Barley Sheaf
Barley
- Sow
- Aug, Sep, Oct
- Best
- Sep
- Min water
- 30
- Phase
- 432h (18d)
- Yield
- 2–4
A detailed Build 42 agriculture guide covering seasons, planting windows, crop health, compost, fertilizer, overwatering, plant disease, growth stages, XP, and rooftop farming.
Watch this for the detailed Build 42 agriculture changes, then use the guide below for quick farming setup, crop care, diseases, XP, and common mistakes.
Watch on YouTubeFarming is now more seasonal and maintenance-heavy. You need to think about planting windows, water, sunlight, crop health, fertilizer, compost, disease, and harvest timing.
In Build 42, farming is tied to the Agriculture skill. It is more involved than simply planting seeds and waiting.
Crops have better and worse planting windows. Use crop tooltips and avoid planting everything whenever you find seeds.
Your farm needs reliable water from rain collectors, wells, lakes, rivers, or stored water containers.
Healthy crops need spacing, water checks, disease checks, compost or fertilizer, and protection from zombies.
You can start small, but do not plant a large garden until you have a safe place, water access, and enough time to maintain the crops.
You need seed packets or seeds from harvesting seed-bearing crops. Seeds can be found in sheds, farms, supermarkets, plant shops, and through foraging.
Use a shovel, trowel, hoe, rake, garden tool, or similar digging tool to make furrows. Digging with your hands can injure you.
A watering can is ideal, but other containers can help early. Larger water setups make farming far less annoying.
Crops can be trampled by zombies. Build somewhere protected, fenced, walled, or raised on a rooftop if needed.
Compare all 55 configured crops and herbs. These values come directly from version 42.20.4 rather than a shortened recommended-crops list.
| Crop | Sow months | Best months | Min water | Phase time | Base yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barley SheafBarley | Aug, Sep, Oct | Sep | 30 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Cold hardyScythe |
BasilBasil | Mar, Apr, May | Mar | 80 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
Bell PepperBellPepper | Apr, May, Jun | May | 70 | 292h (12.2d) | 2–4 | Standard |
Black SageBlackSage | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Apr, May | 60 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
PlantainBroadleafPlantain | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Apr | 60 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
BroccoliBroccoli | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul | Mar, Jun | 70 | 292h (12.2d) | 2–4 | Standard |
CabbageCabbages | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul | Mar, May | 80 | 292h (12.2d) | 2–4 | Cold hardy |
CarrotsCarrots | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul | Feb, Jun | 30 | 432h (18d) | 3–6 | Standard |
CauliflowerCauliflower | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 70 | 292h (12.2d) | 2–4 | Standard |
ChamomileChamomile | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 80 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
ChivesChives | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Apr | 60 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
CilantroCilantro | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 70 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
ComfreyComfrey | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Mar, Apr | 60 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
Common MallowCommonMallow | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Mar, Apr | 60 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
CornCorn | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 30 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Standard |
CucumberCucumber | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 70 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Standard |
FlaxFlax | Aug, Sep, Oct | Sep | 30 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Cold hardyScythe |
GarlicGarlic | Jul, Aug, Sep | Aug | 30 | 1152h (48d) | 2–4 | Cold hardy |
Green PeasGreenpeas | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 70 | 292h (12.2d) | 2–4 | Standard |
HabaneroHabanero | Apr, May, Jun | May | 70 | 487h (20.3d) | 2–4 | Standard |
HempHemp | Aug, Sep, Oct | Sep | 30 | 960h (40d) | 2–4 | Standard |
HopsHops | Aug, Sep, Oct | Sep | 30 | 960h (40d) | 3–4 | Standard |
JalapenoJalapeno | Apr, May, Jun | May | 70 | 487h (20.3d) | 2–4 | Standard |
KaleKale | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Mar, Jul | 70 | 292h (12.2d) | 2–4 | Cold hardy |
LavenderLavender | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 80 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
LeekLeek | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Any | 70 | 1203h (50.1d) | 2–4 | Cold hardy |
