Farming (Rune Factory 4)

Farming is an important part of Rune Factory 4's gameplay. Through the use of tools, players are able to grow crops and flowers, harvest seeds, and, occasionally, find runes. Crops grown on your field can be shipped in exchange for money, used as ingredients for cooking, given to neighbors as presents, or used in synthesis. Farming can also raises players skills, such as farming, earth, and water.

Players are first introduced to farming on Day 2, when Vishnal explains the basics of farming. He gives players a cheap hoe, a cheap waterpot, and a turnip seed. After completing the farming tutorial, Vishnal will give players nine more turnip seeds.

Field

When players first receive their field, it is covered in weeds, branches, stumps, rocks, and boulders due to a typhoon. These materials can be cleared by hand or through the use tools. There are four main tools players require in order to farm effectively: the hoe, the waterpot, the magnifying glass, and the sickle.

Field Quality

The quality field received at the start of the game is Level 1. Details of the soil in the field can be checked with a magnifying glass. The table below summarizes the meaning of each item and the action required to change each value. The higher the quality of each item, the better, but it is difficult to increase every aspect on average.

Field Information Seen with a Magnifying Glass

Attribute	Max LV	Meaning	How to Change
General Level of Soil	16	Standard value of soil health and disaster resistance. Influences the seed appearance rate at harvest and when using the sickle.	Increase by harvesting crops
Speed Level	16	A base value that affects the growth rate of a crop. The higher the value, the faster the crop will grow.	Increase by harvesting crops
Quality Level	16	A base value that affects crop levels. The higher the value, the higher the crop level.	Increase by harvesting crops
Number Level	16	A base value that affects the number of crops harvested. The higher the value, the higher the crop yield.	Increase by harvesting crops
Large Level	16	A base value that affects crop size. Higher values make it easier to harvest larger crops.	Increase by harvesting crops
Growth Rate	5.00	Multiplier for Speed. Shows the growth rate of the crops. Initially, it is 1.0, but the growth rate can be increased up to 5.0.	Increases by using Formula A, Forumla B, Formula C. Decreases when crops are harvested. Normalizes to 1.00.
Quality +	2.00	Level growth value per day	Increases by using Greenifier and Greenifier +. Decreases when crops are harvested. Normalizes to 0.
Number +	2.00	Harvest number growth value per day	Increases in proportion to Number LV
Large +	2.00	Size growth value per day	Increases by using Giantizer, decreases by using Minimizer. Decreases when crops are harvested. Normalizes to 0.
Health	255	Soil health. The lower the value, the slower the recovery of each value to the base value. In addition, if the number is 0, the effects of Quality +, Number +, and Large + will not be obtained and plants will wither, die, and take penalties.	Increases by growing withered grass, corn, and four-leaf clover and harvesting them with the sickle. Increases by harvesting crops with the sickle . Decrease with the use of nutrients and fertilizers. Normalizes to respective Soil LV.
Diasaster Tolerance	63	Resistance to typhoons and snowstorms. The higher the number, the less likely it is the field will turn into rocks or stumps due to typhoons or snowstorms.	Increases by using Wettable Powder. Decreases by 8 points each time a plot is impacted by typhoons or snowstorms. Normalises to respective Soil LV.

Soil Quality

As growing crops raises the soil quality, crops with a short growth time, such as turnips and spinach, can be grown repeatedly in order to raise the General Soil Level, Speed Level, Quality Level, etc. Nutrients, such as formulas and gigantizers, greatly reduces the health of the soil. This can be counteracted by tilling the soil with corn, clover, and withered grass, allowing players to siginificantly restore the soil's health. Withered grass, for example, which is readily available in the field, can be sowed into the soil, which will increase soil health by about +50 per piece.

