DF2014:Seed

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Looking for information on world generation seeds? See Advanced world generation.

For information on seed management, see How do I manage my seeds and crops?

Some seeds are edible, either raw or cooked.

Seeds are used in farming to grow crops. They can be stored in bags (100 seeds per bag), which can in turn be stored in barrels or pots (10 bags per barrel/pot). Different seeds generally can't be mixed within a bag, so storing seeds of 10 different types requires 10 (or more) different bags (though a bug does cause dwarves to combine seeds occasionally).

Seeds can be brought on embark or obtained by trading. They can also be produced from plants (acquired by plant gathering or growing the respective crops). When a plant is eaten or used in brewing, milling or plant processing, it leaves one or two plantable seeds (see below for details). The exceptions are valley herb, bloated tuber, kobold bulb, and muck root, which will not leave behind seeds after processing. Cooking plants in a kitchen never produces seeds.

Tree seeds cannot currently be planted, though a few varieties, such as macadamia nuts and walnuts, are edible or cookable.

However, presently dwarves will rather starve than eat a seed raw.

Seed List

Seed type	Edible Raw	Cookable	Farmable	Vermin Edible	Oil Seed	Raws/Menu Order
Abaca seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	092
Acacia seeds	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	153
Acorns	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	152
Alfalfa seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	009
Almonds	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	119
Apple seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	120
Apricot pits	No	No	No	Yes	No	121
Artichoke seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	035
Asparagus seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	036
Avocado pits	No	No	No	Yes	No	103
Bambara groundnut	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	037
Banana seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	093
Barley seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	006
Bayberry seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	122
Beet seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	040
Bilberry seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	087
Bitter melon seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	041
Bitter orange seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	108
Bitter vetch seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	016
Blackberry seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	089
Blade weed seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	147
Bloated tuber seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	139
Blood amaranth seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	018
Blueberry seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	088
Broad bean	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	039
Buckwheat seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	007
Cabbage seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	042
Cacao beans	No	Yes	No	No	No	157
Candlenuts	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	155
Caper seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	043
Carambola seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	094
Carrot seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	044
Cashews	No	No	No	Yes	No	095
Cassava seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	045
Cave wheat seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	135
Celery seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	046
Cherry pits	No	No	No	Yes	No	123
Chestnuts	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	154
Chickpea	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	047
Chicory seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	048
Citron seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	106
Coffee beans	No	No	No	No	No	096
Cotton seeds	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	031
Cowpea	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	049
Cranberry seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	086
Cucumber seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	050
Custard-apple seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	113
Date palm seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	114
Desert lime seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	111
Dimple cup spawn	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	146
Durian seeds	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	097
Eggplant seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	051
Elephant-head amaranth seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	021
Finger lime seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	109
Finger millet	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	024
Fisher berry seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	144
Flax seeds	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	028
Fonio	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	026
Foxtail millet	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	025
Garden cress seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	052
Garlic seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	053
Ginkgo seeds	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	124
Grape seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	085
Guava seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	098
Hard wheat seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	004
Hazel nuts	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	125
Hemp seeds	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	030
Hide root seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	148
Horned melon seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	054
Jute seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	029
Kaniwa seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	015
Kenaf seeds	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	033
Kumquat seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	112
Leek seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	055
Lentil	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	056
Lesser yam seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	080
Lettuce seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	057
Lime seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	104
Long yam seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	081
Longland grass seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	142
Lychee seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	115
Macadamia nuts	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	116
Maize	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	013
Mango pits	No	No	No	Yes	No	156
Muck root seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	138
Mung bean	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	058
Muskmelon seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	059
Oats seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	008
Olive pits	No	No	No	Yes	No	117
Onion seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	060
Orange seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	107
Papaya seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	099
Papyrus sedge seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	034
Paradise nuts	No	No	No	Yes	No	100
Parsnip seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	061
Passion fruit seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	084
Peas	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	062
Peach pits	No	No	No	Yes	No	126
Peanuts	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	063
Pear seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	127
Pearl millet	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	022
Pecans	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	128
Pendant amaranth seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	017
Pepper seeds	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	064
Persimmon seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	129
Pig tail seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	134
Pineapple seeds	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	091
Plum pits	No	No	No	Yes	No	130
Plump helmet spawn	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	133
Pomegranate seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	118
Pomelo seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	105
Potato seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	065
Prickle berry seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	140
Purple amaranth seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	019
Purple yam seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	082
Quinoa seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	014
Radish seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	066
Rambutan seeds	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	101
Ramie seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	032
Raspberry seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	090
Rat weed seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	143
Red beans	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	067
Red spinach seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	020
Rhubarb seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	068
Rice	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	012
Rock nuts	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	137
Rope reed seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	145
Round lime seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	110
Rye seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	010
Sand pear seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	131
Single-grain wheat seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	001
Sliver barb seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	149
Soft wheat seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	003
Sorghum seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	011
Soybean	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	069
Spelt seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	005
Spinach seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	070
Squash seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	071
Strawberry seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	141
String bean	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	038
Sun berry seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	150
Sweet pod seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	136
Sweet potato seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	072
Taro seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	073
Tea seeds	No	No	No	Yes	No	102
Teff	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	027
Tomatillo seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	075
Tomato seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	074
Turnip seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	076
Two-grain wheat seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	002
Urad beans	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	077
Walnuts	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	132
Watermelon seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	078
Whip vine seeds	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	151
White millet	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	023
White yam seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	083
Winter melon seeds	No	No	Yes	No	No	079

