PLANTING & CROP FARMING GUIDE
Seed Loops, All Crops, Consumable Crafting & Growth Chamber
Last updated: 2026-02-01
* TL;DR - Key Points
- * Planting unlocks via Basic AIC II -- spend 1 Basic AIC Index on the Planting node under Processing
- * The Seed-Picking Unit converts one plant into two seeds; pair with Planting Units for an infinite self-sustaining loop
- * Roughly 10 plantable crops across Valley IV, Wuling, and later regions -- each with unique products
- * Sandleaf Powder is the most critical endgame product, feeding Grinding Machine recipes for Dense Ferrium and Cryston Powder
- * The Growth Chamber on the Dijiang ship cultivates rare growths and ores for operator promotion and skill materials
- * Manual Eco Farms (Backpack crafting plots) serve as an early alternative before AIC automation
- * Finished goods like Buck Capsules and Industrial Explosives are worth far more Stock Bills than raw materials -- always process before selling
Contents
Unlocking the Planting System
Planting is not available from the start. You need to invest AIC research resources to gain access to the core machinery that makes automated crop farming possible.
AIC Research Path
- 1. Open the AIC Planning Interface and navigate to the Processing tree
- 2. Ensure you have Basic AIC II unlocked as a prerequisite
- 3. Spend 1 Basic AIC Index to research the Planting node
- 4. This single node unlocks both the Seed-Picking Unit and the Planting Unit
The Seed-Picking Unit requires 20 Amethyst Parts to construct, so have those ready before researching.
Eco Farm (Manual Alternative)
Before AIC planting is available, you can grow crops manually through the Eco Farm system:
Backpack > Crafting > Planting -- Craft a Plot for the specific plant you want (e.g., Buckflower Plot, Sandleaf Plot)
Place and Wait -- Put the plot on a vacant Eco Farm spot and wait for the crop to mature
Auto-Unlock Recipes -- Plot recipes unlock automatically the first time you collect a plant in the overworld
Pro Tip: Collect One of Everything
Even if you have no immediate use for a crop, picking up a single specimen unlocks its plot recipe permanently. This habit pays off later when you need to spin up automated farms for materials you previously ignored.
The Self-Sustaining Farm Loop
This is the core mechanic that makes planting so powerful. A properly configured loop produces crops indefinitely from a single initial input -- no manual restocking needed.
How It Works
The Seed-Picking Unit accepts one plant and outputs two seeds. Each seed goes to a Planting Unit, which grows it back into a full plant. One plant feeds back into the Seed-Picker (sustaining the cycle), while the other exits to storage or processing (your profit).
Step-by-Step Setup
- 1. Place the Seed-Picking Unit in any PAC zone with sufficient power
- 2. Place two Planting Units on either side, facing outward from the Seed-Picker
- 3. Loop the first Planting Unit -- route its output back to the Seed-Picking Unit via Transport Belt (this sustains the cycle)
- 4. Route the second Planting Unit to a Protocol Stash or processing machine (Shredder, Filling Unit, etc.) -- this is your usable output
- 5. Power everything with a Relay Tower or Electric Pylon positioned to cover all three machines
- 6. Seed the loop by inserting one crop into the Seed-Picking Unit -- from here, it runs indefinitely
Blueprint Reference
Community blueprint code EFO017i8euu8365uO0Ai provides a working farm loop that can be imported directly into your AIC if the layout is tricky to build manually.
Output Port Awareness
The Planting Unit has two output slots. One must always feed back to the Seed-Picker. If both go to storage, the loop breaks after one cycle.
