Unleash the Green Thumb: How to Maximize Crop Growth in Ark: Survival Evolved
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So, you’re trying to become a master farmer in Ark: Survival Evolved? You’re tired of waiting eons for your crops to mature, and you dream of a thriving garden that provides you with a constant stream of essential resources? Fear not, fellow survivor! Speeding up plant growth in Ark is a multi-faceted endeavor, but with the right strategies, you can significantly reduce those waiting times and reap the rewards of your agricultural efforts.
The core of faster crop growth in Ark revolves around three key pillars: optimizing your greenhouse environment, providing adequate nutrition, and utilizing specific in-game mechanics. Let’s dive deep into each of these areas.
Optimizing Your Greenhouse Environment: The 300% Sweet Spot
The greenhouse effect is a crucial factor in accelerating crop growth. Enclosing your crop plots with greenhouse structures (glass or stone) increases the greenhouse effect percentage.
- Construction: A simple 3×3 structure with walls one-tile high is often sufficient to reach the maximum 300% greenhouse effect. Experiment with different layouts to see what works best for your location.
- Maximum Benefit: Reaching 300% greenhouse effect accelerates crop growth by a factor of four (4x). This is a significant boost and should be your primary goal when setting up your farm. This also extends to fertilizer use.
- Location Matters: While technically, indoor structures are not considered blocked from the sun by the game itself, natural lighting and building locations do affect grow times. If your farm is located under a dense forest canopy, you’ll see less growth than you would out in the plains.
Nutrition is Key: Fertilizers and Soil Quality
Just like real-world plants, Ark crops need proper nutrients to thrive. Fertilizer is the primary way to provide these essential nutrients.
- Fertilizer Types: There are various methods for producing fertilizer, including using feces, thatch, and other resources in a compost bin or dung beetle. Higher-quality fertilizer (e.g., from larger feces) will last longer and potentially provide a slight boost to growth.
- Nutrient Balance: While the game doesn’t explicitly display Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium levels, it simulates the concept. Fertilizer effectively increases these nutrient quantities in the soil, promoting faster growth and healthier plants.
- Water is Essential: Don’t forget the irrigation! Crops need a constant water supply to grow. Connect your crop plots to a water source using pipes and intakes.
Mastering In-Game Mechanics: Tek Crop Plots and Beyond
Beyond the basics, several advanced mechanics can further optimize your crop production.
- Tek Crop Plots: These high-tech plots provide their own light source, allowing you to grow crops in caves or other areas without natural sunlight. They’re a significant investment but offer unparalleled flexibility. These plots also offer slightly quicker growth.
- Plant Species X & Z: While not directly impacting the growth of traditional crops, these plants offer unique defensive and offensive capabilities for your farm. Plant Species Z Fruits act like flashbangs that temporarily disorient enemies and dinos.
- Game Settings: If you’re playing on a single-player or privately hosted server, you can adjust the “Crop Growth Speed” setting in the server configuration. This allows you to directly control how quickly your crops mature.
- /gamerule randomTickSpeed: While the documentation here came from a Minecraft article, Ark does utilize this general coding mechanic. Be careful with this though, as it can drastically effect the other areas of your gameplay.
Choosing the Right Crops: Prioritize Efficiency
Finally, consider the specific crops you’re growing. Some crops are more valuable than others, and optimizing your farm for efficiency is crucial.
- Essential Crops: Citronal, Savoroot, Rockarrot, and Longrass are essential for crafting various recipes and taming creatures. Focus on growing these crops first.
- Berry Production: While berries are easier to acquire in the wild, establishing a berry farm can provide a consistent source of food and dye.
By implementing these strategies, you can transform your Ark farm from a slow-growing patch of dirt into a thriving agricultural powerhouse. Happy farming!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What’s the fastest way to get fertilizer in Ark?
The fastest way to get fertilizer is typically by using Dung Beetles. Place feces in their inventory, and they will passively produce fertilizer over time. Larger feces produce more fertilizer.
2. Do crops grow faster in a greenhouse at night?
Yes, crops grow faster in a greenhouse, regardless of the time of day. The greenhouse effect provides a constant bonus to growth, regardless of sunlight availability.
3. Can I grow crops underwater in Ark?
No, you cannot grow crops directly underwater in standard crop plots. You’ll need to use a Tek Crop Plot, which provides its own light and allows for growth in otherwise unsuitable environments, including caves.
4. Does rain affect crop growth in Ark?
Yes, rain will fill your crop plots with water, meaning they’ll require less maintenance for this important resource.
5. How long does it take for crops to grow in Ark?
Without any buffs, most crops take around 12 hours. With a 300% greenhouse, the grow time is reduced to 3 hours.
6. What happens if I don’t water my crops in Ark?
If your crops run out of water, they will stop growing. They may eventually wither and die if left unattended for too long.
7. Can I use multiple types of fertilizer at the same time?
No, you can only use one type of fertilizer in a crop plot at a time. There’s no stacking benefit from using different fertilizers simultaneously.
8. Do crop plots need sunlight in Ark?
Technically, the game flags only the depths of caves as locations lacking sunlight. So, while the game “thinks” crops do need sunlight, as long as they aren’t inside a cave, then grow times shouldn’t be negatively impacted.
9. What are the best crops to sell in Ark?
The best crops to sell depends on the current market prices on your server. However, rare crops like Plant Species X seeds or vegetables used in popular recipes are generally in high demand.
10. How do I automate crop harvesting in Ark?
You can use dedicated storage boxes near your crop plots to automatically collect harvested crops. Set the storage boxes to “collect all” for the specific crop types.
11. Can I grow crops in a cave without a Tek Crop Plot?
No, you cannot grow crops in a cave without a Tek Crop Plot. Traditional crop plots require sunlight.
12. What affects crop yield in Ark?
Crop yield is primarily affected by the greenhouse effect and the quality of the fertilizer used. Higher greenhouse percentages and better fertilizer can result in more crops harvested per cycle.
13. Do I need to stay near my crops for them to grow?
No, crops will continue to grow even when you are not nearby. The growth process is independent of your presence.
14. Can I replant crops in Ark?
No, crops in Ark are automatically replanted after harvest. You only need to ensure they have water and fertilizer to continue producing.
15. How do I protect my crops from being stolen or destroyed?
Enclose your farm with strong walls and defensive structures like turrets or Plant Species X. You can also consider using a personal shield generator to create an impenetrable barrier.
This article is brought to you by a gamer who loves both the challenge and learning opportunities presented by games like Ark: Survival Evolved. Explore more about how games can be used in educational settings on the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org.