Seed Production

Seeds are produced by brewing (at a still), milling (at a millstone or quern), processing (at a farmer's workshop), or by dwarves eating the plants raw (uncooked). For information on where to grow, gather, or process specific plants, consult the specific plant's page or the general crops page.

In order to prevent your fortress becoming cluttered with millions of seeds, there is a cap of 200 seeds for each plant type and a global cap of 3000 seeds. Seed-producing activities will only produce seeds if your fortress contains fewer than 200 seeds of that type. You can exceed the 200 seed cap by buying seeds from caravans, and seed production will restart when your stocks fall below 200. Seed production is not affected by the global cap; rather, the oldest seeds in the fortress will be periodically removed to remain at or around 3000. Note that this removal may affect "strategic seed stockpiles" (i.e. seeds forbidden for use in case of typical dwarven culinary stupidity), any crops that you grow only occasionally, and potentially any crops which have been prevented from producing seeds by the specific type cap. Both of these limits can be modified in the d_init.txt file.

Note: In case you are confused about getting spam of messages like "Urist McFarmer cancels Plant seeds: Needs [seed name]", while you are sure that you have enough seeds, no burrow restrictions or closed doors, the reason for this is most likely: the haulers see a seed somewhere and take the whole seed bag from stockpile to go pick it up, making the farmer cancel his job. The problem is exacerbated when barrels are used on the seed stockpile, because the dwarves will additionally store the seed bags inside barrels, blocking even more seeds during each hauling job and extending hauling jobs by first bringing the seed bag to the seed, then returning to the stockpile, picking up the barrel to bring it to the bag, storing the bag in the barrel and only then bringing the barrel bag to the stockpile. During all this time, the seed barrel and all its contents will be blocked from access by any other job.

You can simply disallow barrels from the stockpile, which requires a somewhat larger stockpile but makes seed collection jobs much shorter and less disruptive. Bags will always be used to store seeds in stockpiles, you cannot forbid that.

Another way to deal with this problem is this: set up 2 seed stockpiles, with the larger (primary) one set to only accept items from links (a). Set the secondary (smaller) pile to take from anywhere and give to the main stockpile. Now, when a seed shows up in your dining room or brewery, the dwarves should try to put it into the secondary pile first, which shouldn't have anything in it for long (so no bag for world tour). Once the seed arrives in the secondary stockpile, a new job will be created, moving the seed over into the main stockpile. Now the bag will be picked up to move that seed into it, but if the piles are next to each other it should only be in transit for a few seconds reducing the likelihood of cancellation spam.

