Farming System Guide

Growing crops, managing water, and building a sustainable food supply

Farming Overview

Farming is one of Solarpunk's core systems for maintaining a stable food supply. Unlike wild gathering, farming provides a controllable, sustainable source of food and crafting materials. From your first small plot to island-spanning fields, farming evolves throughout the entire game.

Crop growth is affected by water availability, sunlight, and soil conditions. Different islands have different climates, which affects what crops grow best where. Temperate islands suit most common crops, while extreme climates may require additional preparation like greenhouses.

Crops

Crop	Growth Speed	Water Need	Notes
Carrot	Fast	Low	Good starter crop, grows quickly with minimal water
Corn	Medium	Medium	Staple food crop, good yield for sustaining daily needs
Cotton	Medium	Low	Produces cloth material for crafting and clothing
Tomato	Fast	Medium	Versatile food crop, can be eaten raw or used in cooking

Solarpunk features additional crops beyond those listed here. Experiment with different island climates for best results.

Irrigation

Early game: Water crops manually using a Water Can filled from a Well or Rain Collector. This works well for small farms of a few plots.

Mid game: Unlock Sprinklers through research. Place them near crop fields and they automatically pump water from the ground to water surrounding plots. Wireless Sprinklers become available with advanced research, removing the need for cable connections.

Sprinklers require power from your energy grid. Make sure your solar panels and batteries can handle the additional load before expanding your automated irrigation system.

Farming Tips

How do I start farming?

Craft farmland plots using basic materials. Plant seeds (carrot and corn are good starters). Water them daily with a Water Can filled from a nearby water source. Harvest when ready. Start small — 4-6 plots is manageable for a new farmer.

How do I automate watering?

Research and craft Sprinklers. Place them near your farmland and connect to your power grid. Each Sprinkler waters a radius of adjacent plots automatically. Upgrade to Wireless Sprinklers later to eliminate cable management.