DayZ might not be the game you’d associate with growing crops. Most players probably don’t use this feature often enough, but we believe that gardening can be worthwhile and is perfect for players who prefer to set up a small base and be self-sufficient. Surprisingly, the whole concept is quite complex, so you really need to ensure your crops grow well and are always well-tended. Sure, it’s not Stardew Valley, but gardening in DayZ can be a lot of fun!
Ideal Garden Locations in DayZ
Gardening is most rewarding when you set up fields in a fixed base. You can always return there, and there won’t be other players to steal your vegetables or ruin your fields. We already have a complete guide on building your own base if you want to learn more about it (Your Ultimate Guide: Building Successful Bases in DayZ) . Ideally, find a spot with enough space for fields, maybe even a greenhouse! These are particularly useful if you want to grow crops.
You can set up fields wherever there’s enough soil. Both regular fields and greenhouses give you nine spots to plant vegetables. If you’re playing solo, that should be plenty. With friends, you can create more beds to ensure everyone is always well-fed.
Essential Tools and Materials for Your Garden
You can’t set up fields with just your bare hands. There are also many other tools in DayZ that make gardening significantly easier. Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need.
Shovel/Pickaxe/Garden Hoe: All three tools can be used to create fields in the soil or dig up soil in a greenhouse. Simply hold the mouse button to create the bed. The outline will be shown to you as a blueprint.
Garden Lime: Lime acts as a fertilizer and gives you more yield in the end. It’s worth finding and using these bags. You can also fertilize with old plant material.
Water Container: Naturally, your crops need water. You can rely on rain, but you can also water them yourself. Whether it’s plastic bottles, pots, or old canisters, you can use various containers for watering.
Disinfectant Spray: There’s also pests in DayZ, so you should protect your plants adequately. You’ll need the appropriate repellent spray, which you can also find in the world. Spray the plant with it to prevent it from rotting and not yielding any 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 plan to garden, make sure to save them. We’ll show you a trick later on how to get unlimited seeds!
Tomato: Tomatoes have a relatively short growing time of just over half an hour. They yield around seven to fifteen tomatoes per plant. While they might not be very nutritious, they make up for it in quantity.
Green Pepper: Peppers take about three-quarters of an hour and yield three to nine pieces. They’re not the best vegetable, but they’re not the worst either.
Pumpkin: You’ll need to wait almost an hour for pumpkins, but you can harvest between four and ten fruits. Additionally, they’re the only crop whose seeds you can obtain without using up the fruit itself. However, they take up a lot of space in your inventory.
Potato: With potatoes, you’ll get between three and nine pieces, depending on the fertilizer. Like in real life, you don’t need seeds for them; you can plant the potatoes themselves. Their growth phase also lasts an hour.
Zucchini: Zucchinis grow the fastest, but they only yield two to five vegetables per plant. However, they have good stats and are practical for your adventures in DayZ.
Step-by-Step Guide to Gardening in DayZ
Finally, let’s look at a compact step-by-step guide on how to set up, maintain, and harvest your own garden with a bed in DayZ. With this, you’ll have all the important points at a glance and can start tending to your fields the next time you play.
Greenhouse or Suitable Location: Find either a greenhouse or a suitable location to set up your field. Then use a shovel, pickaxe, or garden hoe to dig up the soil. Whether it’s a bed or a greenhouse, nine small indentations for the future plants will form.
Place Seeds: Once you’ve found seeds, you can place them in the respective holes. You have to do this individually, and you can mix different types of vegetables. Whether monoculture or not, it doesn’t affect the bed, growth, or harvest.
Water the Plants: To ensure your plants grow, you need to water them. Use a container that can hold enough water. A nearby well is, of course, very convenient! Again, you must water each plant individually until small wooden stakes sprout from the ground. These indicate that the plant has enough water.
Fertilize and Protect: Once the first buds have sprouted, you can treat the plant with additional aids. You can use either garden lime or old plant remains as fertilizer. Both have the same effect. You can identify lime by the white spots in the soil and plant remains by the mulch around the plant. Afterward, you should spray them to prevent pests.
Harvest: You can harvest the crops after a certain period. They go through several stages that you can observe. However, you can only harvest the vegetables when your cursor shows “Gather.” They will then either 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 fertilizer. You can use a knife to obtain seeds from the remaining vegetables and use them for more beds. This way, you practically supply yourself and can obtain unlimited seeds!
Conclusion on Gardening in DayZ
Gardening can be a lot of fun in DayZ, even though the game isn’t necessarily designed for it. Once you have a safe base, you can easily set up some beds and plant a few types of vegetables. It’s quite exciting to watch the plants grow and take care of them with fertilizers and pesticides. Rent one of our DayZ servers and set up fields with your friends to never go hungry again!