Growth Rate

Formulas can be used to speed up crop growth. These can be made through synthesis or purchased at the Florist. When Formula A is used on arable land where the growth rate is 1.0, the growth rate will increase to around 1.5. When Formula B is used, it will increase to around 2.0. When Formula C is used, it will increase to around 3.0. Formula supplements effect can be stacked, so by using Formula A twice, the growth rate will increase to 2.0. When using Formula B twice, it will increase to 4.0. When using Formula C twice, it will increase to the maximum growth rate of 5.0.

When growing slow-growing crops, formulas can be used to speed up their growth. For example, golden crops can be grown in 1/5 of the time if the soil growth rate has been increased to 5.0.

Crop Quality

The use of Greenifiers increases the soils Quality +. Harvesting crops grown on the soil and repeating the process of obtaining and growing high-level seeds will eventually lead to the production of LV 10 crops. Additionally, the level of crops harvested raises the longer the player waits to harvest a harvestable crop. For example, players unable to raise a crop to LV 10 through harvesting can try harvesting crops after a few days. It is also possible to save before harvesting crops with a sickle to ensure that that the product it is a higher level.

Continuously Harvastable Crops

Some crops, such as pumpkins and cucumbers, can be harvested repeatedly. This has many benefits, such as synthesizing large quantities of food made from that crop or shipping them to make money. However, when the HP of the crop is low or the soil health is 0, harvesting cannot be repeated. When growing a crop that can be harvested repeatedly, the soil is damaged more quickly than it is when growing single-harvest crops. The soil damage caused by vine plants may be counteracted through the frequent use of nutrients, which raises crop HP, and the use withered grass, which increases soil health.

Growing Large Crops

Large crops can be sold at a higher price than regular crops and may be needed to fulfill a request. Crops which are given the nutrients Gigantizer look bigger than normal crops. However, harvesting at this stage will be treated the same as harvesting a normal crop. In order to harvest large crops, there is a three-step process that makes a crop grow to occupy four-squares of soil and receive the 'large' descriptor.

1. Fertilize with Gigantizer

• Sow four seeds of the crop or flower in a 2x2 plot of soil and give them Gigantizer.

2. Grow the Crops

• When the soil quality is above a certain level, crops will appear to grow larger. However, harvesting at this stage will be treated the same as harvesting a normal crop.

3. Wait

• After severl days without harvesting the growing crop, it grows even larger. When harvested at this stage, it becomes a large crop with a different size and name.

Attribute Gain per General Level of Soil Gain

LV	SPD	GR	Q	#	LG	Q+	#+	LG+	HP	DT
1	1.00	1.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	64	0
2	1.06	1.06	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02	0.02	80	2
3	1.12	1.12	0.03	0.03	0.03	0.03	0.03	0.03	96	4
4	1.24	1.24	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	0.05	112	6
5	1.36	1.36	0.06	0.06	0.06	0.06	0.06	0.06	128	8
6	1.48	1.48	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.08	144	10
7	1.60	1.60	0.09	0.09	0.09	0.09	0.09	0.09	160	12
8	1.72	1.72	0.11	0.11	0.11	0.11	0.11	0.11	176	14
9	1.84	1.84	0.12	0.12	0.12	0.12	0.12	0.12	182	16
10	2.00	2.00	0.16	0.16	0.16	0.16	0.16	0.16	190	18
11	2.10	2.10	0.19	0.19	0.19	0.19	0.19	0.19	192	20
12	2.20	2.20	0.22	0.22	0.22	0.22	0.22	0.22	200	24
13	2.30	2.30	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25	208	28
14	2.40	2.40	0.31	0.31	0.31	0.31	0.31	0.31	224	30
15	3.00	3.00	0.50	0.50	0.50	0.50	0.50	0.50	240	40
16	3.90	3.90	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	255	50

Growing Crops

Most crops have a season that is suitable for growing and a season that is not. Seasonal adequacy is displayed at the bottom right of the screen when hovering over the species. Growing it in the wrong season will slow its growth and makes it hard to grow. Additionally, it is unlikely to become a big crop outside of its suitable season. An exception to this rule is the field outside of town, whose season does not change.

