Vintage Story: Advanced Agriculture & Soil Science
In **Vintage Story**, farming is a detailed simulation of soil health, seasonal timing, and nutritional balance. Unlike simpler survival games, you must manage three distinct soil nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) to ensure your crops reach maturity before the winter frost.
1. Soil Fertility
Not all dirt is equal. Low Fertility (5%) is nearly useless. Medium (25%) and High (50%) are standard. The holy grail is Terra Preta (80%), a rare black soil that grows crops almost twice as fast.
2. The N-P-K Nutrient Cycle
Crops consume specific nutrients. Nitrogen (Leafy crops), Phosphorus (Roots), and Potassium (Grains/Flax). If one nutrient hits 0%, the crop will stop growing until it is replenished.
3. Crop Rotation
To keep soil healthy without fertilizers, you must rotate. Plant a Nitrogen-heavy crop (Carrots), then a Phosphorus-heavy crop (Turnips), then a Potassium-heavy crop (Spelt). This allows the other nutrients to recover naturally.
Essential Fertilizers & Soul Recovery
If you have a small plot and cannot wait for natural recovery (which takes multiple in-game seasons), you can use fertilizers to boost specific nutrients:
- Bone Meal: Boosts **Phosphorus**. Created by grinding bones in a Quern.
- Saltpeter: Boosts **Nitrogen**. Rare crystals found in caves and under rocky outcrops.
- Potash: Boosts **Potassium**. Created by burning wood logs into ash or finding potash deposits.
- Compost: Boosts all three nutrients equally. Created by letting "Rot" sit in a sealed barrel for 20 days.
Winter Survival: Building a Greenhouse
When the temperature drops below zero, crops will die. A **Greenhouse** provides a +5°C temperature buffer, allowing you to harvest late into autumn or start early in spring.
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Roofing | Must be made of at least 50% Glass Slabs. |
| Enclosure | Must be fully enclosed with solid walls. No gaps or fences! |
| Height | Must be no more than 14 blocks high. |
| Validation | Stand inside and check your character info; it should say "Inside a Greenhouse." |
Warning: Rabbits! Wild rabbits are the primary threat to your farm. They can jump 1 block high and eat your crops at night. Build a 2-block high wall or a 2-block deep trench around your tilled land to keep them out.
Irrigation & Moisture
Tilled soil needs water. While rain helps, you should build your farm near a water source. Tilled land adjacent to water (within 3 blocks) will remain "Moist," providing a growth speed bonus. If the soil turns light brown, it is dry, and your yields will suffer.
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