How to Grow 2-Star Vegetables in Tales of the Shire
Here’s a simple, step-by-step process on how to grow 2-star vegetables in Tales of the Shire:
- Acquire at Least Two Different Seed Types: Let’s say you have Carrot seeds and Onion seeds.
- Plant Strategically: Plant your Carrot seeds in one plot. Now, plant the Onion seeds in an adjacent plot (one that is directly touching it).
- Tend to Your Garden: Water both plants daily and wait for them to fully grow.
- Harvest and Check: When you harvest your carrots and onions, check their star rating in your inventory. If they are still 1-star, that means they aren’t companions.
- Experiment Again! Don’t be discouraged! Try a new combination. Next, plant your Carrot next to a Potato, or a Parsnip next to an Onion.
This crucial Tales of the Shire mechanic is called Companion Planting! It’s the secret to a thriving Hobbit garden and will help you complete crucial tales, like the important “Restore the Gardening Club” quest, which asks you to grow a top-quality, highly coveted 2-star vegetable.
Right now, it seems like Delphinium’s Flower is the first basic Companion Plant that makes most initial Seeds “happy”. Meaning that if you plant the seed given to you by Delphinium Brandybuck while progressing your story quests, there’s a good chance the vegetables that share the same planter will come out as 2-stars. Additionally you can get 2-star vegetables as rewards from fellow Hobbits and you are able to turn those in for the “Restore the Gardening Club” quest!
In this Companion Planting guide, we’ll break down exactly how to nurture the best produce in all the Shire so that every Hobbit can learn how to grow 2-star vegetables in their garden in no time!
Before you get to Grow 2-star Vegetables: Your First Garden Plot
Before you can grow prize-winning produce, you need to get your hands dirty. Your journey begins right outside your Hobbit hole with your very own garden. To get started, you’ll need two essential tools: a Trowel to prepare the soil and a Watering Can to help your seeds grow.
You can purchase your first seeds from local vendors in Bywater. Keep an eye out for different Hobbit families who might sell unique varieties! Once you have your seeds, simply:
- Use the Trowel on an empty garden plot to till the soil.
- Plant your chosen seed in the prepared plot.
- Give it a good watering with your Watering Can.
Remember to water your plants daily. Soon enough, you’ll have your very first harvest!
Understanding How to Grow 2-Star Vegetables
Now for the magic. Have you noticed the star rating on your vegetables? Most of your first crops will be a standard 1-star quality, which is perfectly fine for a simple stew. However, to get a higher-quality 2-star vegetable, you need to use Companion Planting.
Companion Planting is a system where certain plants grow better when they are placed next to their “friends.” If you plant two types of vegetables that like each other side-by-side, one or both of them will receive a quality boost, resulting in a higher star rating upon harvest. The game won’t always tell you which plants are friends, so the key is experimentation! (Or check our Companion Planting Chart below 😉)
By testing different layouts, you will eventually discover a pair that gives you that coveted 2-star quality boost. To help you get started, here are some combinations we’ve discovered so far!
Comprehensive Companion Planting Chart
| Primary Plant | Positive Companions 😍 | Negative Companion 😠 |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Tater | Maze, Onions, Hedge Mustard | |
| Maze | Brown Tater, Pumpkins, Beans | |
| Onions | Carrots, Lettuce, Brown Tater | |
| Carrots | Onions, Lettuce, Rosemary |
Why Quality Matters: The Gardening Club and Better Cooking
The “Restore the Gardening Club” quest is the game’s way of gently nudging you to learn this important mechanic. But the benefits don’t stop there. Higher-quality ingredients are the key to mastering the other great pastime in the Shire: cooking.
Using 2-star (or even 3-star!) vegetables in your recipes will result in higher-quality meals. Serving these superior dishes to your Hobbit neighbors is the fastest way to build friendships and make your Hobbit hole the most popular spot in Bywater for second breakfast.
Expanding Your Garden: Finding New Seeds and Tools
As you become a more experienced gardener, you’ll want to expand your horizons. Keep an eye out for opportunities to improve your garden:
- New Seeds: Talk to every Hobbit you meet and check shop inventories regularly. Some Hobbits may reward you with rare seeds for helping them out.
- Tool Upgrades: A better watering can might let you water multiple plots at once, saving you precious time. Always look for ways to make your tools more efficient.
- Exploration: Rumor has it that rare plants can be found growing in the wild. Exploring the hidden glades and forgotten corners of Bywater might yield a new type of seed to experiment with!
Gardening Showcase: A Video Guide
For those of you who are visual learners, seeing is believing! Check back in for our video guide that shows the Companion Planting system in action and provides some excellent early-game combinations to get you started (Work in Progress)
We hope this guide helps you cultivate the garden of your dreams! Mastering Companion Planting is a rewarding experience that connects you to the heart of Hobbit life. Check out our Ultimate Gardening Guide when its ready. Now get out there and make your garden the pride of Bywater!
For more guides and tips, check out our other Tales of the Shire articles and join the conversation in our community Discord!