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The beloved farming simulation game Stardew Valley offers players a bountiful variety of crops to harvest. That’s why it’s important to know what’s the most profitable crops you’ll plant for each season. With numerous fruit and vegetable seeds available, each with its own unique requirements, it can be overwhelming to decide which crops to grow for the season. While you have the freedom to plant whatever you like, some crops are undeniably more profitable than others. If you’re worried about these we got your back, we’ve put together a guide that will help you decide what’s the best crop for each season.
Preparation Is Key
Before rushing to buy seeds in bulk, consider these crucial factors before you regret any rash decisions. Here’s how to prepare for the season:
- Day of the Month: Some crops provide multiple harvests per season. Plant seeds that continually produce crops early in the season to maximize your profits for every season.
- Sprinklers: These handy devices automatically water your crops daily, saving you time and energy to do other activities during the day.
- Farm Layout: Plan your plots by marking corners with fences and ensuring there’s enough space for your sprinklers. Make sure you calculate the number of seeds you will purchase based on your available squares.
- Cost Calculation: Multiply the number of tilled squares by the cost of each seed to determine your investment in each plot you’ve tilled.
With careful planning, you can instantly make huge profits as you expand your operations. But make sure to take care of your crops everyday.
Best Spring Crops in Stardew Valley
Spring is the starting point for your farming journey in Stardew Valley, and choosing the right crops can set you on the path to success. Here are the top crops for this season:
- Green Beans
- Seed Cost: 60g
- Growth Time: 10 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 88g (with Tiller)
- Green Beans are a fantastic investment during the early game. Green beans continually produce throughout spring, you can harvest the crop until the season ends.
- Strawberries
- Seed Cost: 100g
- Growth Time: 8 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 198g (with Tiller)
- While only available during the Egg Festival. What’s great about them is you can harvest them every four days, they also sell for a higher price.
- Cauliflower
- Seed Cost: 80g
- Growth Time: 12 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 288g (with Tiller)
- A versatile crop, cauliflower can be gifted to villagers and used in recipes. Look out for giant crops for extra profit. It’s also useful for certain recipes and gift-giving.
- Rhubarb
- Seed Cost: 100g
- Growth Time: 13 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 484g (with Tiller)
- Rhubarb is harder to get since it can only be purchased in the desert. Despite this rhubarb crops have a high selling price and can be used in various recipes.
- Potato
- Seed Cost: 50g
- Growth Time: 6 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 176g (with Tiller)
- Potatoes are a low-cost option with a quick growth time with the potential for extra harvests. They are also part of the Spring Crop Bundle, so you better save some if you want to complete your community bundles.
Best Summer Crops in Stardew Valley
Summer brings exciting opportunities for farming. There are many crops available to grow during this season, but here are our top picks:
- Blueberries
- Seed Cost: 80g
- Growth Time: 13 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 110g (with Tiller)
- Blueberries are the best crops in summer because when harvested you’ll receive multiple blueberries per crop, which is great when you want to make a consistent profit during the summer.
- Starfruit
- Seed Cost: 400g
- Growth Time: 13 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 1,650g (with Tiller)
- Although the seeds are expensive to buy, Starfruit is incredibly profitable. You can craft artisan products like Starfruit Jelly and Starfruit Wine for an even higher price.
- Coffee
- Seed Cost: Varies (Obtained from Dust Sprites or Traveling Merchant)
- Growth Time: 10 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 30g (Iridium Quality)
- Highly profitable crop, though the seeds can be a bit tricky to obtain. The beans can be harvested every two days, and once harvested you can either sell it or brew your coffee.
- Melon
- Seed Cost: 80g
- Growth Time: 12 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 550g (with Tiller)
- Melons offer good profits and can be used in various recipes, making them a versatile choice for the summer season.
- Corn
- Seed Cost: 150g
- Growth Time: 14 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 528g (with Tiller)
- While corn may not seem impressive at first, it’s one of the few crops that can grow in multiple seasons, making this the best crop to grow for summer and fall.
Best Fall Crops in Stardew Valley
As autumn rolls around, it’s time to prepare for a new set of crops. Here are the top choices for a great harvest in this season:
- Sweet Gem Berry
- Seed Cost: 1000g (can be purchased in a Traveling Car)
- Growth Time: 24 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 6,000g (Iridium Quality)
- Sweet Gem Berries come from rare seeds. Despite the cost, sweet gem berries are incredibly profitable for the season.
- Grapes
- Seed Cost: 60g
- Growth Time: 10 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 123g (with Tiller)
- Grapes offer a reliable source of income in the fall, especially when used to make high-value products for artisan goods.
- Cranberries
- Seed Cost: 240g
- Growth Time: 7 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 165g (with Tiller)
- Cranberries may be expensive, but their quick growth and multiple harvests make them worth the investment since they regrow every 5 days.
- Pumpkin
- Seed Cost: 100g
- Growth Time: 13 Days
- Selling Price: Up to 440g (with a chance of a giant pumpkin)
- While this crop requires replanting, pumpkins make a good profit and are essential for community bundles and gifting to villagers.
Best Winter Crop Alternatives in Stardew Valley
Winter in Stardew Valley is the hardest season as outdoor crops are unavailable. However, you can still profit from foraging, mining, and fishing. Here are some winter alternatives:
Foraging
- Winter Root: Sells for 70g to 140g.
- Crystal Fruit: Sells for 150g to 300g.
- Snow Yam: Sells for 100g to 200g.
- Crocus: Sells for 60g to 120g.
- Holly: Sells for 80g to 160g.
Mining and Fishing: These activities can be lucrative during the winter months. It’s also the best time to improve your skills in these activities.
Festivals: Participate in winter festivals to earn rewards and celebrate the season. Especially during the Night Market festival, where you can buy specific items that are only available in this event.
Greenhouse Crops
The greenhouse is an invaluable asset on your Stardew Valley farm, offering the potential for year-round profits, even during the harsh winter season. To make the most of this resource, selecting the right crops is crucial. When it comes to choosing crops for your greenhouse, there are a few key things to remember:
- Continuous Regrowth Crops: Planting crops that continually regrow, such as Blueberries, is a smart choice. These crops provide a consistent stream of income as they yield multiple harvests over time.
- High-Value Single-Harvest Crops: Complement your regrowth crops with high-value single-harvest crops. These are crops that have a high profit when harvested once. Examples include sweet gem berries, starfruit, and ancient fruit.
- Ancient Fruit: Speaking of Ancient Fruit, it deserves special mention. This crop is a true superstar in the greenhouse. Once matured, it continues to produce fruit every seven days, offering a consistent, high-value income for every season.
- Fruit Trees: Fruit trees also have consistent profits for every season as well. Fruit trees produce fruit every day during their respective seasons.
Tips for Maximizing Crop Profit:
- Quality Fertilizer: Use quality fertilizers to increase the chance of crops growing at a higher quality, so you can sell them at a higher price.
- Kegs and Preserves Jars: When you process your crops into artisan goods like wine, juice, and jelly you’ll receive even higher profits.
- Ancient Fruit and Fruit Trees: Once you acquire ancient fruit, make sure to plant it in the greenhouse for year-round income. The same goes for fruit trees as well. You can plant fruit trees in the corners of your Greenhouse.
- Crop Bundles: Complete crop bundles in the Community Center for rewards like greenhouse access, which allows for year-round crop growth.
- Optimize Your Farming: Upgrade your watering can and hoe to save time and energy when planting your crops. Place scarecrows to protect your crops from crows.
- Beach Farm: Consider selecting the Beach Farm layout for access to valuable forage items for additional income.
