How To Get Fertilizer In Fallout 4: The Ultimate Guide

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So, you’re scavenging the wasteland of Fallout 4, building up your settlements, and suddenly realize you’re running low on a crucial resource: fertilizer. You need it for crafting, especially for those essential crops that keep your settlers fed and happy. But where do you find it, and how do you get enough to keep your farms thriving?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many players struggle with fertilizer scarcity in the early to mid-game. It’s a key component in creating adhesive, which, in turn, is needed for crafting weapons, armor, and various settlement items. This guide will walk you through all the best methods to acquire fertilizer, ensuring your settlements flourish and your crafting needs are met. We’ll cover everything from scavenging to purchasing and even setting up your own production lines. Let’s get started!

Understanding Fertilizer in Fallout 4

Before we dive into the how, let’s clarify the what. Fertilizer in Fallout 4 is a crafting component used primarily to create explosives, adhesive, and to grow crops in your settlements. Adhesive is arguably the most vital, since it’s used in virtually every crafting recipe. It’s a common component in many recipes, making it a constant need for players who enjoy crafting weapons, armor, and settlement items. Fertilizer is a key ingredient in making adhesive. Understanding where to find it and how to manage your supply is essential for any aspiring wastelander.

Why Is Fertilizer Important?

The importance of fertilizer stems from its role in crafting adhesive. Adhesive is used in almost every crafting recipe in the game. Without it, you can’t repair your armor, modify your weapons, or build a decent settlement. Fertilizer is also used directly in the creation of explosives, which are incredibly useful for dealing with tough enemies and clearing out dangerous areas. Finally, it is used to grow food at your settlements.

What Can You Craft with Fertilizer?

Here’s a breakdown of what you can craft with fertilizer and its role in those recipes:

Adhesive: Fertilizer is a key ingredient in crafting adhesive, usually with other common components.
Explosives: Fertilizer is used in many types of explosives, such as frag grenades and mines.
Food Production: fertilizer can be used in your settlements to create food.

Methods for Acquiring Fertilizer

Now, let’s explore all the methods you can use to acquire fertilizer in Fallout 4. We’ll cover everything from scavenging to purchasing, and even setting up your own production lines. Some methods are more reliable than others, and the best approach often involves a combination of techniques.

1. Scavenging for Fertilizer

Scavenging is the most basic and readily available method for obtaining fertilizer. You’ll find it scattered throughout the wasteland in various locations. Here’s what to look for:

Garbage Bags: These are your best friend when it comes to finding fertilizer. They often contain a few units.
Trash Cans: Check every trash can you come across. They often contain fertilizer.
Potted Plants: Don’t ignore the soil in those pots; fertilizer is often found there.
Bags of Fertilizer: Look for actual bags of fertilizer, usually found in agricultural areas and some settlements.
Porta-Potties: Yes, really. Check them.

Tips for Effective Scavenging: (See Also: how is nitrogen fertilizer made)

Explore thoroughly: Leave no stone unturned. Check every container, every corner.
Use the Scrounger perk: This perk increases your chances of finding ammo, but it can also help you find other useful items, like fertilizer, in containers.
Visit farms and agricultural locations: These areas are more likely to contain fertilizer.
Be aware of the weight: Fertilizer can be heavy, so manage your inventory carefully. Consider the Strong Back perk.

2. Purchasing Fertilizer From Vendors

Buying fertilizer from vendors is a reliable, though often expensive, method. You’ll need caps, but it’s a convenient way to replenish your supply. Here’s where to find it:

General Goods Vendors: Vendors like Trashcan Carla, Arturo in Diamond City, and the vendors in Goodneighbor often sell fertilizer.
Settlement Vendors: If you build a tier 3 or 4 general goods vendor in your settlements, they will sometimes stock fertilizer.
Traveling Merchants: Keep an eye out for traveling merchants as they may have it.

Tips for Purchasing Fertilizer:

Check vendors frequently: Their stock refreshes every few days (in-game time).
Negotiate prices: Use the Cap Collector perk to get better prices.
Build vendor shops in your settlements: This gives you a convenient place to buy fertilizer.
Stock up when you can: If a vendor has a good supply, buy it all, especially early in the game.