LemongrassLemonGrass | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Any | 70 | 484h (20.2d) | 2–4 | Standard |
LettuceLettuce | Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Sep | Mar, Jul | 70 | 292h (12.2d) | 2–4 | Standard |
MarigoldMarigold | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 80 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
MintMint | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 70 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
OnionOnion | Feb, Mar | Feb | 30 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Standard |
OreganoOregano | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 60 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
ParsleyParsley | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 70 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
PoppiesPoppies | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 80 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
PotatoPotatoes | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 60 | 432h (18d) | 3–4 | Standard |
PumpkinPumpkin | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 70 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Standard |
RadishRadishes | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Mar, Jul | 40 | 144h (6d) | 4–9 | Standard |
RosemaryRosemary | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Any | 30 | 1444h (60.2d) | 2–4 | Standard |
RosesRoses | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 80 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
Rye SheafRye | Aug, Sep, Oct | Sep | 30 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Cold hardyScythe |
SageSage | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 30 | 721h (30.0d) | 4–6 | Standard |
SoybeansSoybeans | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 60 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Standard |
SpinachSpinach | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul | Mar, Jun | 70 | 292h (12.2d) | 2–4 | Standard |
StrawberriesStrawberryplant | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 80 | 360h (15d) | 4–6 | Standard |
Sugar BeetSugarBeets | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul | Mar, Jun | 40 | 292h (12.2d) | 4–9 | Standard |
Sunflower HeadSunflower | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 30 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Standard |
Sweet PotatoSweetPotato | May, Jun, Jul | Jun | 60 | 432h (18d) | 3–4 | Standard |
ThymeThyme | Feb, Mar, Apr | Mar | 30 | 484h (20.2d) | 4–6 | Standard |
TobaccoTobacco | Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul | Mar | 70 | 866h (36.1d) | 2–4 | Standard |
TomatoTomato | Apr, May, Jun | May | 70 | 360h (15d) | 4–5 | Standard |
TurnipTurnip | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | Jun, Sep | 60 | 292h (12.2d) | 3–4 | Standard |
WatermelonWatermelon | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 70 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Standard |
Wheat SheafWheat | Aug, Sep, Oct | Sep | 30 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Cold hardyScythe |
Wild GarlicWildGarlic | Jul, Aug, Sep | Aug | 30 | 1152h (48d) | 2–4 | Cold hardy |
ZucchiniZucchini | Mar, Apr, May | Apr | 70 | 432h (18d) | 2–4 | Standard |
Barley
Basil
BellPepper
BlackSage
BroadleafPlantain
Broccoli
Cabbages
Carrots
Cauliflower
Chamomile
Chives
Cilantro
Comfrey
CommonMallow
Corn
Cucumber
Flax
Garlic
Greenpeas
Habanero
Hemp
Hops
Jalapeno
Kale
Lavender
Leek
LemonGrass
Lettuce
Marigold
Mint
Onion
Oregano
Parsley
Poppies
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Radishes
Rosemary
Roses
Rye
Sage
Soybeans
Spinach
Strawberryplant
SugarBeets
Sunflower
SweetPotato
Thyme
Tobacco
Tomato
Turnip
Watermelon
Wheat
WildGarlic
Zucchini
The best farm is the one you can safely maintain. Location matters just as much as crop choice.
Good for early bases if the yard is safe, close to water, and protected from wandering zombies.
Best for long-term survival because you usually have space, dirt, water options, barns, and fewer city threats.
Useful in dangerous towns. Move dirt with a shovel and sack, then build protected crops above ground level.
Good for controlling water and protecting sensitive plants, especially crops that can suffer from overwatering.
Water planning decides how large your farm can realistically be. Small gardens can survive on manual watering, but larger farms need reliable water infrastructure.
Great for bases without wells or nearby water. Build them before your farm grows too large.
Natural water access makes large farms easier because you are not constantly hauling water.
The watering can is one of the best early farming tools because it makes crop watering faster and cleaner.
Build 42 makes water management more important. Some crops can lose health or die if overwatered.
Crop layout matters. Spacing plants apart helps limit disease spread, and planting in the right season improves your odds of a good harvest.
