How many crops you need per seed in Icarus Update

     Farming in Icarus now requires a bit more thought than before. Seeds no longer show up automatically in your inventory, which means you're going to need specific tools or techniques if you want to build up your seed collection. The Seed Extractor is one of the main ways to convert crops into seeds, but it doesn’t operate on a one-to-one basis. Different crops require different amounts, and knowing those values can help you decide how much to grow or gather. The update has added a level of planning that makes seed generation part of your routine, not just a background task.

 

 

 

Seed Extractor ratios

 

     The Seed Extractor processes crops into seeds slowly, with a fixed number of crops needed for each output. Some are low-cost, like potatoes, which take four units for one seed. Others, such as fiber, require as much as twenty-five units. These numbers aren’t random, and they’re visible in the machine when you select the crop. For example, strawberries cost nine per seed, carrots cost six, and watermelon needs seven. Each type of produce comes with its own conversion rate, so using the extractor efficiently means knowing which crops cost more and preparing enough in advance.

 

 

 

Why crop-to-seed values affect farming strategy

 

     If you plan to rely on farming in the long run, the number of crops needed per seed shapes how you use your space and time. Crops like potatoes and carrots are more efficient choices if you're growing just to generate seeds. Items like strawberries might be more useful for direct consumption instead, since they demand more input. This mechanic encourages you to think ahead about which crops are worth growing in bulk for conversion and which ones should stay on the plate.

 

 

 

Harvest alternatives to the extractor

 

     The extractor isn’t your only option. Tools like the Reaper Sickle or sickles with the threshing attachment can collect seeds directly when you harvest plants. If you combine these with certain talents, you’ll get more seeds from each harvest without needing to grind up extra produce. These tools don’t remove the need to know crop ratios, but they reduce your dependence on the extractor and allow for more flexible farming. Players who reach higher tiers will likely move toward these options for quicker results.

 

 

 

Crop planning and yield balance

 

     Knowing seed ratios can help you space out your crop plots more efficiently. For example, if you know a full row of potatoes will net you enough for several new seed batches, you can focus fewer plots on them and more on higher-value crops. Alternatively, if you're gathering for oil or crafting, you might dedicate entire fields to fiber just to keep seed production going. The seed system makes it useful to track how much you're planting compared to what you need to regenerate your farm layout.

 

 

 

When to choose fertilizer for seed production

 

     If you're working with the Progenitive Fertilizer, you can increase the number of seeds gained from crops - but at the cost of the crop yield itself. This trade-off is most useful when you've already stocked up on food and want to replenish your seed supply without using extractors. It's a good choice for players running large farms who want to push one round of crops into high-yield seed mode. This works best with crops that already have lower seed ratios, like potatoes or carrots.

 

 

Balancing early and late game approaches

 

     In early missions, the Seed Extractor is often the most accessible way to get started with farming. It runs without any special upgrades or gear. As you progress, harvesting tools and talents become more efficient and replace the need to constantly process crops through the extractor. Choosing when to transition depends on your playstyle and how often you're farming versus exploring. Either way, the ratio data remains relevant across all stages of progression.

 

     The update to seed collection has introduced a new layer of planning to farming in Icarus. With crop-to-seed ratios now part of the process, players need to consider how much of each crop to grow if they want to maintain or expand their seed reserves. The Seed Extractor provides a baseline method, but more advanced tools and fertilizers give alternatives that can improve efficiency. By understanding the crop values and adjusting your farm accordingly, you can avoid shortages and maintain steady output.