As a workaround, you can finally make use of the peculiarities of stockpile commands: setting a stockpile to "take" from a mill, still or farmer's workshop will prevent the workshop from sending its products to any other stockpile. If the stockpile in question doesn't accept seeds, all seeds produced by the workshop will stay in the building, readily accessible to farmers. This can be handy if the workshop is directly adjacent to the farm plot, but can cause cluttering of the workshop if other products like barrels of booze aren't moved out of the shop regularly.

"Seed" in other Languages Dwarven: lenod Elvish: are Goblin: ösmosp Human: ase

Bugs

• Dwarves compulsively store seeds in bags.^Bug:7869
• Planted seeds removed from field by seed cap.^Bug:8107
• Seeds carried by merchants count against fortress seed cap.^Bug:8108
• Conflict between the two seed caps can remove an entire type of seed.^Bug:8091
• Dye stored in barrels without bags.^Bug:9219 This bug is believed to apply to seeds as well, based on the 01/19/2016 dev-log note: "stop dumping dye/flour/seed/etc. bags out into barrels improperly".

Raws

[MATERIAL_TEMPLATE:SEED_TEMPLATE] [STATE_COLOR:ALL_SOLID:BROWN] [STATE_NAME:ALL_SOLID:seed] [STATE_ADJ:ALL_SOLID:seed] [STATE_COLOR:LIQUID:BROWN] [STATE_NAME:LIQUID:none] [STATE_ADJ:LIQUID:none] [STATE_COLOR:GAS:BROWN] [STATE_NAME:GAS:none] [STATE_ADJ:GAS:none] [DISPLAY_COLOR:6:0:0] [MATERIAL_VALUE:1] [SPEC_HEAT:800] [IGNITE_POINT:10400] [MELTING_POINT:NONE] [BOILING_POINT:NONE] [HEATDAM_POINT:10500] [COLDDAM_POINT:9900] [MAT_FIXED_TEMP:NONE] [SOLID_DENSITY:600] [LIQUID_DENSITY:NONE] [MOLAR_MASS:NONE] [IMPACT_YIELD:10000] [IMPACT_FRACTURE:10000] [IMPACT_STRAIN_AT_YIELD:1000] [COMPRESSIVE_YIELD:10000] [COMPRESSIVE_FRACTURE:10000] [COMPRESSIVE_STRAIN_AT_YIELD:1000] [TENSILE_YIELD:10000] [TENSILE_FRACTURE:10000] [TENSILE_STRAIN_AT_YIELD:1000] [TORSION_YIELD:10000] [TORSION_FRACTURE:10000] [TORSION_STRAIN_AT_YIELD:1000] [SHEAR_YIELD:40000] used pine [SHEAR_FRACTURE:40000] [SHEAR_STRAIN_AT_YIELD:1000] [BENDING_YIELD:10000] [BENDING_FRACTURE:10000] [BENDING_STRAIN_AT_YIELD:1000] [MAX_EDGE:1000] [ABSORPTION:100] [SEED_MAT] [DO_NOT_CLEAN_GLOB]

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Creature/Plant	Alcohol • Extract (Golden salve • Gnomeblight • Honey • Royal jelly • Syrup • Venom) • Soap
Inorganic	Metal • Milk of lime • Soil (Clay • Sand) • Stone (Ash glaze • Earthenware • Gem • Gypsum plaster • Porcelain • Quicklime • Stoneware • Tin glaze)
Hardcoded	Amber • Ash • Coral • Filth • Fuel • Glass • Grime • Ice • Lye • Magma • Mud • Pearlash • Potash • Salt • Unknown substance • Vomit • Water
See also: Material science