How to play Marrowby

Sowing and merging

• Tap the potting shed under the plot to sow. Most of the time you get a Seed or a Bulb; sometimes a tier 2 or 3 plant, and now and then a Watering Can. It lands in the empty space nearest the shed.
• The daily plot gives everyone the same 120 seed packets. That is the only limit: no timers, no energy.
• Drag a plant onto an identical one to merge them into the next tier. On a phone you can also tap one and then the other; on a computer use the arrow keys and Enter.
• Dropping a plant on an empty space moves it there. Dropping it on a different plant swaps the two.

The two chains

• Veg (12 tiers): Seed, Sprout, Seedling, Pea Pod, Radish, Carrot, Onion, Leek, Cabbage, Pumpkin, Marrow, Prize Marrow.
• Flowers (10 tiers): Bulb, Shoot, Bud, Daisy, Tulip, Sweet Pea, Dahlia, Rose, Sunflower, Prize Bouquet.
• Each tier needs two of the tier below, so a Cabbage takes 256 seeds' worth of merging. The Seed Catalogue remembers everything you have grown.

Orders at the gate

• Three villagers wait at the gate, each wanting one or two plants. The tick shows what you already have.
• When you have everything, tap Hand over (or drag a plant onto the order). The plants leave the plot and you score the order's points.
• Bigger plants pay far more than they cost to grow, and orders get bigger as you go.
• Every fourth order you hand over leaves a Watering Can on the plot.
• Orders never expire. If one is out of reach, the cross swaps it for a new villager at a cost of 3 seed packets.

Weeds, cans and compost

• Weeds block cells. Merge two plants right next to a weed to pull it up for 20 points. Weeds with a question mark hide a plant.
• A Watering Can grows any plant of tier 5 or below by one tier. Drop it on the plant.
• The compost heap takes anything you do not need. It scores nothing, but a full plot is the real enemy.

The show bell and scoring

Ring the show bell when you are out of packets and moves (it starts to swing when there is nothing left to do). Your score is the points from every order, plus 20 for each weed pulled up, plus the show bench: your best veg and your best flower still on the plot are judged, worth their value as an order would pay without the order bonus. One plot counts each day; replays after that are unranked.

Tips

• Keep the bottom rows clear: everything new lands near the shed.
• Do your merging next to weeds whenever you can. It is free points and free space.
• Do not merge everything at once: a spare pair of Sprouts is often exactly what the next order wants.
• Some orders want two of the same kind at different sizes, such as a Carrot and a Radish: hold one back instead of merging everything up.
• Orders pay better than the show bench, so hand over what is wanted and let the bench collect what is left.
• Save watering cans for tier 4 and 5 plants, where one can saves the most seeds.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the same plot for everyone?

Yes. Everyone gets the same weeds, starter plants, seed bag and villagers (until someone swaps an order). Your merges and choices make the difference, so the leaderboard is fair.

Can I play more than once?

Your first plot each day counts. After it you can replay today's plot unranked, play past days from the calendar, or relax on the endless Practice Plot, which has no packet limit.

What if I close the page halfway?

Your plot is saved as you go. Open the page again the same day and carry on from where you were.

Are there adverts for moves or anything to buy?

No. There is no energy, no timer, no shop and nothing to unlock with money. The game is free and needs no account.