Both can help crops grow faster, but they should not be used carelessly. Compost is safer for repeated use, while fertilizer can punish repeated applications.
Crops move through growth stages before harvest. If you want future seeds, wait for the seed-bearing stage instead of harvesting the moment food is available.
The crop has just started. Keep it watered and avoid overusing fertilizer.
The crop is growing but still needs regular water and health checks.
The plant is close to harvest. Watch for disease and water problems before losing yield.
You can harvest for food here, especially if you need supplies quickly.
Harvesting at this stage can provide seeds for future planting, making your farm more sustainable.
Disease can reduce growth, drain water, lower yield, or spread to nearby crops. Higher Agriculture levels make diagnosis much easier.
Can slow growth, stop growth, or damage crops if untreated. It uses a specific spray-style cure.
Can make plants lose more water and become harder to maintain over time. It also uses a specific cure.
Reduces harvest yield and is handled differently from normal spray cures. Water-level management matters here.
Diseases can spread to nearby plants, so spacing crops apart is one of the simplest prevention steps.
Agriculture is slow because the main XP source is harvesting crops you planted yourself. Read books first and treat every harvest like an XP payout.
You get limited information, so crop problems are harder to diagnose. Keep crops spaced and watered carefully.
Starts revealing better crop information like growth phase and clearer health details.
Water information becomes more useful, and disease names become easier to identify.
This is the major farming milestone because you can better identify disease and apply the correct response.
Gives more precise timing information, including hours left in the current growing phase.
Farming builds are most useful when you plan to support a group, play long-term, or focus your base around food production.
Best for players who want an agriculture-focused start, higher farming skill, and easier access to plant disease knowledge.
Useful if you want extra farming skill and cure knowledge without fully committing your occupation to farming.
You do not need a farming build to survive. Farming is powerful long-term, but you can learn it naturally with books and harvests.
A dedicated farmer can be more valuable in multiplayer because one player can handle crops while others loot, build, and fight.
You can move soil with sacks and create farms on rooftops, balconies, or protected base areas. This is especially useful in dense towns.
Use a shovel and empty sacks to collect dirt, then place it on rooftops, balconies, or protected base areas.
Roof farms are useful because zombies cannot casually walk through and trample the crops.
Roof farms still need water. Build rain collectors nearby or prepare a clean watering routine.
Even on rooftops, leave room between crops so disease does not spread too easily.
Farming FAQ
In Build 42, farming is tied to the Agriculture skill and is affected by seasons, planting windows, water, sunlight, compost, fertilizer, crop health, growth stages, and disease management.
You need seeds, a digging tool, water access, a container for watering, and a safe place to plant. Useful extras include compost, fertilizer, rain collectors, sacks, gardening spray cans, and walls or fences to protect crops.
Good beginner crops are usually the ones you have seeds for and can plant in the correct season. Cabbage, potatoes, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, strawberries, and broccoli are common crop options, but Build 42 planting windows matter more than before.
Keep crops spaced apart, check plant health, avoid poor water management, and use the correct cure when you know the disease. Mildew, flies, and Devil's Water Fungi affect plants differently, so higher Agriculture levels help because they reveal more information.
Agriculture XP mainly comes from harvesting crops you planted yourself. Reading skill books first, watching early farming TV content, and maintaining healthy crops can make leveling much smoother.
Farming connects directly to fishing, food, animals, base building, skills, looting, and map planning.
Compare all configured fish, water types, trophy thresholds, and effective bait.
Pair farming with cooking, water storage, fishing, and long-term food planning.
Use crops, grass, and compost alongside chickens, cows, sheep, pigs, and animal care.
Build a safe base with protected crops, rain collectors, storage, and defenses.
Understand Agriculture, books, TV XP, skill levels, and long-term progression.
Find seeds, watering cans, sacks, fertilizer, tools, farming magazines, and supplies.
Find farms, rural towns, water sources, safe base spots, and long-term routes.
Looking for more survival, looting, crafting, and base-building gameplay? Check out these related hubs.