Crops & Soil Impact

☆=best - ◎=good - ○=neutral - △=not good

	Item Name	JP Name	LG Name	SP	SU	FA	WI	Cont	Seed Cost	Days	QUA	Sell	Soil	SP	Q	#	LG	HP	Success	Other
	Cabbage	キャベツ	King	◎	○	◎	○	X	980G	8	3	680G	◎	-	◎	-	-	-3	-0.025
	Pink Turnip	サクラ力ブ	Colassal	◎	○	○	△	X	160G	11	4	200G	◎	-	○	-	○	-2	-0.025
	Pink Melon	オトメロン	Conqueror	◎	◎	○	△	O	2,120G	7 (3)	2	850G	◎	○	○	-	◎	-4	-0.05
	Onion	タマネギ	Ultra	○	○	◎	○	X	1,480G	18	5	800G	☆	-	◎	△	◎	-1	0
	Pumpkin	カボチャ	Doom	◎	◎	○	△	O	200G	7 (3)	3	110G	◎	-	△	-	○
	Cucumber	キュウリの種	Kaiser	◎	◎	○	△	O	320G	5 (2)	5	68G		-	△	○	-	-3
	Corn	トウモロコシ	Gigantic	◎	◎	○	△	O	450G	14 (3)	1	1,000G	△	-	△	○	-	0		Using the hoe on harvestable corn will increase field HP by 170-180. Reaping with a sickle will increase field HP by 70-80.
	Tomato	トマト	Titan	◎	◎	○	△	O	1,880G	10 (4)	3	540G	○	◎	○	◎	-	-5	-0.075
	Eggplant	ナス	Emperor	◎	◎	○	△	O	720G	9 (5)	4	190G	△	-	△	◎	-	-4	-0.025
	Yam	サツマイモ	Lordly	○	◎	◎	△	O	250G	6 (3)	5	140G	○	-	-	◎	-	-1
	Potato	ジャガイモの種	Prince	○	○	◎	△	X	80G	7	3	90G		-	△	○	-	-2
	Carrot	ニンジン	Royal	○	○	◎	○	X	400G	10	3	380G		-	○	-	○	-1
	Green Pepper	ピーマン	Rex	○	◎	○	△	O	800G	9 (4)	5	150G		-	△	◎	○	-2
	Spinach	ホウレン草	Sovereign	○	○	◎	○	X	60G	5	2	65G	-	○	△	-	-	-3		Can harvest in one day at a growth rate of 1.34 or more in Fall.
	Turnip	カブの種	Tyrant	○	◎	◎	△	X	10G	4	2	30G	◎	-	△	-	-	-1
	Radish	大根	Noble	○	△	◎	○	X	120G	5	1	360G	○	-	○	-	-	-1
	Leek	ネギ	Legendary	◎	△	◎	○	X	680G	9	1	1,600G	☆	-	○	-	-
	Bok Choy	白菜	Boss	○	△	◎	○	X	1,000G	5	4	420G	◎	◎	△	-	-	-3	-0.025
	Hot-Hot Fruit	ほかほかの実	Giant	○	△	○	◎	X	1,200G	31	5	900G	☆	-	△	☆	-	-3	-0.025
	Golden Cabbage	金のキャベツ	King	○	△	○	◎	X	4,500G	70	3	11,500G	☆	☆	☆	☆	☆	-6	-0.1
	Golden Pumpkin	金のカボチャ	Doom	○	△	○	◎	O	5,000G	70 (23)	3	4,000G	☆	☆	☆	☆	☆	-6	0
	Golden Potato	金のジャガイモ	Prince	○	△	○	◎	X	4,000G	50	3	6,000G	☆	◎	◎	☆	◎	-6	0
	Golden Turnip	金のカブ	Tyrant	○	△	○	◎	X	10,000G	120	3
Fruit
	Strawberry	イチゴの種	Sultan	◎	○	◎	○	O	400G	16 (4)	6	135G	○	○	○	○	○	-3
	Pineapple	パイナップル	King	△	◎	△	△	O	2,800G	28 (6)	3	1,600G	○	-	◎	-	☆	-8	-0.025
	Grapes	ブドウ	-	○	○	○	△	O	6,000G	50	1-6	120G	☆	○	○	○	○	0	-0.075