3. Farming Fertilizer (the Workshop Method)

This is the most sustainable method. You can set up a production line in your settlements to generate fertilizer. This requires a few steps:

Establish a settlement with water sources and access to the workshop: Settlements like Sanctuary Hills or Starlight Drive-In are ideal.
Build Brahmin Pens: You need to have Brahmin in your settlements. They’ll produce fertilizer over time.
Build a Brahmin feeding trough: This is required to make the Brahmin stay in the settlement.
Assign settlers to the Brahmin: This will maximize the fertilizer production.
Build a water source: This can be a water pump or a water purifier.
Build a fertilizer extractor: Requires the Contraptions Workshop DLC.

Tips for Farming Fertilizer:

Choose a good settlement location: One with lots of space and easy access to resources.
Manage your settlers: Assign settlers to tasks efficiently.
Provide beds and food for settlers: Happy settlers work more efficiently.
Defend your settlement: Raiders and other enemies can disrupt your production.
The most reliable way to create fertilizer is to build a Brahmin farm and assign settlers to take care of them.

4. Crafting Fertilizer (the Chem Station Method)

You can craft fertilizer at a chem station, but the materials can be a pain to collect. This method is not recommended. You can craft fertilizer, but it requires the following resources:

2x Bone Meal: Found on skeletons and some creatures.
1x Plastic: Found in various containers and items.
1x Acid: Found in various containers.

Tips for Crafting Fertilizer:

Gather the required components: Bone meal, plastic, and acid.
Use the Chem Station: Select the fertilizer recipe.
This is not the best way to get fertilizer.

5. Looting Enemies

While not a primary source, you can sometimes find fertilizer on the bodies of enemies, especially those found in agricultural areas. It is not a reliable source. (See Also: how does the use of fertilizer affect the nitrogen cycle)

Tips for Looting Enemies:

Search every body: You never know what you might find.
Focus on agricultural areas: Raiders and enemies in these areas are more likely to have fertilizer.

Where to Find Fertilizer: Location Guide

Here’s a breakdown of some locations where you can reliably find fertilizer. Remember that container contents can vary, so it’s not always guaranteed, but these are good places to start.

Agricultural Locations

Drumlin Diner: Check the back room and containers.
Greentop Nursery: Explore the buildings and containers.
Slog: Look in the various buildings.
Abernaty Farm: Check the sheds and containers.
Greygarden: Explore the greenhouses and other structures.

Urban Locations

Cambridge Polymer Labs: Check the various labs and containers.
General Atomics Galleria: Look in the shops and containers.
Diamond City: Check the shops and containers.
Goodneighbor: Check the shops and containers.

Other Locations

Military bases: Often contain fertilizer.
Raider camps: Check containers, but be prepared for a fight.
Abandoned buildings: Explore thoroughly.

Maximizing Fertilizer Acquisition: Tips and Tricks

Prioritize the Scrounger Perk: This perk is very helpful for finding more fertilizer.
Build a Brahmin Farm: This provides a consistent supply of fertilizer.
Establish Trade Routes: Set up trade routes between your settlements to share resources.
Manage Your Inventory: Don’t carry too much weight; use the Strong Back perk if needed.
Check Vendors Regularly: Their stock refreshes, so check back often.

The Importance of Adhesive

Adhesive is one of the most important components in Fallout 4. It is used in almost every crafting recipe in the game. Without adhesive, you can’t repair your armor, modify your weapons, or build a decent settlement. Fertilizer is a key ingredient in making adhesive. Understanding where to find it and how to manage your supply is essential for any aspiring wastelander. Adhesive is used in almost every crafting recipe in the game.

How to Craft Adhesive

The easiest way to craft adhesive is to use the cooking station. The best recipe is to craft Vegetable Starch. It requires 5 corn, 5 mutfruit, 5 tatos, and 1 purified water. All of these items are readily available in your settlements.

Troubleshooting Fertilizer Problems

Here are some common problems and solutions related to fertilizer:

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Running out of fertilizer: Implement all of the methods listed above.
Brahmin not producing fertilizer: Ensure they have food and are assigned to their pen.
Settlement raided, and fertilizer stolen: Build defenses and regularly check your settlement.
Finding fertilizer too heavy: Use the Strong Back perk and manage your inventory.

Verdict

Acquiring fertilizer in Fallout 4 requires a multi-faceted approach. Scavenging, purchasing from vendors, and setting up a settlement-based production line are all viable strategies. Prioritizing a Brahmin farm, coupled with regular vendor checks and efficient scavenging, will ensure a steady supply of fertilizer and adhesive, allowing you to craft, build, and survive in the wasteland. With these techniques, you’ll be well-equipped to keep your settlements thriving and your crafting needs met.

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How to Get Fertilizer in Fallout 4: The Ultimate Guide