DayZ is not typically a game associated with growing crops. Most players likely overlook this feature. However, we believe that gardening can be quite rewarding, especially for players who prefer to set up a small base and be self-sufficient. Surprisingly, the concept is quite complex, so you need to ensure that your crops grow well and are always well cared for. It’s not Stardew Valley, but gardening in DayZ can be a lot of fun!
Ideal Garden Locations in DayZ
Gardening is most beneficial when you set up fields in a permanent base. You can always return there, and there won’t be other players to steal your vegetables or ruin your fields. We’ve already written a complete guide on building your own base if you want to learn more about it (Your Ultimate Guide: Successfully Building Bases in DayZ) . It’s best to find a spot with enough space for fields, or perhaps even a greenhouse! These are especially useful if you want to grow crops.
You can set up fields anywhere with sufficient soil. Both regular fields and greenhouses provide you with nine spots to plant vegetables. If you’re playing alone, this should be more than enough. With friends, you can create more beds, ensuring everyone always has enough food.
Essential Tools and Materials for Your Garden
You can’t create fields with just your bare hands. Additionally, there are many tools in DayZ that make gardening significantly easier. Before you start, you should gather all necessary items.
Shovel/Pickaxe/Hoe: You can use all three tools to create fields in the soil or dig up the ground in a greenhouse. Simply hold the mouse button, and you’ll set up the bed. The outline will appear as a blueprint.
Garden Lime: Lime acts as a fertiliser, giving you a larger harvest. It’s worth searching for and using these bags. You can also use old plant material as fertiliser.
Water Container: Naturally, your crops need water. You can rely on rain or water them yourself. Whether it’s plastic bottles, pots, or old canisters, you can use various containers for watering.
Disinfectant Spray: There are pests in DayZ too, so you should protect your plants adequately. You’ll need appropriate repellent spray, which you can also find in the world. Spray the plant with it to prevent it from rotting and yielding no harvest.
Best Vegetables to Grow in DayZ
Of course, you also need seeds to grow your crops. In DayZ, there are five different types of vegetables you can cultivate. Seeds are scattered throughout the world, so if you want to garden, keep hold of them. We’ll later show you a trick to get unlimited seeds!
Tomato: Tomatoes have a relatively short growing time of just over half an hour, yielding around seven to fifteen tomatoes per plant. They may not be the most nutritious, but they are abundant.
Green Pepper: Peppers take three-quarters of an hour and yield three to nine pieces. They’re not the best vegetable, but not the worst either.
Pumpkin: Pumpkins require nearly an hour to grow, but you can harvest between four and ten fruits. They are the only crop whose seeds you can obtain without consuming the fruit itself. However, they take up a lot of inventory space.
Potato: Depending on the fertiliser, you can get between three and nine potatoes. Like in real life, you don’t need seeds, as you can replant the potatoes themselves. Their growth phase also lasts an hour.
Zucchini: Zucchini grows the fastest but yields only two to five vegetables per plant. However, they have good stats, making them practical for your adventures in DayZ.
Step-by-Step Guide for Gardening in DayZ
Finally, let’s look at a compact step-by-step guide on how to create, maintain, and harvest your own garden in DayZ. This gives you all the important points at a glance so you can cultivate your own fields next time.
Greenhouse or Suitable Location: Find either a greenhouse or a suitable location to create your field. Use a shovel, pickaxe, or hoe to dig up the soil. Whether it’s a bed or greenhouse, this creates nine small indentations for the future plants.
Place Seeds: Once you’ve found seeds, place them in the respective holes. You must do this individually and can mix different vegetable varieties. Whether monoculture or not, it has no effect on the bed, growth, or harvest.
Water Plants: To ensure your plants grow, you must water them. Use a container that can hold enough water. A nearby well is very convenient! Again, you must water each plant individually until small wooden stems sprout from the ground. These indicate the plant has enough water.
Fertilize and Protect: Once the first buds have sprouted, you can treat the plant with additional tools. You can use both garden lime and old plant material as fertiliser. Both have the same effect. Lime appears as white spots in the soil, and plant material as mulch around the plant. Then spray them to keep pests away.
Harvest: You can harvest the crops after a certain time. They go through several stages you can observe. However, only when your cursor shows “Gather” can you harvest the vegetables, which will then be stored in your inventory or on the ground.
Obtain Seeds: After a successful harvest, you can pull out the plant and use it as fertiliser. With a knife, you can extract seeds from the remaining vegetables and use them for further beds. This way, you can practically sustain yourself and obtain unlimited seeds!
Conclusion on Gardening in DayZ
Gardening in DayZ can be quite enjoyable, even though the game isn’t specifically designed for it. Once you have a secure base, you can set up some beds and plant a few vegetable varieties. It’s quite satisfying to watch the plants grow and care for them with fertilisers and pesticides. Rent one of our DayZ servers and cultivate fields with your friends, so you’ll never go hungry again!
