Stepping into the world of Old School RuneScape can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when you're just starting out. You've got quests to do, monsters to fight, and skills to level up. If you're looking to dip your toes into the Farming skill without breaking the bank or needing high levels, onions are your friendly, humble starting point. They might not be the flashiest crop, but they're incredibly accessible and teach you the ropes of growing things in Gielinor.
So, where do you actually get your hands on these foundational farming ingredients? Well, you don't 'get' onions in the traditional sense; you grow them! The first step is always to find a suitable patch of land. In RuneScape, these are called allotment patches, and they're specifically designed for growing crops like onions. You'll need a Farming level of 1 to even start, which is pretty much as beginner-friendly as it gets.
Now, for the locations. RuneScape has scattered these precious allotment patches across the map, and thankfully, several are quite accessible early on:
- North of Falador: This one's a classic. You can reach it by heading north from the city of Falador. If you've got a decent Agility level (21, to be exact), there's a handy pipe shortcut that makes getting there a breeze. Otherwise, you can always walk around the fence.
- Southeast of Camelot Castle: This patch is pretty straightforward to get to once you're in the Camelot area. No special quests or high levels are needed to access the patch itself.
- South of Ardougne: If you find yourself near the East Ardougne gate, there's a farm patch not too far away, conveniently located near the fishing area. It's a solid option if you're doing other activities in that region.
- Lletya: This elven city is a bit more of a trek, as it's unlocked after you've made some progress in the Plague City quest. It's a beautiful area, and the farming patch there is just as functional as any other.
- Port Phasmatys: To get to this port town, you'll need to have completed The Lost City quest. Once you're there, you'll find another allotment patch ready for your seeds.
Once you've found your chosen patch, the process is pretty simple. You'll need a gardening trowel and some onion seeds. First, clear any weeds or old crops from the patch – that gives you a little bit of XP. Then, it's a good idea to add some compost to the soil. Regular compost is fine, but supercompost is even better as it significantly reduces the chance of your plants getting diseased. After preparing the soil, you plant three onion seeds. Each seed gives you a tiny bit of XP. Then, you just wait. The onions will grow through a few stages over about 40 minutes. You can check on them by right-clicking and examining the patch. When they're fully grown, you harvest them, and you'll typically get around 6 onions per patch, though it can vary. These raw onions can be used in some basic cooking recipes or sold on the Grand Exchange for a small profit.
It's a straightforward loop, and that's precisely why onions are so great for beginners. They introduce you to the core mechanics of farming – clearing, planting, composting, and harvesting – without the stress of expensive seeds or high-level requirements. While you'll eventually move on to more profitable and XP-rich crops, mastering the humble onion is a rewarding first step into RuneScape's vast agricultural landscape.
