Farmland
|
Type |
Solid block |
|
Stackable |
Yes (64) |
|
Indev (February 6, 2010) | |
|
Data Value |
60 |
Farmland is Dirt that has been prepared with a Hoe and on which seeds can be planted and grown. Like Dirt, Farmland can be broken by hand, and can be dug up faster with a Shovel, though doing so produces the same drops as Dirt blocks, and it cannot be picked up as an intact block by any means. Farmland can also be found naturally in inhabited Villages, in which Wheat, Potatoes and Carrots can be found planted.
Preparation
Hoes will convert any Grass Block into Dirt by left clicking (giving a chance of dropping a Hemp Seed), and will convert Dirt into Farmland, with higher quality Hoes performing the task faster.
Farmland must be hydrated by being located within 4 blocks blocks away horizontally from a Water source or flowing water, including diagonally or it will eventually decay back into dirt, destroying any sown crops. This range is reduced to 2 blocks while within a desert. Successfully hydrated dirt takes on a darker brown color.
Dry or hydrated Farmland can be fertilized by applying a single piece of Bone Meal, either before or after seeds have been sown. While it is not critical to farming, it does improve the speed of growth of crops that have not yet matured. When a crop matures, the fertilization is removed and must be reapplied if it is cleared for new crops.
Farming
Farmland is required to grow six of the game's types of crops - Wheat, Pumpkin, Potato, Hemp, Carrot and Melon. Melon and Pumpkin blocks don't need farmland to spawn onto, as they can grow on normal dirt or any solid surface, but their seeds still need to be planted on farmland.
Pumpkin and melon blocks are not affected by being walked or jumped on, but the parent plant may be. When blocks are placed on farmland, it reverts to dirt. This includes naturally generated blocks, such as when a melon or pumpkin is produced. Furthermore, harvesting a plant planted in farmland will revert the farmland to loose dirt, requiring it to be hoed again. This does not happen when harvesting the top block of hemp or wheat, only the bottom block.
Other plants such as Saplings, Flowers, Mushrooms, Sugar Cane and Cactus cannot be planted on farmland and do not require it to grow.
Possible causes of crop destruction
- Cows, Pigs, Chickens and Sheep will consume crops if allowed access to a farm, which will sustain the animals but preventing the crops from being harvested.
- If the Water keeping a block hydrated is removed, Farmland will turn dry over time and eventually decay.
- Farmland will convert back to dirt if jumped on either by the player or by other mobs and animals. Take care to design farm layouts so accidental crop trampling is minimised.
- Farmland will also convert back to dirt if any block other than a suitable plant or air is directly above it. This includes the fruits of Melon and Pumpkin plants, but not the stems themselves.
Weeds
Weeds will grow over time on farmland, whether or not a crop has been planted. Each night, each block of farmland has a chance of growing a weed. While weeds are on a block of farmland, crops will stop growing. Weeds can be removed by right clicking.
Weeds will grow each night, through 4 stages of growth. After the 4th stage, the weed will kill the plant and replace it with a block of tall grass.
