Gardening: a Prelude

I've done a little bit of gardening, but not much. Currently, I'm trying to get to Legendary Artisan; and spending hours upon hours of running around trying to find the constantly-farmed stone blocks and sandstone nodes is taking away from my time to actually play the game.

So I googled 'wizard101 gardening tips'.

Here are my notes from my searching (some of which I already knew):

- with a castle you can plant straight in the ground, but you have to buy pots for your dorm (or indoors if some other housing). Purchasing housing for this reason is cost-effective in the long run if you're going to do serious gardening.

- higher level gardening spells allow for area effect casting. You can grow more things and tend them in clusters this way. Otherwise, you will use all your energy points up trying to cast individual spells.

- make your plots so that there is a center plant and four around it (at least at lower gardening levels). Make sure these plants like each other (best that they are the same kind of plant, so they grow at the same rate!).

- different plants harvest different items, so think about what you want from your plants (look below to see different types).

- don't plant more than you can care for, otherwise you're just wasting your seeds. Plan on your plants needing three or four different spells cast on them, and how much energy will be required for that.

- don't forget your plants. Advice offered is checking on them twice a day (morning, evening). Just like in real life, eh?

- if you have plants that don't like each other, make sure they are planted far enough away from each other.

- if you are training up pets, go light on your gardening (or wait entirely until you are done with your pet training). The energy points are used for both.

- consider what kinds of plants you want before going and purchasing. I'd first go through all the seeds you earned through play, regardless of what they give you. Then when you are stuck, look to get those seeds you are capable of growing and that meet your needs.

- finally, remember to exit the gardening menu if you want to interact with your plants to harvest them.


Short list of various plants and their uses:

Gold
Pink Dandelions - harvest black pearls (and sell them!)
Stinkweed

Cool Treasure Cards
Stinkweed - Poison, Smokescreen
Silver Trumpet Vine - Earthquake, Pierce, Disarm
Honey Sickle - blade cards

Pet Snacks
Cornbread Fruit Bush - golden wheat bread
Prickly Bear Cactus - sun fruit, crab apple

Crafting Reagents
Pink Dandelions - as noted above, black pearls, plus blood moss, lava lilies, springs, ancient scrolls
Prickly Bear Cactus - sunstones

EDIT: I'm reposting from a wiz101 forum member (lukin) who just consolidated all the purchasable seeds and what they give. Wow. Talk about comprehensive! (not sorted into the above categories).

Wizard City
Gardening Shop run by Farley Located in Golem Court

Plants He Sells:
Laugh-O-Dil-Cost 600 Gold-Rewards Rank 1-Challenge Rank 1-Like Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed, Desparagus,White Desparagus-Requires Small Pot-Rank 2+Only-Needs Sun
Know Harvest Rewards: 2 GXP, 40-50 Gold, Shield TCs, Calm TC, Laugh-O-Dil Seed

Desparagus-Cost 600 Gold-Rewards Rank 1-Challenge Rank 1-Likes Garden Gnomes, Broken Stumps-Dislikes Stinkweed, White Laugh-O-Dil, Pink Laugh-O-Dil, Laugh-O-Dil-Requires Small Pot-Rank 1+ Only-Needs Pollination, Music
Knowed Harvest Rewards:70-80 Gold, Minion Helping Treasure Cards, Desparagus Seeds, White Desparagus Seeds 

Dandelion-Cost 600 Gold-Rewards Rank 1-Challenge Rank 1-Likes Garden Gnomes, Potted Cattail, Blue Ball of Yarn-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Small Pot-Rank 1+ Only-Needs Pollination
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 2 (20 at Elder) GXP,20-30 Gold (70-90 at Elder), Dandelion Seed, Cat Tail Reagent, Orange Dandelion Seed, Mistwood, Ore, Bone, 

Honey Sickle-Cost 1200 Gold-Rewards Rank 1-Challenge Rank 2-Likes Garden Gnomes, Weapons Rack-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Meduim Pot-Rank 1+ Only-Needs Pollination, Sun
Knows Harvest Rewards: Gold 30-40, Treasure Blades of all shcools, Spirit and Elemental blade, Balance Blade, At Epic gives around 80 gold and 3 random treasure blades

Boom Shroom-Cost 1200 Gold-Rewards Rank 1-Challenge Rank 2-Likes Garden Gnomes, Broken Stumps, Pet Cannon-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Small Pot-Rank 1+ Only-Needs Music, Water
Knowed Harvest Rewards: Gold 20-30, Spider Silk, Deep Mushroom, Mandrake, Sandstorm Treasure Card, Smokescreen Treasure Card

Stinkweed-Cost -Rewards - Challenge - Likes - Dislikes - Requires -Needs Water
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 2 GXP, 60-110 (180-190 at Elder) Gold, Smokescreen TC, Tower Shield TC, Poison TC


Helephant Ears-Cost 1200 Gold-Rewards Rank 2-Challenge Rank 3-Likes Garden Gnomes, Gong of the Oni-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Meduim Pot-Rank 3+Only-Needs Water
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 10 (100 at Elder) GXP, 140-170 Gold, Ore, Scrap Iron, Fire Blossom, Sunbird TC, Helephant Ears Seed