	Apple	リンゴ	-	○	○	○	△	O	7,000G	62	1-6	150G	☆	◎	◎	◎	◎	0	-0.1
	Orange	オレンジ	-	○	○	○	△	O	5,000G	22	1-6	80G	◎	○	○	○	○	0	-0.05
Plants and Flowers
	Toyherb	トイハーブ	Ultra	◎	○	○	△	X	60G	4	2	65G	○	-	○	-	-	-1	-0.025
	Moondrop Flower	ムーンドロップ草	Ultra	◎	○	◎	△	X	250G	7	4	115G	○	○	△	-	-	-1
	Pink Cat	ピンクキャット草	King	○	◎	○	△	X	180G	6	3	110G	○	-	△	-	○	-2
	Charm Blue	チャームブルー	Great	○	○	◎	△	X	370G	8	3	220G	○	-	△	◎	-	-3
	Cherry Grass	サクラ草	King	◎	○	○	△	X	420G	10	4	230G	☆	-	△	-	☆	-1	-0.025
	Lamp Grass	ランプ草	Kaiser	○	○	○	◎	X	740G	16	3	650G	☆	◎	△	-	◎	-1
	Blue Crystal	青水晶	Big	◎	△	△	△	X	30,000G	55	3	15,000G	☆	◎	◎	◎	☆	-7	-0.1
	Emery Flower	金剛花	Great	○	○	○	○	X	50,000G	120	2	55,000G
	Ironleaf	鉄千輪	Super	○	△	○	◎	X	600G	21	2	1,111G	☆	-	△	◎	◎	-6	-0.1
	4-Leaf Clover	四つ葉のクローバー	Great	◎	△	◎	○	X	960G	28	23	980G	◎	◎	◎	-	-	0	0	Using the hoe on harvestable corn will increase field HP by 170-180. Reaping with a sickle will increase field HP by 70-80.
	Fireflower	野之花火	Big	○	◎	○	△	X	5,000G	42	4	2,800G	◎	☆	◎	-	-	-3	-0.025
	Green Crystal	緑水晶	Big	△	◎	△	△	X	30,000G	70	3	17,000G	☆	◎	◎	☆	◎	-7	-0.1
	Noel Grass	ツリー草	Large	○	△	○	◎	X	2,700G	33	4	2,000G	☆	-	☆	-	-	-4	-0.025
	Autumn Grass	花紅葉	Big	○	○	◎	△	X	2,500G	29	3	1,800G	☆	-	△	△	☆	-2	-0.025
	Pom-Pom Grass	タンポイズン	King	○	○	◎	△	X	5100G	14	3	440G	◎	-	△	☆	-	-3
	Red Crystal	赤水晶	Big	△	△	◎	△	X	30,000G	80	3	20,000G	☆	◎	☆	◎	◎	-7	-0.1
	White Crystal	白水晶	Big	△	△	△	◎	X	30,000G	90	3	22,000G	☆	☆	◎	◎	◎	-7	-0.1
Special Plants
	Shining Tree	キラメ木		○	○	○	△	X	3,000G	38	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	If you hit it with an axe, you have a 5% chance of shattering it. Request added in the "cut down the Shining Tree".
	Dungeon Seeds	ダンジョンの種		○	○	○	○	X	5,000G	18	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Added in request "clearing the field dungeon". If you hit it with a hammer, you get a stone.
	Sword Seeds	剣の種		○	○	○	○	X	1,500G	12	1	1,000G	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Shield Seeds	盾の種		○	○	○	○	X	1,500G	12	1	1,000G	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Seeds

