Harvest assignment can improve the return from mature crops because Plants skill affects crop yield.
PC / Global, current base game; DLC optional
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Where to farm
Mature growing zones and hydroponic basins across the colony, with growers managed through the Work priorities tab.
Planting and harvesting do not need to rely on the same pawn. Any colonist who can perform the work may contribute to sowing, while a higher Plants skill can improve harvest yield. Use work priorities to keep fields planted without overlooking the harvest assignment. This is a labor allocation method rather than a separate crop: it applies to mature food, textile, feed, and medicine plants alike.
At least one colonist assigned Grow work and able to sow the selected crop.
A higher Plants skill grower available for harvesting when possible.
Mature plants that are ready to harvest.
A stockpile accepting the crop’s output.
Open the Work tab and ensure Grow work is enabled for colonists who can contribute to planting.
Check the colonists’ Plants skills and identify who has the strongest harvest potential.
Keep sowing work covered by the broader suitable labor pool so fields do not wait for one specialist.
Before a large crop reaches maturity, ensure the stronger grower can take Grow work and harvest duties.
Watch the field and harvest when plants are mature rather than cutting early without need.
Haul the output to the appropriate food, medical, feed, textile, or trade stockpile.
Review the next planting cycle’s workload and adjust priorities if the skilled grower is needed elsewhere.
Farming tips
Give the higher-skilled grower harvest opportunities when the crop is ready, but do not let all sowing wait on one busy pawn.
Harvest yield also depends on plant maturity, health, and game settings, so skill is one factor rather than a guarantee.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeat the assignment check for each maturation wave. The benefit is limited by having an available skilled grower and does not create additional crops or guaranteed output.
Common mistakes
Making one skilled pawn responsible for all field work: spread sowing among suitable workers and reserve skill where it helps most.
Harvesting damaged or immature plants as if skill alone restores full output: check maturity and plant health.
Forgetting that hauling follows the harvest: provide stockpile access so output is collected promptly.
When to stop or switch
Return the specialist to other work after mature fields are harvested; use this assignment again when another crop wave is ready.
