A fast, easy, and cheap way of obtaining alchemical ingredients is to harvest crops from farms and gardens in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the player can harvest not only the ingredient category items but also food category items in the farms.
There are a number of farms, plots, and gardens scattered across Morrowind, Cyrodiil, Skyrim.
All ingredients and foods harvested from plants will eventually grow back, usually in a matter of days.
Morrowind
The farms in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind are the containers.
Pelagiad
Junal-Lei's House
Oblivion
The largest are Odiil Farm, Lord Drad's Estate, and Shetcombe Farm in Oblivion. The largest agricultural center is Skingrad, with an enormous field of tomatoes north of the city and grapes from the Surilie Brothers Vineyards and Tamika's Vineyards growing just outside of the west gate.
The crops grown on farms are generally only good for making potions that restore fatigue until one reaches the higher levels of alchemy. Expert alchemists may find strawberries, watermelons, and grapes useful for damage health potions. Combining grapes with flax—both very abundant in the West Weald—makes an effective poison for high-level alchemists.
The following is a complete list of gardens and farms in Oblivion:
Aleswell
Applewatch
Blankenmarch
Border Watch
Brina Cross Inn
- Corn
- Grapes (along western fence)
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
Cropsford
These items only appear after the "Goblin Trouble" quest is completed and the settlement is finished.
Drakelowe
Gottlesfont Priory
- Corn
- Lettuce
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Radishes
- Watermelon
Harlun's Watch
Harm's Folly
Lord Drad's Estate
Odiil Farm
Priory of the Nine
Shardrock
Shetcombe Farm
Unnamed farm north of Skingrad
- Tomatoes [x90]
Vineyards
There are two extensive vineyards outside of Skingrad's western gate. An enormous amount of grapes are available here.
Water's Edge
Next to Marie Alouette's house:
Next to Eduard Retiene's house:
Weatherleah
Whitmond Farm
Skyrim
The following is a complete list of gardens and farms in Skyrim:
Eastmarch
Brandy-Mug Farm
- Wheat
- Snowberries (at the end of field)
Hlaalu Farm
Hollyfrost Farm
Falkreath Hold
Corpselight Farm
Haafingar
Katla's Farm
- Blue Mountain Flower
- Cabbage
- Fly Amanita
- Leek
- Potato
- Purple Mountain Flower
- Red Mountain Flower
- Thistle Branch
- Wheat