Baby Carrots-Cost 1800 Gold-Rewards rank 2-Challenge Rank 3-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed, Silver Trumpet Vine, Trumpet Vine-Requires Meduim Plot-Rank 3+ Only-Needs Music
Knowed Harvest Rewards: (100 GXP Elder),30-40 Gold, Carrots, Evil Carrots, Flaming Carrots, Baby Carrots Seed

Evil Snow Peas-Cost 1800 Gold-Rewards Rank 2-Challenge Rank 3-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Meduim Pot-Rank 4+ Only-Needs Magic,Water
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 5 (50 at Elder) GXP, 20-60 Gold, Evil Snowman Treasure Card, Red Mandrake, Frostflower, IcebladeTC, Icebat TC, Evil Snow Peas

Fickle Pickle-Cost 2400 Gold-Rewards Rank 3-ChallengeRank 4-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed- Requires Enchanted Soil, Small Pot-Rank 5+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 20 (200 at Elder) GXP, 20-30 Gold, Fries, Pearl, Diamond, 3 Pip Spells TCs, Fickle Pickle Seed


Wizard City Plant Drops:
(None Yet, Info Needed)

Krokotopia
Gardening Shop run by Charley Located in The Oasis

Plants He Sells:
Snap Dragon-Cost 600 Gold-RewardsRank 1-Challenge Rank 1-Likes Garden Gnomes, Regal Dragon Statue-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Large Pot-Rank 3+ Only-Needs Magic
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 2 EXP, 10-30 Gold, School Gem Reagents, Stone Blocks, Coal

Bread Fruit Bush-Cost 600 Gold-Rewards Rank 1-Challenge Rank 1-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Large Pot-Rank 3+ Only-Needs Magic
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 2 (20 at Elder) GXP, 30-40 (60-70 at Elder) Gold, Rank 4 Snacks

Rye Bread Fruit Bush-Cost 1200 Gold-Rewards Rank 2-Challenge Rank 2-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Large Pot-Rank 3+ Only-Needs Magic
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 5 GXP, 20-30 Gold, Rank 4 Snacks

Cornbread Fruit Bush-Cost 1800 Gold-Rewards Rank 3-Challenge Rank 3-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Large Pot-Rank 4+ Only-Needs Magic
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 10 GXP, 20-30 Gold, Rank 4 Snacks 

Prickly Bear Cactus-Cost 2400-Rewards Rank 3-Challenge Rank 4-Likes Garden Gnomes, Pile of Sand-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Enchanted Soil, Meduim Pot-Rank 4+ Only-Needs Music, Pollination
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 20 (200 at Elder) GXP, 70-90 Gold, Rank 5 Pet Snacks, Prickly Bear Cactus Seed

Krokotopia Plant Drops:

Mooshu
Gardening Shop run by Marley Located in Jade Palace

Plants He Sells:
Pink Laugh-O-Dil-Cost 1200 Gold-Reward Rank 2-Challenge Rank 2-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed, Desparagus, White Desparagus-Requires Small Pot-Rank 4+ Only-Needs Pollination
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 5 GXP, 40-50 Gold, Calm TC, Laugh-O-Dil Seed

Orange Dandelion-Cost 1200 Gold-Rewards Rank 2-Challenge Rank 2-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Small Pot-Rank 4+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 5 GXP, 60-70 Gold, Shadow Oil

Burning Snap Dragon-Cost 1800 Gold-Rewards Rank 3-Challenge Rank 3-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Large Pot-Rank 6+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 10 GXP, 30-40 Gold, Killer Tomato

Venus Flytrap-Cost 1800 Gold-Rewards Rank 3-Challenge Rank 3-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Meduim Pot-Rank 4+ Only-Needs Pollination
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 10 GXP, 90-100 (460-470 at Elder) Gold, Traps TCs, Fairy TC, Scrap Iron


Plants That are Dropped:

Deadly Ninja Fig-Dropped by Oakheart-Rewards Rank 6-Challenge Rank 6-Likes Boom Shroom-Dislikes Stinkeed-Requires Enchanted Soil, Larget Pot-Rank 7+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 50 GXP, 60-70 Gold, Skeletal Pirate TC

Dragonspyre
No Gardening Shop

Plants That are Dropped:
White Laugh-O-Dil-Dropped by Decaying Blackguard, Gurtok Piercer-Rewards Rank 6-Challenge Rank 5-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed, Desparagus, White Desparagus-Requires Enchanted Soil, Small Pot-Rank 8+ Only

Fiery Boom Shroom-Dropped by Gurtok Piercer-Rewards Rank 6-Challenge rank 5-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Enchanted Soil, Small Pot-Rank 8+ Only

Celestia
Gardening Shop run by Harley Located in Celestia Base Camp

Plants He Sells:
Trumpet Vine-Cost 2400 Gold-Rewards Mega Massive-Challenge Mega Massive-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed, Baby Carrots-Requires Enchanted Soil, Meduim Pot-Rank 6+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 20 GXP, 40-50 Gold, Humongofrog TC

