Rust Farming Cheat Sheet
// every key number for serious Rust farmers · bookmark this page
The single-page reference for Rust farming. Genetics, crossbreeding, growth conditions, all 8 tea recipes, tea stacking rules, power draw and yield numbers — every load-bearing fact in one scrollable view. Print this page or pin it on a second monitor while you wipe-prep. Each section links to the deeper guide if you need the full explanation.
→ Genetics
→ Crossbreeding
→ Plant stages
→ Conditions
→ Tea recipes
→ Power & water
→ Yields
→ Common mistakes
Genetics — gene letters & weights
Gene types
| Name | Effect | Score | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Growth | Faster grow time | 3.0 | 0.6 |
| Y | Yield | More output per harvest | 2.5 | 0.6 |
| H | Hardy | Resists condition swings | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| W | Water | Drinks more water · wins ties | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| X | Empty | No effect · wins ties | 0.0 | 1.0 |
W and X are the dangerous genes — their 1.0 vote weight beats G/Y/H ties. Filter them out before breeding with the Seed Grader.
Top genomes
| Genome | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
G G G Y Y Y |
GGGYYY | God clone — optimal |
G G Y Y Y Y |
GGYYYY | +1 yield, slower grow |
G G G G Y Y |
GGGGYY | Faster grow, lower yield |
G G G Y Y H |
GGGYYH | Snow-biome alternative |
Position doesn't matter — GGGYYY, GYGYGY, YYYGGG are all god clones.
Crossbreeding rules
How a locus is decided
Layout (3×3 planter)8 around 1
Layout (triangle)3 around 1
Vote weight: G / Y / H0.6 each
Vote weight: W / X1.0 each
Tie between donors50/50 coinflip
Centre wins ifnot strictly beaten
Full explanation: Crossbreeding Rules guide · Interactive: Crossbreeding Simulator
Clone window
Cross calculated whencrossbreed stage starts
Indicatorcrosshair icon
Clone beforeripe stage
Toolhatchet (E hold)
Donor count: safe≥6 same gene
Donor count: risky3-5 same gene
If you don't clone at the crossbreed stage, those genetics are gone forever. Always have your hatchet on hotbar slot 1 during a breeding round.
Plant stages & timing
Stage flow (any plant)
Seedling
→
Sapling
→
Sprawling
→
Crossbreed
→
Ripe
→
Crossbreed stage = clone window. Ripe stage = harvest. Skip cloning at your peril — the crossbred genome is locked at crossbreed stage and dies with the plant.
Hemp
Plain seed grow~5h to ripe
GGGYYY grow~1h 35m
Outputcloth via fibre
Berries
Plain seed grow~5h to ripe
GGGYYY grow~1h 35m
Outputtea ingredients
Pumpkin / Corn
Plain seed grow~5-7h to ripe
GGGYYY grow~2h
Outputfood / pies
For exact times under specific conditions, use the Grow Calculator.
Growth conditions
Water saturation
Keep topped up75-100%
Below 50%stunted ↓↓
Truth sourcein-game Conditions
The planter's Conditions display is the source of truth — keep saturation high enough that water doesn't read "Bad". Water guide
Light
Target100%
Glow only~70%
Ceiling lights100% 24/7
1 ceiling light per planter = optimal.
Temperature
Target100%
Cold biome no heater↓↓
Electric Heater100%
Add 1 heater per farm room in snow biomes.
Tea recipes — all 8
Pure-tier reference (4 berries)
| Tea | Recipe | Pure effect | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healing | 4× red | +60 HP instant | instant | → |
| Max Health | 3× red, 1× yellow | +20% max HP (120 HP) | 5 min | → |
| Ore | 2× yellow, 2× blue | +50% ore yield | 30 min | → |
| Wood | 2× red, 2× blue | +200% wood yield (3×) | 30 min | → |
| Scrap | 2× yellow, 2× white | +200% barrel scrap (3×) | 30 min | → |
| Anti-Rad | 2× red, 2× green | +45% rad resistance | 30 min | → |
| Warming | 2× red, 2× yellow | +15°C · min temp 0°C | 60 min | → |
| Cooling | 2× green, 2× white | cooling effect | 60 min | → |
Brew at Mixing Table or Cooking Workbench. Order of berries matters — check the Berry & Tea Reference.
Tea stacking rules
Same type stacks?No · replaces
Different types stack?Yes · all
Bear Pie + Ore Teamultiplicative
Warming + Coolingmutually exclusive
Drink orderlong → short
Full rules: Tea Stacking guide
Bear Pie + Ore Tea combo
Pure Ore Tea+50%
+ Bear Pie~+30% more
+ Jackhammerfaster extraction
Net per node (HQM)~2× base
Run exact numbers in the Yield Calculator.
Power & water
Power consumers
Ceiling Light
1W
Sprinkler
10W
Smart Switch
1W
Electric Heater
25W
Water Pump
5W
Water Purifier
5W
Power sources (max output)
Small Solar
~50W
Medium Solar
~160W
Wind Turbine
~150W
Sample setups for 4/8/16 planter farms: Electricity guide
Water sources (throughput)
Small Catcher (rain)~3 L/min
Large Catcher (rain)~6 L/min
Water Pump (powered)~30 L/min
Pump Jackconsistent
Sprinkler draw~10 L/min
For 4 planters: 2 large catchers usually cover it. For 8+: powered pump.
Yield reference
Hemp output (GGGYYY)
Clones per harvest (3 Y)4 per plant
4-planter farm~91 cloth/hr
8-planter farm~180 cloth/hr
12-planter farm~270 cloth/hr
Per-node yield (with buffs)
Sulfur node, no buffs~250 sulfur
+ Pure Ore Tea~375 (+50%)
+ Bear Pie~480 (+92%)
+ Jackhammer (speed)+1.6× per cycle
⚠ Common mistakes that cost you the wipe
- Letting water saturation drop too low. The planter's Conditions display is the source of truth — keep saturation high enough that "Water" doesn't read Bad.
- Mixing W/X seeds into a breeding round. Their 1.0 weight wins ties even when outnumbered.
- Not cloning at crossbreed stage. Genetics are gone the moment the plant ripens.
- Drinking Max Health Tea then walking 18 minutes. 20-min duration — drink near the fight.
- Brewing Basic teas to "save berries". Pure costs 4× the berries for ~4× the effect — better ROI.
- Forgetting Bear Pie before sulfur runs. Single biggest yield loss most ore-grinders make.
- Building the farm room too late on wipe day. Day 1 priority, before weapons or workbenches.
Want to put this into practice? Plan your shortest route to GGGYYY from your current seeds.
🧬 Open God Clone Planner →