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[Kuikka]

That's why you need some kind of watering system, since crop needs mud and mud comes from water. It's good idea to plan a bit beforehands;

How long/big water "tank" I need? Do I later need water somewhere deeper? Can I use it for traps? I usually plan a well-system that reaches down to 1st cavern in case there are no lakes (as it currently is in my fort) by using levers that are linked to hatches.

Before you fill the cistern with water, I recommend digging few tunnels from it and placing bridges or floodgates to control the flow of water for later use. You can for example water farms that way easily.

[Deboche]

If you have soil, you don't need to water stone. Just dig an underground layer of soil. The way to check if a certain floor is soil or rock is to attempt to build a farm on it. If it's green, it's soil.

And I wouldn't say you need to prepare in case you need your cistern water to go anywhere. At any point, you can dig into the side of your cistern like you did for the river and use the water.

[Kuikka]

If you have soil, you don't need to water stone. Just dig an underground layer of soil. The way to check if a certain floor is soil or rock is to attempt to build a farm on it. If it's green, it's soil.

As far as I know you still need to water the soil. At least I have been able to build a farm (green) but it says "no seeds available" unless I water it first.

[Deboche]

Nope, if it's soil you can just use it as it is.

[Aslandus]

If you have soil, you don't need to water stone. Just dig an underground layer of soil. The way to check if a certain floor is soil or rock is to attempt to build a farm on it. If it's green, it's soil.

As far as I know you still need to water the soil. At least I have been able to build a farm (green) but it says "no seeds available" unless I water it first.

You probably just don't have seeds and coincidentally acquired them (from something being brewed or eaten) at the same time as you dumped the water...

[Kuikka]

If you have soil, you don't need to water stone. Just dig an underground layer of soil. The way to check if a certain floor is soil or rock is to attempt to build a farm on it. If it's green, it's soil.

As far as I know you still need to water the soil. At least I have been able to build a farm (green) but it says "no seeds available" unless I water it first.

You probably just don't have seeds and coincidentally acquired them (from something being brewed or eaten) at the same time as you dumped the water...

Nope, that wasnt the case. It was a fresh embark, and I deconstructed the farm, watered it and then it worked. I think the farm plot also mentioned "no soil/mud for farm bla bla bla" despite the land being silty clay and letting me to build a farm in it.

[Aslandus]

If you have soil, you don't need to water stone. Just dig an underground layer of soil. The way to check if a certain floor is soil or rock is to attempt to build a farm on it. If it's green, it's soil.

As far as I know you still need to water the soil. At least I have been able to build a farm (green) but it says "no seeds available" unless I water it first.

You probably just don't have seeds and coincidentally acquired them (from something being brewed or eaten) at the same time as you dumped the water...

Nope, that wasnt the case. It was a fresh embark, and I deconstructed the farm, watered it and then it worked. I think the farm plot also mentioned "no soil/mud for farm bla bla bla" despite the land being silty clay and letting me to build a farm in it.

I know for a fact that you don't need water to farm, unless you are trying to build a farm on stone. There are a number of things it could be, such as one of your dwarves eating a plump helmet or brewing some plants while you were deconstructing and rebuilding the farm, I highly doubt you managed to deconstruct a farm, flood the area and reconstruct the farm in less time than one of your dwarves deciding to get a snack or brew some wine. "No seeds" is what comes up when you have no seeds for a plant, because it means you can't plant any of the crop, there would be some other message to tell you that there was no water if it was needed.

I have built dozens of farms on dry soil, even some in the desert, without any problem, so unless you are running some hydration mod it is definitely a coincidence.

[Ancalagon_TB]

One note:  the plan above is decent,  make the cistern 2 level deep at least, otherwise the water will be a bit muddy.  You can use the plan above, but just dig it a bit deeper directly above the well.

Also, for increased security, you can put a vertical grate in the tunnel leading inside, water will flow through but it will keep most critters out.

[Nikow]

I always dig at least one huge cistern to my fort asap - channeling/digging to a river, floodgate and lever, channel a hole above the cistern and place a well. As one needs water anyway in oder to farm underground it's wise to plan cistern to lead some of its water to fields.

My method is to dig the cistern, then the tunnel that leads to the river/water source and stop 1 tile before the water. Build floodgate at the end of tunnel and link it to a lever. When you can open and close the floodgate you can channel (above the tunnel) the last tile that separates your tunnel from the river.

Do not build floodgate directly - you should build forification before floodgate, some building destroyers can break it. For example undead trolls.

[Kuikka]

I always dig at least one huge cistern to my fort asap - channeling/digging to a river, floodgate and lever, channel a hole above the cistern and place a well. As one needs water anyway in oder to farm underground it's wise to plan cistern to lead some of its water to fields.

My method is to dig the cistern, then the tunnel that leads to the river/water source and stop 1 tile before the water. Build floodgate at the end of tunnel and link it to a lever. When you can open and close the floodgate you can channel (above the tunnel) the last tile that separates your tunnel from the river.

Do not build floodgate directly - you should build forification before floodgate, some building destroyers can break it. For example undead trolls.

I guess that's the reason why there was a suggestion of using a bridge to control water flow. Unless zombies swim in 7-deep water I see no reason to upgrade my "defences".

But I tested farm building again, and silty clay is soil, right? Farming wont work due "not having mud". But this is weird if it should work.

[Aslandus]

I always dig at least one huge cistern to my fort asap - channeling/digging to a river, floodgate and lever, channel a hole above the cistern and place a well. As one needs water anyway in oder to farm underground it's wise to plan cistern to lead some of its water to fields.

My method is to dig the cistern, then the tunnel that leads to the river/water source and stop 1 tile before the water. Build floodgate at the end of tunnel and link it to a lever. When you can open and close the floodgate you can channel (above the tunnel) the last tile that separates your tunnel from the river.

Do not build floodgate directly - you should build forification before floodgate, some building destroyers can break it. For example undead trolls.

I guess that's the reason why there was a suggestion of using a bridge to control water flow. Unless zombies swim in 7-deep water I see no reason to upgrade my "defences".

But I tested farm building again, and silty clay is soil, right? Farming wont work due "not having mud". But this is weird if it should work.

But trolls are amphibious building destroyers, they can swim in and break your floodgate. A non-amphibious zombie building destroyer could get in as well due to not having to breathe.

"No mud" is always there, even if you literally just covered stone in mud a minute before. If the farm will build, crops will grow.

[Deboche]

A bridge is all you need. Fortifications don't work if they're submerged, floodgates can be destroyed.

[Kuikka]

But trolls are amphibious building destroyers, they can swim in and break your floodgate. A non-amphibious zombie building destroyer could get in as well due to not having to breathe.

"No mud" is always there, even if you literally just covered stone in mud a minute before. If the farm will build, crops will grow.

Ah, you're right it does say "no mud" despite having it. Must have been a really unfortunate coincidence when I last time built my farms. But well, I watered my farms in older versions where it wasnt needed so...

It's not common sight to see enemies "swim" in 7-deep water, is it? Only enemy I have seen to dive in river tunnels was a weregecko or something but it drowned after transforming back into a human. No troll has ever even tried to reach floodgates or hatches that are completely submerged, and I have had many forts with similar designs (floodgate is next to the river). Maybe i have been lucky then. Undead trolls could be fun... 

[Ancalagon_TB]

Trolls amphibious?  Really?  They die just fine in my drowning chamber...

[Aslandus]

Trolls amphibious?  Really?  They die just fine in my drowning chamber...

Well, natural swimmers. They can still path through water and break things, but they will eventually drown if left in 7/7 water for long enough