Albion Online Farming Guide
Farming in Albion Online is a semi-passive activity done on personal islands or guild islands, where you plant seeds (crops, herbs) or raise animals on plots, then harvest after a grow timer. Each plot holds 9 seeds that grow in about 22 hours, and animals take roughly 1 day 20 hours (halved with premium). It is profitable as a feeder for cooking, alchemy and mount crafting, and as a steady silver sink-to-source, but margins depend heavily on premium, focus and live seed/output prices.
- Farming needs a Farm, Herb Garden, Pasture or Kennel built on an island plot (up to 16 plots).
- Each plot holds 9 seeds; crops/herbs grow in ~22 hours, animals in ~1d 20h.
- Premium roughly doubles seed yield and halves animal grow time.
- Watering with focus boosts the seed return on harvest.
- Farming is most profitable when you use outputs for cooking/potions rather than selling raw.
How does farming work in Albion Online?
Farming happens on islands — your personal island, a guild island, or a city plot. You build a farming structure (Farm for crops, Herb Garden for herbs, Pasture or Kennel for animals) on an open plot, then plant seeds or place baby animals. After a grow timer you harvest the output. Islands support up to 16 plots, so you can scale a serious farm operation in one place.
- Farm — grows food crops (carrots, beans, wheat, etc.) used in cooking.
- Herb Garden — grows herbs used in alchemy potions.
- Pasture / Kennel — raises livestock and mounts; animals must be fed raw food to grow.
- Each plot holds 9 seeds, which can be the same or mixed.
Is farming profitable in Albion Online?
Farming is profitable, but as a steady, low-effort income rather than a fast-money method. The margin between seed cost and harvest value is usually thin once you account for market tax and fees, so the real value comes from feeding your own production chains: crops into cooked food, herbs into potions, animals into mounts. Vertically integrating captures the full margin instead of paying another player for inputs.
Always check live seed and output prices before planting — see most profitable crafts for how to evaluate a production chain end to end.
Should I farm crops, herbs, or animals?
| Type | Structure | Grow time | Main use | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crops | Farm | ~22 hours | Cooking ingredients & animal feed | Low |
| Herbs | Herb Garden | ~22 hours | Alchemy potions | Low |
| Animals (food) | Pasture / Kennel | ~1d 20h (½ w/ premium) | Cooking & potion ingredients | Medium (must feed) |
| Animals (mounts) | Pasture / Kennel | ~1d 20h (½ w/ premium) | Mount crafting (high value) | Medium–high |
Crops and herbs are the lowest-effort and pair directly with cooking and alchemy. Animals take longer and must be fed raw crops, but mount-tier livestock can be the most valuable output of all. A common setup is to farm crops to feed your own animals, closing the loop and minimizing market purchases.
What are the grow times and how does watering work?
A repeatable daily farming loop for crops or herbs.
- Build the structurePlace a Farm or Herb Garden on an island plot. Each plot holds 9 seeds.
- Plant seedsBuy seeds on the Market or replant saved ones. Mix or match per plot as you like.
- Water with focus (optional)If you have focus and farming spec, water each plot to boost its seed yield on harvest.
- Wait the grow timerCrops and herbs finish in about 22 hours; animals take roughly 1 day 20 hours (half with premium).
- Harvest and replantCollect outputs and seeds, replant immediately to keep plots productive, then route outputs into cooking or potions.
Should I sell farm outputs or use them?
Using your outputs almost always beats selling them raw. Raw crops and herbs carry little value, but the same materials processed into food or potions capture the crafting margin you would otherwise hand to another player. The exception is when output prices spike on the Market — then selling raw can be the smarter call for that cycle.
- Route crops into cooking and herbs into alchemy potions to capture full value.
- Feed crops to your own animals instead of buying feed, closing the production loop.
- Check live prices in the Farming tool — sell raw only when output prices spike.
- Pair farming with passive laborers and journals for compounding island income.
Frequently asked questions
How long do crops take to grow in Albion Online?
Crops and herbs take about 22 hours to fully grow. Livestock animals take roughly 1 day and 20 hours, which is halved if you have premium status active. Because timers are long, farming is a once-a-day activity rather than something you tend continuously.
How many seeds can I plant per plot?
Each farming plot holds 9 seeds, and they can all be the same type or a mix. An island supports up to 16 plots, so a fully built island can run a large number of seeds at once across farms, herb gardens, pastures and kennels.
Does premium increase farming yield?
Yes. With premium active, each harvested seed yields roughly double the crops (about 6 to 12 instead of 3 to 6), and animal grow times are cut in half. Premium is the single largest multiplier on farming output, which is why most serious farmers keep it active.
What does watering do in farming?
Watering a plot with focus increases the amount of seeds and crops you get back on harvest. The focus cost depends on your farming specialization, ranging from about 1,000 focus per action unspecialized down to around 125 at full specialization. Watering only helps if you log in regularly, since the effect is timed.
Is farming or gathering better for money?
Gathering generally earns more silver per active hour, while farming is more passive and predictable. Farming shines when you use its outputs to feed cooking, alchemy or mount crafting, capturing the full production margin. Many players do both: gather actively and let an island farm tick over in the background.
Should I farm crops or herbs?
It depends on what you produce. Crops feed cooking and your own animals, while herbs feed alchemy potions. Both have similar grow times and effort, so choose based on which production chain you run. Many farmers grow crops to feed livestock and grow herbs separately for potion ingredients.
Can I farm without premium?
Yes, you can farm without premium, but your seed yield is roughly half and animal grow times are not reduced. Free-to-play farming still works for feeding your own cooking or potions, but the margins are tighter. Premium pays for itself quickly if farming is a core part of your income.
Where do I get seeds and baby animals?
You can buy seeds and baby animals on the player Market, or save seeds returned from your own harvests to replant for free. Buying via buy orders is usually cheaper than instant-buying. Once your farm is running, replanting saved seeds lets the operation sustain itself.