Growing krakka or buying cheaper?
My character leveled her chocobo cheap using this one weird trick (ok, it's math), click here to find out how. Information below!
I see a lot of people growing krakka root to train their chocobos on the cheap without realizing that the Vath vendor sells some fair priced alternatives for 348 gil each that give just as much experience. In addition if you train your chocobo enough with these alternatives you can use them to give your chocobo some slight buffs while out in the field!
Here's a picture of the vendor and I've made it easier to see the four krakka root alternatives it sells:
http://i.imgur.com/8DVQy2j.jpg
Isn't it cheaper to grow krakka root?
Possibly! Using math we can determine what soil prices have to be in order to be equal to the Vath vendor. Just be aware that even being about the same price you're still tending and waiting 3 days for the krakka root to grow.
Formula: Vath Price Per (348 gil) * yield - krakka root seed (3,480) = Soil price
Grade 3 Shroud Soil: 2,784 gil
math: (348 * 18) - 3,480 = 2,784
Grade 2 Shroud Soil: 1,044 gil
math: (348 * 13) - 3,480 = 1,044
Grade 1 Shroud Soil: 348 gil
math: (348 * 11) - 3,480 = 348
Potting Soil, etc: n/a (even if the soil was free you'd spend more on just the seed)
math: (348 * 9) - 3,480 = -348
That's all well and good, but my retainer and I can get the soil for free!
You're still capable of selling the soil for market price if a 5% chunk off the sale price won't bring you below the amounts listed above, then purchase more food than you could grow for that price.
(let me know if I made any mistakes above, it's been a long day!)