Fruits harvested from trees are not only fairly valuable, but can also be turned into highly profitable artisan goods. Planting fruit trees also means that players will have a steady supply of gifts to give villagers; nobody will turn down a fresh apple or peach. Here’s everything that Stardew Valley players need to know about growing fruit trees, and utilizing their produce.
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Fruit Tree Basics
There are a total of eight fruit tree types in Stardew Valley. When planted in the Greenhouse or in the tropical warmth of Ginger Island, fruit trees will produce fruit every day, regardless of the season, once they are fully grown. This makes them one of the best items to plant in those locations, as it massively increases the profit a player can make from a single tree.
When planted outdoors on the player’s farm, however, each type of fruit tree has a specific harvest season. As long as they are fully grown, they will produce one fruit per day during this season.
Spring Trees: Apricot, Cherry Summer Trees: Mango, Banana, Peach, Orange Fall Trees: Apple, Pomegranate
How To Get Fruit Tree Saplings
Purchasing Saplings
Most fruit tree saplings (except for Mango and Banana) can be purchased from Pierre anytime his shop is open. His prices are:
Apricot: 2,000g Cherry: 3,400g Orange: 4,000g Peach: 6,000g Apple: 4,000g Pomegranate: 6,000g
The Traveling Cart may also sell fruit tree saplings on occasion. Her prices may be lower; however, it may take several tries before the player is able to find a sapling amid her selection. The Traveling Cart proprietor’s prices vary — sometimes players can get a deal here; other times, they’re better off buying from Pierre.
Apricot: 1,500g - 2,500g Cherry: 2,550g - 4,250g Orange: 3,000g - 5,000g Peach: 4,500g - 7,500g Apple: 3,000g - 5,000g Pomegranate: 4,500g - 7,500g
Ginger Island Saplings
Mangos and Bananas are native to Ginger Island, and saplings for these fruit trees cannot be purchased on the mainland. Each one has approximately a 14% chance to be found inside a Golden Coconut, but there are a few other ways to find them as well.
After unlocking the Island Trader, players can purchase saplings here, although the Trader doesn’t deal in typical currency. His prices are:
75 Mussels for a Mango Sapling 5 Dragon Teeth for a Banana Sapling
Professor Snail will also award the player with saplings for helping him complete certain fossil collections:
To get a Banana Sapling, complete the Large Animal collection. For a Mango Sapling, complete the Snake collection.
Growing Fruit Trees
Because all fruit trees take 28 days to mature, be sure to plant them no later than the first day of the season before they will bear fruit. That is, plant Spring fruit trees no later than Winter 1; Summer fruit trees no later than Spring 1; and Fall fruit trees no later than Summer 1. They will spend that season maturing, ensuring a full season of producing fruit.
While fruit trees are maturing, ensure that there is no debris in the 9-tile square surrounding the tree. This includes rocks, weeds, logs, and even forageables like truffles dug up by pigs. If the player goes to sleep while there is debris near their fruit tree, they will receive a notification in the morning that their tree was unable to grow. In gameplay terms, this means it will take one day longer for that tree to reach maturity and start producing fruit.
Unlike regular crops, fruit trees do not need to be watered. To make sure they grow properly, simply be sure to keep the square surrounding the tree clear each day.
Harvesting Fruit
When a fully matured fruit tree is in season, it will produce one fruit per day. The player can harvest this fruit by shaking the tree as they would a berry bush. Up to three fruits can stack at a time; i.e., if the player does not harvest their fruit on the first two days of a season, they can harvest three fruits on the third day. Once there are three fruits on the tree, no more will spawn until they are harvested. Thus, it is recommended that players harvest from their fruit trees at least every third day, in order for their tree to produce the maximum amount.
Note that when the season crosses over and the fruit tree’s season ends, any fruit left on the tree will be lost. Thus, it is also recommended that the player harvest all remaining fruit on the last day of every season.
Fruit Quality
As a tree ages, the fruit it produces increases in quality and therefore in value. This quality increase occurs on the anniversary of the tree’s first fruit harvest. For the first year, it will produce normal-quality fruit, and will increase in quality as below:
After 1 year: Silver quality After 2 years: Gold quality After 3 years and beyond: Iridium quality
Coal
On rare occasions, a fruit tree may be struck by lightning during a thunderstorm. If this happens, that tree will produce coal instead of fruit for the following four days. After four days have passed, the tree will return to normal and continue producing fruit if it is in season. Any coal left on the tree that has not been harvested will disappear once the tree returns to normal.
Fruit & Artisan Product Values
All fruit tree fruits fetch decent prices on their own, but they can also be placed in a Preserves Jar to make Jelly or in a Keg to make Wine. Below, players can find tables outlining the values of each fruit as well as the artisan products created from those fruits. (Base values are listed first, followed by the increased prices that result from the Tiller and Artisan professions if they apply.)
Apricot
Cherry
Orange
Peach
Apple
Pomegranate
Mango
Banana
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