Overview
Starsand Island has four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each season lasts 28 in-game days. Most crops only grow during specific seasons, though a set of all-season crops can be planted year-round. If a seasonal crop is still growing when its season ends, it will stop progressing and eventually wither.
Growth time in Starsand Island is measured in real in-game hours, not day-by-day ticks. A crop with an 18-hour growth time starts counting the moment the seed goes in the ground and finishes 18 in-game hours later, regardless of sleeping or time skipping. Each in-game day runs from 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM (20 hours of active time).
Seeds are not locked by season at the point of purchase. You can buy Spring seeds in Winter and have them ready to plant on Spring Day 1. Stock up ahead of time so you can hit the ground running when a new season starts.
Planting Methods
Not all crops go into standard farmland. Four planting methods exist, each unlocked at different points in the Farmer profession.
Method | Description | Unlock |
|---|---|---|
Farmland | Standard tilled soil. Most crops use this. Till with a Hoe, water regularly. Yields 4 per harvest for most crops. | Beginner Farmer |
Trellis | Vertical frame for vine crops. No tilling required, saving stamina. Yields 2 per harvest but crops can be harvested multiple times without replanting. | Apprentice Farmer (Natural Delicacies quest) |
Paddy Field | Flooded field for water-based crops like Rice and Water Caltrop. Requires dedicated water infrastructure. | Junior Farmer |
Planting Box | Portable container that can be placed indoors or outdoors. Works with most farmland crops plus some exclusives like Reishi Mushroom and Exotic Egg. | Junior Farmer |
All-Season Crops
These 12 crops grow year-round regardless of the current season. They form the backbone of a reliable farm since you never have to worry about seasonal transitions wiping out your fields.
Crop | Growth Time | Method | Farmer Rank | Seed Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pasture Grass | 12 hours | Farmland / Planting Box | Beginner | 25 |
Wheat | 18 hours | Farmland / Planting Box | Beginner | 50 |
Garlic | 1 day 12 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 60 |
Potato | 2 days | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 60 |
Mountain Rice | 2 days 12 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 80 |
Cucumber | 2 days | Trellis | Apprentice | 95 |
Peanut | 3 days 6 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 80 |
Soybean | 3 days 12 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Junior | 150 |
Sugarcane | 3 days 12 hrs | Farmland / Paddy Field / Planting Box | Junior | 160 |
Rice | 5 days | Paddy Field | Senior | 260 |
Mandrake | 6 days 18 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Senior | 370 |
Stardew Fern | 7 days 18 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Expert | 690 |
Wheat and Pasture Grass are the fastest growers and should be planted from Day 1. Wheat is especially valuable because it processes into Flour at the Separator, which is needed for dozens of cooking recipes.
Spring Crops
Spring runs from Day 1 to Day 28. Plan your last plantings carefully so crops have time to mature before Summer begins.
Crop | Growth Time | Method | Farmer Rank | Seed Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Leek | 1 day | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 60 |
Tomato | 2 days 12 hrs | Trellis | Junior | 150 |
Green Grape | 3 days | Trellis | Junior | 150 |
Cherry Radish | 3 days 6 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Junior | 160 |
Pineapple | 4 days | Farmland / Planting Box | Junior | 200 |
Red Orchid | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Senior | 325 |
Yellow Orchid | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Senior | 340 |
Blue Orchid | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Senior | 340 |
Strawberry | 5 days | Farmland / Planting Box | Intermediate | 230 |
Cherry Tomato | 3 days 6 hrs | Trellis | Intermediate | 240 |
Water Caltrop | 5 days 18 hrs | Paddy Field | Senior | 420 |
Mint | 6 days | Farmland / Planting Box | Senior | 400 |
Reishi Mushroom | 5 days 18 hrs | Planting Box | Senior | 400 |
Star Plum | 6 days | Trellis | Expert | 710 |
Honeyvine | 6 days | Trellis | Expert | 720 |
Star Mango | 7 days 12 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Expert | 730 |
Exotic Egg | 7 days 18 hrs | Planting Box | Expert | 700 |
Orange Sapling | 8 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 450 |
Spring shares several crops with Summer (Tomato, Green Grape, Honeyvine, Water Caltrop, Mint), so if you miss the planting window in Spring, you get a second chance. Orchids are Spring-exclusive flowers used in cross-breeding.
