Crops (DS)

Crops are any vegetables, fruits, and flowers that can be grown and harvested on farmland, and are a frequent source of income. Crops are seasonal, and can only be grown in a specific season. Seeds planted off-season will disappear after a day, and grown crops from the previous season will wilt on the first day of the new season. Only a sickle can remove wilted crops.

There are two categories of crops - crops that can be harvested only once, and crops that regrow over time. It is advised to plant crops at the start of the season, so they can be harvested more frequently and yield a larger profit.

Fruit and vegetable seeds can be bought at Vesta's Farm or by calling Karen's Supermarket. Some special seeds are also available to trade with Casino Medals at the Sprite Casino.

Flowers can also be grown, and can be shipped unlike in the previous game, Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town. However, their seeds can only be obtained by placing a flower in the Seed Maker, which requires the Maker Shed to be built.

Seeds are considered tools, and can be placed in the Toolbox. Fruits and vegetables can be placed in the Refrigerator, and flowers can be placed on the Shelf. Up to 99 of a single type of seed or crop can be stacked in one inventory space, as long as their levels match.

Harvest Sprites can be hired to harvest or water crops. They can reach crops that are otherwise blocked by obstacles or other crops.

Growing Plants
To plant seeds, clear out and till a 3x3 area of farmland. Stand in the middle square and scatter one bag of seeds. Seeds scattered on untilled land disappear. Water the seeds everyday so they grow and produce crops. Crops do not have to be watered on rainy or stormy days.

Once the season changes, any remaining plants on the farm field will wilt. Before the season changes, use the sickle to cut wilted crops. On the 30th day of any season, seeds for the next season can be purchased, planted, and will grow the next. The only exception is Spring crops, as the soil is too hard to till during Winter.

Crops can also be grown on crop fields throughout Forget-Me-Not Valley. Each patch has different soil quality, which influences the rate of crop growth.

Off-season crops can be grown in Basements. Gotz can built up to three beneath the player's house. A Spring Sun, Summer Sun, or Fall Sun must be placed in a basement to grow crops for one of those respective seasons.

When crops are fully grown and are harvested, they can be shipped, used as cooking ingredients, or given as presents to townsfolk.

Leveling Up Crops
Crops have a chance to be leveled up by one level by planting the same seeds in one place multiple times. Higher-level crops fetch a higher price when shipped, but lose their value when cooked, and do not make townsfolk any happier when gifted. After purchasing the Seed Maker, leveled-up crops can be made into leveled-up seeds, which guarantees that all resultant crops will be at that higher level. Seeds can continuously be layered, harvested, and turned into seeds, to increase levels one by one up to the cap of Level 100.

Giant Crops
There is a 1/255 chance that outdoor crops can produce a giant crop that takes up 2x2 tiles. Thomas will come by with the Harvest Sprites from Mineral Town to harvest it. Giant crops will sell for 10x the normal price. They can be forced to appear by saving on the day before crops are fully grown, and reloading the save until a giant crop has grown overnight. Crops that regrow will be crushed by the giant crop, and will disappear, requiring them to be replanted.