All Plantable Crops
Each region of Talos-II introduces new crops. Collecting a single specimen in the wild unlocks its plot recipe and allows infinite farming via the AIC loop.
| Crop | Region | Key Products | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckflower | Valley IV (all areas) | Buck Capsule (C/B/A), Buckflower Powder | Healing, Stock Bills |
| Citrome | Valley IV | Canned Citrome (C/B/A), Citrome Powder | Healing, Citrobucky Mix |
| Echotin | Valley IV | Echotin Powder, Industrial Explosives | Factory products, Stock Bills |
| Aketine | Valley Pass, Valley IV | Aketine Powder, Industrial Explosives | Explosives, Stock Bills |
| Sandleaf | Power Plateau, Valley IV | Sandleaf Powder (via Shredder, 1:3 ratio) | Endgame material |
| Tartpepper | Originium Science Park | Tartpepper Salad, Tartpepper Pickle | Buff foods |
| Yazhen | Jingyu Valley, Wuling | Yazhen Spray (S/L), Yazhen Syringe (C/A) | Advanced healing |
| Jincao | Wuling | Jincao Drink, Tea, Tisane, Infusion | Buff consumables |
| Redblade Ginseng | Later regions | Ginseng Meat Stew | High-tier healing food |
| Mossfield | Later regions | Mossfield Pie, Mossfield Powder | Advanced consumables |
Regional Progression
Valley IV -- Buckflower, Citrome, Echotin, Aketine, Sandleaf, Tartpepper (early-to-mid game)
Wuling -- Yazhen, Jincao (unlocks with Wuling region access)
Later Regions -- Redblade Ginseng, Mossfield (story progression)
Key Production Chains
Crops become significantly more valuable when processed through your AIC factory before selling. Raw plants yield minimal Stock Bills; finished goods multiply that value several times.
Priority Production Lines
| Production Line | Inputs | Output | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| LC Valley Batteries | Amethyst Fiber + Originium Powder | Batteries | High |
| Buck Capsules | Amethyst Fiber + Buckflower Powder | Buck Capsule C | Moderate |
| Industrial Explosives | Amethyst Fiber + Echotin/Aketine Powder | Industrial Explosive | High |
Sandleaf Powder Loop
Sandleaf is unique because its output goes through a Shredder rather than a standard production chain. One Sandleaf yields three Sandleaf Powder, which feeds the Grinding Machine for endgame materials like Dense Ferrium and Cryston Powder. For the full infinite loop setup, see the AIC Factory Guide.
Processing Priority
Raw materials should always be converted before selling: Crops → Powder (via Shredder) → Finished Goods (via Filling/Refining Unit). Finished goods sell for the highest Stock Bill value at the Outpost. Setting up even basic chains early prevents bill shortages later.
Consumable Crafting Reference
Consumables fall into several categories. Some are crafted manually through the Backpack, others are mass-produced through the AIC factory.
Healing Items
| Consumable | Key Ingredient | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Buck Capsule C/B/A | Buckflower Powder | HP restoration (tiered quality) |
| Canned Citrome C/B/A | Citrome Powder | HP restoration (alternative) |
| Yazhen Spray S/L | Yazhen Powder | Quick-use field healing |
| Yazhen Syringe C/A | Yazhen (factory processing) | Sustained HP recovery |
Buff Foods
| Consumable | Key Ingredient | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Tartpepper Salad / Pickle | Tartpepper | Temporary stat buff |
| Ginseng Meat Stew | Redblade Ginseng | High-tier stat buff |
| Mossfield Pie | Mossfield | Moderate stat buff |
| Jincao Drink / Tea / Tisane / Infusion | Jincao | Progressive quality buff tiers |
Backpack Crafting
Quick, on-the-go production of basic consumables and plot recipes. No power or AIC infrastructure required. Best for early game and situational needs.
AIC Factory Automation
Mass production with much higher throughput. Runs while you are offline. Worth the setup investment for any item you need in bulk or plan to sell for Stock Bills.
Growth Chamber (Rare Growths & Ores)
The Growth Chamber is a separate cultivation system aboard the Dijiang ship. It handles rare growths and ores that cannot be farmed through normal planting -- materials required for operator promotion and skill upgrades.
