Cross-breading for Tantalplant seeds

[Angelhearth]

Then either the diagramm or your understanding of it is wrong.

One thing you need to know about cross breeding is that what seed you may get (if your crossbreed is sucessful) is decided when planting the seed, based on the plants already growing in the spots excatly next to the one you're planting in right now. If you have one kind of crop that grows faster than the other one (in this case: Krakka grows faster than Eggplant), you can - and should - harvest the Krakka roots so you can plant new ones that will grow right next to the Eggplants you already have. If your first batch of eggplants is ready to harvest before your second batch of Krakka, harvest the eggplants and plant new ones, to make the most out of the second round of Krakkas you've got.

Shadygrove is also right with their suggestion to use throw away soil for the first seed you plant - use Thanalan III after that. If your timing is right (you can manipulate with fertilisier if needed) you can keep crossbreeds going forever, without ever looking at an empty garden.

But why should I harvest the Krakka Roots? I only want the Tantalplant, nothing else.

[Jojoya]

But why should I harvest the Krakka Roots? I only want the Tantalplant, nothing else.

Because they have a shorter grow time (3 days) than the eggplant (5). By leaving the Wizard Eggplant in place and harvesting the Krakka Root then replanting, you have the potential to get more Tantalplant seeds.

As an example, let's say you grow for 15 days harvesting and replacing only one seed type. If you leave the Wizard Eggplant in place and harvest/replace the Krakka Root, you could get up to 20 seeds in those 15 days. If you leave the Krakka Root in place and harvest/replace the Wizard Eggplant instead, the most you could get is 12 (this is assuming you're using the 8 bed plot).

The diagram might have suggested leaving the Krakka Root and harvesting/replacing the Wizard Eggplant because of the seed cost. But Krakka Roots also sell steady, usually at a profit compared to the seed cost, while eggplant has a more limited market. You should at least make back the cost of the Krakka Root seeds while potentially getting more Tantalplant seeds.

[Vidu]

But why should I harvest the Krakka Roots? I only want the Tantalplant, nothing else.

The way crossbreeding works is that you basically harvest the seeds as an additional item to the crops - so if you harvest a plant that has the potential to also yield crossbreed-seeds, you will harvest both at the same time. You cant get the Tantalplant without the Krakka roots and each time you harvest a Krakka root that was planted in such a way that it has the potential to get you Tantalseeds, you have the chance to get those seeds.
If you're able to plant two rounds of Krakka roots, you get four more chances to get seeds. (As I mentioned: The crossbreed "snaps" the moment you plant the seed, based on what plants are growing next to it at that moment - your second round of Krakka roots should be planted next to the first round of eggplants, so they'll snap right into the potential to yield Tantalseeds. Basically: 4 eggplants can make 8 Krakka roots snap into that potential, but only if you harvest the first 4 once they're done)

The same basically goes for the eggplants - again: each time you harvest one, you have a chance to get a seed. In order to plant as little plants as possible, you'll never want to end up with an empty garden and instead alternate harvesting and planting the crops.

This becomes even more intresting and important once you're dealing with rare and expensive crossbreeds - eggplants and Krakka roots are fairly easy to obtain after all. But crops like Glazenut, Jute and Thavnair Onion can be used in crossbreeds aswell - and using the same plants for two or even three crossbreeds is extremly helpful.

[StouterTaru]

But why should I harvest the Krakka Roots? I only want the Tantalplant, nothing else.

You're not going to harvest Tantaplants; you'll harvest Tantaplant seeds when you pull up your krakka or eggplants