A food crop to consider for less fertile plots, with growth speed still governed by local conditions.
PC / Global, current base game; DLC optional
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Where to farm
A viable, unroofed growing zone on lower-fertility soil near the colony’s food storage.
Potatoes provide food from a growing zone and can make use of suitable ground that is less fertile than a preferred field. Soil fertility affects growth speed, not the base harvest from an individual plant, so a low-fertility plot means waiting longer rather than receiving a smaller plant yield. Use the crop’s inspect information to check temperature and light, then haul the harvest to the colony’s food stores.
A zone on terrain that meets the crop’s fertility requirement.
Potatoes selected as the zone crop.
A Grow-assigned colonist meeting the plant’s minimum skill requirement.
A food stockpile or freezer accessible to haulers.
Inspect the ground and cell information to ensure it is growable; avoid roofs, constructed floors, and infertile terrain.
Place a growing zone and choose potatoes in its inspect pane.
Review the crop’s temperature and light needs alongside the local growing period before assigning a large area.
Enable Grow work for a qualified colonist and keep animals from eating mature plants.
Allow plants to reach maturity when practical, since immature plants return less harvest than fully grown ones.
Haul the potatoes to food storage and use them for meals or animal feed as appropriate to the colony’s plans.
Farming tips
Potatoes can fit a lower-fertility field, but that does not make every poor plot productive; verify minimum fertility in the plant information.
Use the highest Plants skill colonist for harvesting when convenient, since skill affects harvest yield; other suitable colonists can sow.
Repeat, collect and use
Resow and harvest as long as the local outdoor season and colony needs support the crop. Each planting is a single harvest, and its growth time varies with fertility, temperature, light, and plant rest.
Common mistakes
Expecting poor soil to reduce the per-plant harvest: fertility affects maturation speed, while maturity and harvest skill influence yield.
Sowing under a roof or in insufficient light: use an outdoor viable zone or provide appropriate indoor growing conditions.
Assuming the displayed growth time is a fixed calendar promise: check the crop and environment as conditions change.
When to stop or switch
Switch to a faster or better-suited crop if the season is closing, or stop sowing once food stores are sufficient for the colony’s next needs.
