Basics
All herbs take approximately 80 minutes to fully grow, split into four 20-minute growth stages. This applies across all herb types, from Guam to Torstol, regardless of the patch used. Unlike trees or allotments, herbs don’t vary in growth time by type, making planning herb runs straightforward.
Growth Cycle Breakdown
Each 20-minute stage represents a “tick” where the herb progresses visually and can become diseased. The cycle looks like this:
- Stage 1 (0-20 minutes): Seed planted, initial sprout appears.
- Stage 2 (20-40 minutes): Herb grows taller, more leaves form.
- Stage 3 (40-60 minutes): Plant nears maturity, disease risk persists.
- Stage 4 (60-80 minutes): Fully grown, ready to harvest.
Herbs remain harvestable indefinitely once mature, so there’s no rush to collect them immediately unless you’re optimizing run frequency.
Factors Affecting Herb Growth and Survival
While the 80-minute growth time is consistent, survival and yield depend on disease management, compost, and equipment. Here’s how to tilt the odds in your favor.
Disease and Death Risks
Herbs have a chance to become diseased during three of their four growth stages (stages 1-3). If untreated, a diseased herb will die before reaching maturity. The base disease chance per stage is around 20.3%, leading to a roughly 50.6% chance of death without intervention.
Compost and Ultracompost Benefits
Using compost reduces disease risk and boosts yield. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Compost Type | Disease Chance Reduction | Minimum Harvest Lives |
|---|---|---|
| No Compost | 0% | 3 |
| Regular Compost | 50% | 4 |
| Supercompost | 80% | 5 |
| Ultracompost | 90% | 6 |
Ultracompost is the gold standard, dropping the death chance to just 8.3% and guaranteeing at least six herbs per surviving patch, making it a must for serious farmers.
Disease-Free Patches
Three herb patches are immune to disease, significantly boosting profits and reliability:
- Hosidius: Unlocked with 50% Hosidius favor or completion of the Easy Kourend & Kebos Diary.
- Trollheim: Available after completing My Arm’s Big Adventure.
- Weiss: Unlocked via Making Friends with My Arm.
These patches eliminate the need for constant monitoring, making them ideal for high-value herbs like Ranarr or Snapdragon.
Optimizing Herb Runs for Maximum Efficiency
Herb runs are a low-effort, high-reward activity if done right. With nine herb patches (ten with Varlamore’s Fortis Colosseum Champion rank), you can maximize both experience and profit in under five minutes per run.
Essential Gear and Inventory
To streamline your herb runs, pack the following:
- Magic Secateurs: Increases yield by 10%. Obtained from Fairytale I – Growing Pains.
- Seed Dibber: For planting seeds.
- Spade: For harvesting.
- Rake: For clearing weeds (first-time patches only).
- Ultracompost: Store at the Tool Leprechaun for convenience.
- Teleport Items: Explorer’s Ring, Xeric’s Talisman, Ectophial, Skills Necklace, etc.
Optional items include the Farming Cape (5% yield boost) and Graceful outfit for faster movement.
Herb Run Route
A well-planned route minimizes time spent traveling. Here’s an efficient order for the nine standard patches:
- Catherby: Teleport with Catherby Tablet, run northeast.
- Falador: Use Explorer’s Ring 2+, run north.
- Hosidius: Xeric’s Talisman to Xeric’s Glade, run southwest.
- Port Phasmatys: Ectophial teleport, run west.
- Farming Guild: Skills Necklace to Farming Guild.
- Trollheim: Stony Basalt teleport, climb to patch.
- Weiss: Icy Basalt teleport, run to patch.
- Ardougne: Ardougne Cloak 2+ or Skills Necklace to Fishing Guild, run south.
- Harmony Island: Harmony Island teleport tablet, run south.
Each patch takes about 30 seconds to harvest, note herbs at the Tool Leprechaun, apply Ultracompost, and replant, keeping runs under five minutes.
Choosing the Best Herbs to Plant
Not all herbs are equal in terms of profit or experience. Your choice depends on your Farming level, patch unlocks, and market prices, which fluctuate due to demand for potions like Prayer Potions or Saradomin Brews.
Profitable Herbs by Level
Here’s a breakdown of the most profitable herbs based on typical market trends and Farming requirements:
| Herb | Farming Level | Seed Price (Approx.) | Herb Price (Approx.) | Profit Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranarr | 32 | 30,000 GP | 7,000 GP | High (disease-free patches) |
| Toadflax | 38 | 2,000 GP | 2,500 GP | High (regular patches) |
| Avantoe | 50 | 1,500 GP | 2,000 GP | Moderate-High |
| Snapdragon | 62 | 40,000 GP | 8,000 GP | High (disease-free patches) |
| Torstol | 85 | 5,000 GP | 4,000 GP | High (XP-focused) |
Ranarr shines in disease-free patches due to its high herb price, while Toadflax and Avantoe are safer bets for regular patches at lower levels. Check the Grand Exchange for real-time prices before planting.
Using Boosts for Early Access
Can’t plant Ranarrs at level 29? Use a Garden Pie to boost your Farming level by 3, allowing you to plant higher-tier herbs early. This is especially useful for Ironmen or players looking to maximize profits sooner.
Tips for Long-Term Herb Farming Success
Herb farming isn’t just about planting and harvesting—it’s about building habits and leveraging game mechanics for consistent gains. Here are some final tips to keep your runs profitable and stress-free.
Timing Your Runs
Since herbs take 80 minutes to grow, you can fit multiple runs into a day. Set a timer for 75 minutes to account for travel time between patches, ensuring you’re ready when they mature. Logging out at a patch (like Trollheim) can save time on your next login.
Yield-Boosting Strategies
Maximize herbs per patch with these tricks:
- Attas Seeds: Plant in an Anima patch to increase yield by 5% across all herb patches.
- Diary Boosts: Complete Kandarin, Kourend, or Falador diaries for 5-15% extra yield on specific patches.
- Spam-Click Harvesting: Click the patch rapidly for 3 seconds to double harvesting speed.
Managing Costs
Seeds and Ultracompost aren’t free, so balance costs with profits. Buy seeds in bulk when prices dip, and consider farming Snape Grass or Watermelons for cheap Ultracompost materials. For Ironmen, stockpile volcanic ash from Fossil Island for Ultracompost creation.
Herb farming in OSRS is a perfect blend of low effort and high reward. With an 80-minute growth cycle, strategic patch use, and the right gear, you can turn a handful of seeds into millions of GP or a steady Herblore supply. Start your next herb run today, and watch your Farming level—and bank—grow!