Stardew Valley – Farming Guide: How to Farm

Guides

There are 5 primary skills in Stardew Valley that players will develop and level up to increase their income and efficiency. However, the most important skill in the game is Farming, which is essential for a successful playthrough. Farming is not only the best way to make money in Stardew Valley, but it is also the most relaxing way to progress through the game and the main activity that players should focus on in this life simulator.

How to Farm in Stardew Valley (Simplified)

We will first provide a beginner-friendly explanation of how to farm in Stardew Valley. To start farming, you need to till the soil using a Hoe, plant crop seeds, and water them every day until they can be harvested. You can purchase seeds from Pierre’s General Store in Pelican Town. Once you have seeds and tilled tiles, you can plant the seeds by interacting with the ground. After planting, get water from a lake or river using your Watering Can and water the crops. Watering the crops daily is crucial for their growth.

How to Harvest in Stardew Valley

To harvest your crops, you need to wait for them to grow. Each crop has a different growth time, which can range from 7 to 20 days. When a crop is ready to be harvested, you will notice a clear difference in its appearance. Hovering your cursor over the crops will show a green “+” sign, indicating that they are ready to be harvested. Depending on the crop, you can either click on them or use a Scythe to harvest them. The most efficient way to harvest crops is to hold the seeds you want to use as replacements and press the Do Action button to harvest and plant the new seeds simultaneously.

Farming Skill Level and XP Explained in Stardew Valley

In Stardew Valley, all skills start at level 0 and can be leveled up to a maximum of 10. Each level unlocks new crafting recipes, and at levels 5 and 10, players can choose Professions that provide significant advantages. Farming Professions, such as Tiller and Artisan, allow players to make a lot of money from artisan goods or animal products. Leveling up Farming requires Farming XP, which can be obtained by performing farming-related tasks.

Benefits of Leveling Farming

Aside from unlocking Professions and crafting recipes, leveling up the Farming skill offers additional advantages. With each level gained, the Energy consumption of the Watering Can and Hoe is reduced by 0.1. At level 10, these tools only consume 1 Energy per use. Using buffs from food can further increase Farming levels, allowing for even more energy-efficient farming. Additionally, higher Farming levels increase the chance of obtaining higher-quality crops from harvests, which can greatly impact their value.

List of Crops and Harvest XP Gain

Each crop in Stardew Valley provides different XP yields upon harvesting. Here is a list of crops and the amount of experience gained for harvesting them, ranked from highest to lowest:

  • Sweet Gem Berry – 64 XP per harvest
  • Starfruit – 43 XP per harvest
  • Ancient Fruit – 38 XP per harvest
  • Pumpkin – 31 XP per harvest
  • Pineapple – 30 XP per harvest
  • Fairy Rose – 29 XP per harvest
  • Red Cabbage – 28 XP per harvest
  • Melon – 27 XP per harvest
  • Rhubarb – 26 XP per harvest
  • Cauliflower – 23 XP per harvest
  • Artichoke – 22 XP per harvest
  • Yam – 22 XP per harvest
  • Amaranth – 21 XP per harvest
  • Poppy – 20 XP per harvest
  • Strawberry – 18 XP per harvest
  • Kale – 17 XP per harvest
  • Beet – 16 XP per harvest
  • Taro Root – 16 XP per harvest
  • Radish – 15 XP per harvest
  • Summer Spangle – 15 XP per harvest
  • Bok Choy – 14 XP per harvest
  • Cactus Fruit – 14 XP per harvest
  • Cranberries – 14 XP per harvest
  • Grape – 14 XP per harvest
  • Potato – 14 XP per harvest
  • Sunflower – 14 XP per harvest
  • Eggplant – 12 XP per harvest
  • Garlic – 12 XP per harvest
  • …