Summary
- Wheat is a fast-growing crop in Stardew Valley but lacks high profitability compared to other options.
- Parsnips are a great mid-range profit crop for beginners due to easy accessibility and processing potential.
- Eggplants offer high profitability with two harvests per cycle, making them a valuable choice for farmers.
In Stardew Valley, each season lasts only 28 days, presenting farmers with the challenge of planting, growing, and harvesting crops efficiently. With this tight schedule, many players wonder which crops grow the fastest to maximize their yields within the limited time. However, the solution isn’t straightforward: some fast-growing crops don’t necessarily yield the highest profits, while other crops, though slower to grow, might be more lucrative.
Stardew Valley: Every Summer Crop, Ranked
Looking for the best crops to plant during summer? These ones are the best of the bunch!
To help players navigate these choices, the following list ranks the seven fastest-growing crops in Stardew Valley, aiming to identify the best options for both beginner and advanced farmers.
This ranking of the fastest-growing crops in Stardew Valley considers more than just growth time. The top crops are selected based on their overall value and Return on Investment (ROI), ensuring that you not only harvest quickly but also achieve the best financial returns.
7 Wheat
Grows in Four Days
- Season: Summer and Fall
- Harvest Type: Single Harvest
- Seed Price: 10g to 12g
- Sale Price: 25g
- Regrowth: Doesn’t regrow
- Most Profitable As: Beer (200g)
Wheat is a fast-growing crop in Stardew Valley, maturing in just four days, making it one of the quickest multi-season crops. It's a practical choice for farmers who rely on artisan goods for seasonal income and need a cost-effective ingredient source. However, Wheat's limited utility and low profitability make it less appealing.
With a selling price of 151g per Wheat, it’s a decent return but doesn’t justify large-scale production. Alternatives like Parsnips are more profitable, as they can be processed into higher-value items. Although 
Wheat is used to produce Flour and Beer, which some consider essential, its overall replaceability and lack of high-profit margin make it less competitive compared to other fast-growing crops.
6 Parsnip
Grows in Four Days
- Season: Spring
- Harvest Type: Single Harvest
- Seed Price: 20g to 25g
- Sale Price: 35g
- Regrowth: Doesn’t regrow
- Most Profitable As: Pickles (120g)
Parsnip is a solid mid-range profit crop in Stardew Valley. Beginners aiming to establish a steady income should consider mass-producing Parsnips for several reasons: 1) They grow in just four days, allowing up to seven harvests per season, and 2) Parsnip seeds are easily accessible and typically available early in the game.
Selling Parsnips nets players 210g each, which isn't the highest price, but their value can be significantly increased by turning them into Artisan goods like pickles and juices. This added processing potential helps players maximize their profits.
5 Eggplant
Grows in Five Days
- Season: Fall
- Harvest Type: Multiple Harvests
- Seed Price: 20g to 25g
- Sale Price: 60g
- Regrowth: 5 Days
- Most Profitable As: Pickles (170g)
Eggplants are one of the most underrated crops in Stardew Valley. They take only five days to grow, making them one of the fastest crops in their season, and they produce a second harvest after another five days, effectively doubling your profits without any additional costs.
In addition to their regrowth advantage, 
Eggplant is versatile in cooking, used in dishes like 
Eggplant Parmesan and Survival Burger. They offer a solid profit margin with a selling price of 330g. However, since Eggplants provide two harvests per cycle, their adequate profit is 660g per planted crop, making them a highly profitable choice.
4 Hot Pepper
Grows in Five Days
- Season: Summer
- Harvest Type: Multiple Harvests
- Seed Price: 20g to 25g
- Sale Price: 60g
- Regrowth: 3 Days
- Most Profitable As: Dried (325g)
Young farmers seeking a boost should consider planting 
Hot Pepper. This often-overlooked vegetable offers multiple harvests, with the second harvest ready just three days after the first. In terms of profit, Hot Peppers and Eggplants are on par, each providing up to 660g per crop. However, Hot Peppers have the edge due to their accessibility, making them easier for beginners to mass-produce.
Additionally, Hot Peppers are crucial for Community Center Bundles, ensuring they are a valuable addition to any farm. Their Artisan goods, especially jelly and dried Hot Peppers, are also highly sought after in Pelican Town and sell for a good price, adding to their overall profitability.
3 Garlic
Grows in Four Days
- Season: Spring
- Harvest Type: Single Harvest
- Seed Price: 40g
- Sale Price: 60g
- Regrowth: Doesn’t Regrow
- Most Profitable As: Oil of Garlic (1,000g)
Garlic might not be the first choice for many Stardew Valley farmers, but its potential quickly makes it a staple crop once its benefits are realized. With a four-day growth cycle, Garlic can be harvested up to six times per season. Each Garlic sells for 60g (360g after six harvests), which is notably higher than crops like Wheat and Parsnip.
Stardew Valley: Every Fall Crop, Ranked
Looking for the best crops to grow in fall in Stardew Valley? These ones should do the trick!
For beginner Stardew Valley players, Garlic is also a versatile crop used in various recipes and Artisan products. When processed into pickles or juice, its Return on Investment increases to 170g, making it a valuable addition to any farm.
Garlic is required for Gourmand Frog's puzzle on Ginger Island.
2 Bok Choy
Grows in Four Days
- Season: Fall
- Harvest Type: Single Harvest
- Seed Price: 50g to 62g
- Sale Price: 80g
- Regrowth: Doesn’t Regrow
- Most Profitable As: Pickle (210g)
Bok Choy may not receive much attention in real life, but in Stardew Valley, it's a valuable crop for farmers seeking quick profits. With a growth cycle of just four days, Bok Choy can be harvested multiple times in a season. Each unprocessed Bok Choy sells for 80g, and when considering multiple harvests, it can yield up to 480g per crop, offering a high Return on Investment (ROI). This crop is also essential for various recipes, such as the Super Meal, adding to its utility.
1 Strawberry
Grows in Eight Days
- Season: Spring
- Harvest Type: Multiple Harvests
- Seed Price: 100g
- Sale Price: 120g
- Regrowth: 4 Days
- Most Profitable As: Dried Fruit (925g)
Strawberry is the best fast-growing crop in Stardew Valley—though it could be argued that it ranks among the top five across all categories as well. The reason for Strawberry’s high value lies in its regrowth properties and substantial resale profit. Players can expect up to 600g of revenue from Strawberry mass production, which can be doubled if it’s used in artisan goods.
In terms of growth time, Strawberries are the slowest among fast-growing crops, requiring eight days for each plant to mature. However, since this list isn’t solely based on growth speed, it acknowledges that harvesting Strawberries, in the long run, yields a higher profit than other fast-growing options like Bok Choy or Garlic.
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Stardew Valley does not currently support crossplay between different consoles and PC
- Cross Save
- cross-progression is only available between the PC and mobile versions of the game
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical or Horizontal
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
- How Long To Beat
- 53 Hours
- File Size Xbox Series
- 1 GB (November 2023)
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-4 Players