White Desparagus-Cost 2400 Gold-Rewards Mega Massive-Challenge Mega Massive-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed, White Laugh-O-Dil, Pink Laugh-O-Dil, Laugh-O-Dil-Requires Enchanted Soil, Small Pit-Rank 6+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 20 EXP, Minion TCs

Frozen Flytrap-Cost 3000 Gold-Rewards Mega Massive-Challenge Epic Mega Massive-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-REquires Enchanted Soil, Meduim Pot-Rank 5+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 50 GXP, 90-110 Gold, Blizzard TC, Colossus TC, Frostbite TC

Celestia Plant Drops:
Deadly Fly Trap-Dropped by Aqua Bots, Gurtok Piercer, Cuthalla-Rewards Mega Massive Epic-Challenge Mega Massive Epic-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Enchanted Soil, Meduim Pot-Rank 6+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 300 GXP, 130-220 Gold, Deep Mushroom, Infection TC, Scarecrow TC, Bone

Maelstrom Snap Dragon-Dropped by Hydro Mechs, Gurtok Piercer-, Oakheart-Rewards Rank 5-Challenge Rank 5-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Enchanted Soil-Requires Large Pot-Rank 7+ Only

Crown Item Plants

Happy Holidaisy-Sold in Crown Shop around Christmas Time-Rewards -Challenge-Likes -Dislikes -Requires -Rank + Only-Needs Music, Water
Known Harvest Rewards: 10 GXP, 50-90 Gold, Rank 3 amd below Snacks,
Ninja Fig-Sold in Crown Shop around Christmas Time-Rewards -Challenge-Likes -Dislikes -Requires -Rank + Only-Needs Magic

Known Harvest Rewards:

Evil Magma Peas-Sold in crowns shop *1250* Requires Medium Plot - Rank4 -
Rewards-TCs (Tower Shield/Triton/Poison/Polymorph Ninja Pig/Feint/Earthquake/Cleanse Charm/Pierce) Reagents- (Aether/Aquamarine/Pealr/Golden Pearl/Sandstone) Elder Harvest guarantees re-seed also a rank 9 mega snack (Captain Cantaloupe/Fancy Yogurt/Cherry Tomato/Golden Wheat Bread/
 
Deadly Helephant Ears-Sold in crowns shop *750* Requires Medium Plot - Rank 2- Rewards TCs (Earthquake/Humongofrog/Judgement/Minotaur/Pierce/Scarecrow/Tempest/Tower Shield/Unicorn) Reagants (Diamond/Pearl/Sandstone/Sunstone/Aquamarine) Elder Harvests guarantees re-seed also a mega snack ( Baby Carrot/Crab Apples/Cubby Broccoli/Dragonhorned Melon/Flowering Pineapple/Green Tomato/Sun Fruit/Yellow Corn)
 
Pink Dandelion-Dropped by Temple of Storms Mobs, Krokohamen, Aqua Bots, Nirini Sentries-Rewards Rank4-Challenge Rank 4-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Requires Small Pot-Rank 1+ Only-Needs Pollination, Water
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 20 GXP, 30-70 Gold, Black Pearl, Cyrstal Vial

Silver Trumpet Vine-Dropped by Piscean Centurions, Optio Vitale, Ptolemos-Rewards Mega Massive Epic-Challenge Mega Massive Epic-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed, Baby Carrots-Requires Meduim Pot-Rank 1+ Only
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 300 GXP, Cleanse Charm TC

King Parsely-Dropped by Gurtok Piercer-Rank 6 Rewards-Rank 6 Challenge-Likes Garden Gnomes-Dislikes Stinkweed-Meduim Pot-Rank 1+ Only-Needs Music, Sun
Knowed Harvest Rewards: 100 GXP

Couch Potatoes - Sold in crowns shop *1500* Requires Large Plot - Rank 3 - Reward TCs ( Amplify/Conviction/Empower/Fortify/Infallible/Vengeance) Reagants- (None) Snacks- (Captain Canteloupe/Fancy Yogurt/GoldenPizza/Golden Wheat Bread/Jar of Jelly Beans/Killer Tomato/Shanta Pudding/Taco Town Special) The Elder Harvest will include one of the mentioned Megas and a re-seed
 
Angora BunnyEars - Sold by Roger the Shrubber(2400 gold) - Drops from the Emperor's Attic Hoard Pack Requires Medium plot - Rank 4 - Reward Seeds: Baby Carrots/Fickle Pickle/Angora BunnyEars

Thank you to Deathshard who gathered and made most of this guide possible
Thanks to the following people who helped with the guide:
Jacob Taleheart, Paige Moonshade, Misthead, Evil Toast, Susume, tamlfra, TiM_FeRNo, spike491, Mythtress_Tara, Light Knight, ninjapigman, kandyj, Willowdreamer, Sorrieah, MikeStrath, MsSandy, lukin

Thanks from the following sites:
https://www.wizard101.com/posts/list/30916.ftl
http://ambrose2zeke.blogspot.com/2011/05/wizard101-quick-gardening-tips-tricks.html
http://www.wizard101central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121943