Summer Crops
Summer runs from Day 1 to Day 28. This is the season with the most unique crops and the highest variety of tree saplings.
Crop | Growth Time | Method | Farmer Rank | Seed Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Water Spinach | 1 day | Farmland | Apprentice | 65 |
Cabbage | 1 day | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 60 |
Beetroot | 1 day | Farmland | Beginner | 60 |
Pepper | 2 days 6 hrs | Trellis | Junior | 160 |
Tomato | 2 days 12 hrs | Trellis | Junior | 150 |
Green Grape | 3 days | Trellis | Junior | 150 |
Watermelon | 4 days | Farmland | Junior | 200 |
Blueberry | 4 days 6 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 240 |
Corn | 4 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 250 |
Red Moonrise | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 325 |
Yellow Moonrise | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 340 |
Blue Moonrise | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 340 |
Water Caltrop | 5 days 18 hrs | Paddy Field | Senior | 420 |
Aloe Vera | 5 days 6 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 390 |
Mint | 6 days | Farmland / Planting Box | Senior | 400 |
Honeyvine | 6 days | Trellis | Expert | 720 |
Chirpy Plum | 7 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Expert | 730 |
Fluffbean | 7 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Expert | 700 |
Zapweed | 8 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Expert | 790 |
Apple Sapling | 8 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 450 |
Camellia Sapling | 10 days | Farmland | Senior | 950 |
Osmanthus Sapling | 15 days | Farmland | Senior | 800 |
Banana Sapling | 20 days | Farmland | Intermediate | 600 |
Snow Pear Sapling | 20 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 700 |
Lychee Sapling | 30 days | Farmland | Intermediate | 950 |
Summer is the best season for tree saplings. Banana, Snow Pear, and Lychee Saplings all have growth times exceeding 20 days, so plant them on Day 1 of Summer if you want any chance of harvesting before the season ends. Lychee (30 days) actually requires the full season and then some; it also grows in Spring/Autumn, so it may carry over. Moonrise flowers are Summer-exclusive and used in cross-breeding.
Autumn Crops
Autumn runs from Day 1 to Day 28. Autumn shares several crops with Summer (Cabbage, Beetroot, Corn) and introduces its own exclusive flowers (Roses).
Crop | Growth Time | Method | Farmer Rank | Seed Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cabbage | 1 day | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 60 |
Beetroot | 1 day | Farmland | Beginner | 60 |
Leek | 1 day | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 60 |
Winter Oilseed | 1 day | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 60 |
Red Grape | 3 days | Trellis | Junior | 150 |
Cherry Radish | 3 days 6 hrs | Farmland / Planting Box | Junior | 160 |
Cherry Tomato | 3 days 6 hrs | Trellis | Intermediate | 240 |
Pumpkin | 4 days | Farmland | Junior | 200 |
Corn | 4 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 250 |
Red Rose | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 325 |
Yellow Rose | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 340 |
Blue Rose | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 340 |
Aloe Vera | 5 days 6 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 390 |
Reishi Mushroom | 5 days 18 hrs | Planting Box | Senior | 400 |
River Lotus | 6 days | Paddy Field | Senior | 420 |
Star Plum | 6 days | Trellis | Expert | 710 |
Bell Pepper | 7 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Expert | 750 |
Zapweed | 8 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Expert | 790 |
King Water Chestnut | 8 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Expert | 790 |
Apple Sapling | 8 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 450 |
Osmanthus Sapling | 15 days | Farmland | Senior | 800 |
Snow Pear Sapling | 20 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 700 |
Persimmon Sapling | 21 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 1,250 |
Autumn is the time to plant Red Grape (used for Green Grape Juice and the Bonus Ore food buff) and Pumpkin (one of the highest-value standard farmland crops). Roses are Autumn-exclusive flowers. Persimmon Sapling takes over 21 days, so plant it on Day 1.