How It Works
- 1. Obtain a specimen -- Collect at least one rare growth or ore from the overworld (fixed nodes, daily reset refresh)
- 2. Extract seeds/cores -- Convert the specimen into a plantable seed. This consumes the specimen, so keep extras if you need them for immediate upgrades
- 3. Plant in Growth Slots -- Place the extracted seed into an available slot in the chamber
- 4. Assign operators -- Operators with cultivation skills speed up growth. In the early game, any operator works
- 5. Harvest and replant -- Once mature, collect the growths and optionally replant or switch materials
Upgrading the Chamber
Level cap is tied to your Control Nexus level on Dijiang. Upgrade it first, then spend Aerospace Materials (from Recycling Stations) to unlock more Growth Slots and operator assignment slots.
Recycling Stations
Found across Talos-II (marked by owls). Activate and upgrade them with Stock Bills to increase your Regional Development Level and boost Aerospace Material yields.
What Rare Growths Are Used For
Fungal Growths (boletes, etc.) -- Operator promotion materials
Rare Growths (Kalkodendra, etc.) -- Operator skill advancement materials
Rare Ores (Igneosite, Cosmagaric, etc.) -- Equipment crafting and advanced upgrades
Pro Tip: Pick Up One of Everything
The Growth Chamber only unlocks cultivation formulas for materials you have collected at least once. Even a single pickup from the overworld grants permanent access to grow it in bulk. Always grab new nodes during exploration.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
1. Not Researching Planting Early
The Planting node in Basic AIC II is easy to overlook. Players who skip it miss out on infinite crop production for the entire early game. Research it as soon as Basic AIC II is available.
2. Breaking the Seed Loop
If both Planting Unit outputs go to storage instead of feeding one back to the Seed-Picker, the loop runs once and stops. Always verify one output belt returns to the Seed-Picking Unit before activating.
3. Selling Raw Crops Instead of Processed Goods
A raw Buckflower is worth almost nothing at the Outpost. Processing it into Buck Capsules or Buckflower Powder multiplies the Stock Bill value. Never sell unprocessed crops.
4. Extracting All Rare Growths Without Saving
Extracting seeds in the Growth Chamber consumes the specimen. Players who extract everything sometimes find they needed that material for an immediate operator upgrade. Keep at least one spare.
5. Ignoring Eco Farm Plots
The Backpack crafting plots are the fastest way to grow specific crops before AIC planting is unlocked. Waiting for full automation means missing early consumable production entirely.
6. Forgetting to Power the Loop
Seed-Picking Units and Planting Units both require power. If the Relay Tower or Pylon does not cover all machines, part of the loop goes dormant. Check power coverage after every setup.
7. Not Upgrading the Growth Chamber
The base-level chamber has very few slots. Players who never invest in Control Nexus and Aerospace Materials are stuck growing one or two rare materials at a time, creating a bottleneck for operator progression.
8. Skipping Sandleaf Collection
Sandleaf only appears in Power Plateau with 17 nodes. You only need one to start an infinite farm. Players who skip this area miss the most critical endgame planting crop. Grab it early.
Quick Reference Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you unlock planting in Arknights: Endfield?
Open the AIC Planning Interface, navigate to the Processing tree under Basic AIC II, and spend 1 Basic AIC Index to research the Planting node. This unlocks both the Seed-Picking Unit and the Planting Unit. The Seed-Picking Unit costs 20 Amethyst Parts to build.
How does the infinite farm loop work in Arknights: Endfield?
The Seed-Picking Unit converts one plant into two seeds. Connect two Planting Units: one loops its output back to the Seed-Picking Unit (sustaining the cycle), while the other routes output to storage or processing (your profit). Insert one crop to start, and the loop runs indefinitely.
Where do you find Sandleaf in Arknights: Endfield?
Sandleaf is found at Power Plateau in Valley IV, with 17 gathering nodes. You only need to collect one Sandleaf to start an infinite Sandleaf farm via the Seed-Picking and Planting Unit loop. Sandleaf Powder (processed via Shredder, 1 Sandleaf = 3 Powder) is a critical endgame material.
What is the Growth Chamber in Arknights: Endfield?
The Growth Chamber is located aboard the Dijiang ship. It lets you cultivate rare growths and ores for operator promotion and skill materials. Extract seeds from collected specimens (consumes them), plant in Growth Slots, and assign operators to speed cultivation. Upgrade via Control Nexus and Aerospace Materials from Recycling Stations.