In order to grow crops, players need to either purchase or harvest seeds. Seeds can be purchased at either the General Store or the Florist, as well as be obtained from requests. In order to grow higher-level crops, players must harvest seeds from high-level crops. This can be done by harvesting crops with the sickle, instead of by hand.

Sincerity General Store

	Name	Cost	Seed Reaping Seasons				Unlock Requirements
			Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
	Turnip Seeds	10 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Available at the start
	Potato Seeds	80 G	✓	✓	-	-	Completing the request "Try Shipping!"
	Cucumber Seeds	320 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Ship a Lv 5 Veggie"
	Strawberry Seeds	400 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest 6 Vegetables"
	Cabbage Seeds	980 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest 12 Veggies!"
	Tomato Seeds	1880 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvesting bok choy, cabbage, and onions"
	Corn Seeds	450 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest 6 Vegetables"
	Onion Seeds	1480 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest 12 Veggies!"
	Pumpkin Seeds	200 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Ship a Lv 5 Veggie"
	Pineapple Seeds	2800 G	-	✓	-	-	Completing the request "Harvest a Large Veggie"
	Eggplant Seeds	720 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Ship a Lv 10 Veggie"
	Carrot Seeds	400 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest 6 Vegetables"
	Yam Seeds	250 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest 5 Radishes!"
	Spinach Seeds	60 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request "Let's Ship!"
	Green Pepper Seeds	800 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Till Corn with a Hoe"
	Fodder Seeds	30 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Build a Monster Hut
	Pink Turnip Seeds	160 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest 20 Turnips!"
	Radish Seeds	120 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest Potato!"
	Leek Seeds	680 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Give Dylas a Carrot"
	Bok Choy Seeds	1000 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest 12 Veggies!"
	Gold Cabbage Seeds	5000 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Raise Shipment Rate!"
	Gold Pumpkin Seeds	4500 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Gift for Margaret!"
	Gold Potato Seeds	4000 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest All Veggies!"
	Gold Turnip Seeds	10000 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Gift for Arthur!"
	Gold Melon Seeds	2120 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest bok choy, cabbage, and onions"
	Hot-Hot Seeds	1200 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Ship a Lv 10 Veggie"
	Apple Tree Seed	7000 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest 50 Apples!"
	Orange Tree Seed	5000 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest 20 Oranges!"
	Grape Tree Seed	6000 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest 50 Grapes!"
	Shining Seed	3000 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Cut a Shining Tree!"
	Dungeon Seed	5000 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request “Field Dungeons!”
	Sword Seed	1500 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest Sword Flower!"
	Shield Seed	1500 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest Shield Flower!"

Carnation's Flowers

	Name	Cost	Seed Reaping Seasons				Unlock Requirements
			Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
	Moondrop Seeds	250 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest Toyherb"
	Toyherb Seeds	60 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Available at the start
	Pink Cat Seeds	180 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest Toyherb"
	Charm Blue Seeds	370 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest more than 3 kinds of flowers"
	Cherry Grass Seeds	420 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest nine Charm Blues"
	Lamp Grass Seeds	740 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest cherry grass"
	Blue Crystal Seeds	30000 G	✓	-	-	-	Completing the request "Harvest blue crystal"
	Emery Flower Seeds	50000 G	✓	✓	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest all flowers except Emery Flower"
	Ironleaf Seeds	600 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Plow four-leaf clovers with hoe"
	Clover Seeds	960 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest more than five kinds of flowers"
	Fireflower Seeds	5000 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest a large flower!"
	Green Crystal Seeds	30000 G	-	✓	-	-	Completing the request "Harvest green crystal"
	Noel Grass Seeds	2700 G	✓	-	✓	✓	Completing the request "Harvest Autumn Grass!"
	Autumn Grass Seeds	2500 G	-	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Defeat the enemy with Tetsuwan (attack?)"
	Pom-Pom Grass Sds.	510 G	✓	✓	✓	-	Completing the request "Present Toyherb to Amber"
	Red Crystal Seeds	30000 G	-	-	✓	-	Completing the request "Harvest red crystals"
	White Crystal Seeds	30000 G	-	-	-	✓	Completing the request "Harvest white crystals"