Winter Crops
Winter runs from Day 1 to Day 28. Winter has the fewest unique crops, but it shares several valuable options with Autumn.
Crop | Growth Time | Method | Farmer Rank | Seed Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Winter Oilseed | 1 day | Farmland / Planting Box | Apprentice | 60 |
Red Grape | 3 days | Trellis | Junior | 150 |
Carrot | 3 days 6 hrs | Farmland | Junior | 160 |
Winter Melon | 4 days | Farmland | Junior | 200 |
Red Tulip | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 325 |
Yellow Tulip | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 340 |
Blue Tulip | 4 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 340 |
Strawberry | 5 days | Farmland / Planting Box | Intermediate | 230 |
Jadelume | 5 days | Trellis | Expert | 770 |
River Lotus | 6 days | Paddy Field | Senior | 420 |
Fluffbean | 7 days 18 hrs | Farmland | Expert | 700 |
Exotic Egg | 7 days 18 hrs | Planting Box | Expert | 700 |
King Water Chestnut | 8 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Expert | 790 |
Orange Sapling | 8 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Intermediate | 450 |
Lemon Sapling | 12 days 12 hrs | Farmland | Senior | 1,100 |
Winter is a good time to focus on Tulips (Winter-exclusive flowers for cross-breeding) and Jadelume, the highest-value Trellis crop at 770 coins per seed. With fewer crops competing for field space, Winter is also ideal for growing all-season staples like Stardew Fern and Mandrake.
Seasonal Flowers by Season
Each season has its own exclusive flower set used in cross-breeding. All flowers take 4 days 18 hours to grow and come in Red, Yellow, and Blue base colors.
Season | Flower | Seed Cost |
|---|---|---|
Spring | Orchids (Red, Yellow, Blue) | 325 / 340 / 340 |
Summer | Moonrise (Red, Yellow, Blue) | 325 / 340 / 340 |
Autumn | Roses (Red, Yellow, Blue) | 325 / 340 / 340 |
Winter | Tulips (Red, Yellow, Blue) | 325 / 340 / 340 |
Through cross-breeding, these base colors can produce five hybrid colors: Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple. Plant flowers in adjacent plots to trigger cross-pollination.
Planting Tips
Count backwards from season end. If a crop takes 5 days to grow and the season is on Day 24, you only have 4 days left. That crop will not finish in time. Always check the calendar before planting late in a season.
All-season crops are your safety net. Wheat, Potato, and Cucumber never expire. If you are unsure what to plant, these always work.
Trellis crops regrow. Cucumber, Tomato, Grape, and other Trellis crops can be harvested multiple times from a single planting. They yield 2 per harvest instead of 4, but the time savings on replanting make up for it.
Buy seeds one season early. Seeds are not season-locked at the shop. Buy your Spring seeds during Winter so you can plant immediately on Spring Day 1.
Use Sprinklers. Unlocked at Intermediate Farmer, Sprinklers sit between plots and water surrounding tiles automatically. They eliminate the biggest stamina drain in farming.
Tree saplings need planning. Banana (20 days), Snow Pear (20 days 18 hrs), Persimmon (21 days 12 hrs), and Lychee (30 days) saplings take most or all of a season to mature. Plant them on Day 1 or they will not finish.
Everlasting seeds are the endgame. The Creamy Seeds food buff gives a chance to drop Everlasting seeds when harvesting. Everlasting crops regrow indefinitely after each harvest, never needing replanting.
Seasonal Cooking Ingredients
Several seasonal crops are needed as base cooking ingredients. Keep these in mind when planning your seasonal planting:
Wheat (All Season) processes into Flour, the single most-used cooking ingredient.
Beetroot (Summer/Autumn) and Sugarcane (All Season) process into Sugar.
Peanut (All Season) processes into Cooking Oil.
Potato (All Season) processes into Vinegar at the Brewing Barrel.
Soybean (All Season) processes into Soy Sauce at the Brewing Barrel.