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Crop Profitability Rankings - Version 4 vs Version 5
May 8, 2026, 08:43 AM
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11Overview22Knowing which crops earn the most coins is the difference between scraping by and building a thriving farm on Starsand Island. Raw sell prices only tell part of the story. A cheap crop that grows in 12 hours can outperform an expensive one that takes a full week. This guide ranks every purchasable crop by gold per day (g/day), the single best metric for comparing farming income across tiers, seasons, and planting types.44All prices listed are base values when selling at Zerine's General Store. The Merchant Ship pays 200% of normal sell price, effectively doubling every number in this guide when it docks.66How Profitability Is Calculated7+How Profitability is Calculated88The formula for gold per day on a single-harvest crop is:1010Gold/Day = ((Sell Price x Yield) - Seed Cost) / Growth Time in Days1212For multi-harvest (Trellis) crops, the calculation accounts for all harvests from a single seed purchase:1414Gold/Day = ((Sell Price x Yield x Number of Harvests) - Seed Cost) / Total Time in Days1616For everlasting crops, seed cost drops to zero after the first planting. Every subsequent harvest is pure profit, making them the most efficient long-term earners in the game.1818Yield is the number of items produced per harvest (usually 4 for farmland crops, 2 for Trellis crops).Growth Time is measured in real-world days from planting to harvest. A crop listed as "2 days 6 hours" equals 2.25 days.Seed Cost is the price at the Happiness Seed Shop. With the Grinder (Senior Farmer), you can produce seeds from raw crops instead of buying them, which increases effective profitability.2020Starter Crops2222Available from the beginning of the game before any Farmer certification. These crops have low sell prices, but their fast growth times mean you can cycle through multiple harvests per day.2424CropSeed CostSell PriceYieldGrowth TimeSeason(s)Profit/HarvestGold/DaySunflower55g23g41 daySummer, Autumn37g37.0 g/daySweet Potato55g23g41 daySpring, Summer37g37.0 g/dayBeetroot55g21g41 daySummer, Autumn29g29.0 g/dayWheat50g16g418 hoursAll Seasons14g18.7 g/dayPasture Grass25g7g412 hoursAll Seasons3g6.0 g/day2626Verdict: Sunflower leads the Starter tier at 37.0 g/day, available in Summer and Autumn. Sweet Potato ties at 37.0 g/day in Spring and Summer. For all-season farming, Wheat is your best bet at 18.7 g/day. Pasture Grass is primarily grown as animal feed rather than for profit.2727Apprentice Farmer Crops2929Unlocked after your first Farmer certification with Graminova. This tier introduces Trellis crops and the multi-harvest mechanic, which changes the profitability game entirely.3131CropSeed CostSell PriceYieldGrowth TimeSeason(s)Profit/HarvestGold/DayCucumber95g66g22 daysAll Seasons169g (2 harvests)42.3 g/dayPeanut80g58g43d 6hAll Seasons152g46.8 g/dayPotato60g32g42 daysAll Seasons68g34.0 g/dayMountain Rice80g37g42d 12hAll Seasons68g27.2 g/dayGarlic60g27g41d 12hAll Seasons48g32.0 g/dayLeek60g22g41 daySpring, Autumn28g28.0 g/dayWater Spinach65g24g41 daySummer31g31.0 g/dayWinter Canola60g22g41 dayAutumn, Winter28g28.0 g/dayCabbage60g22g41 daySummer, Autumn28g28.0 g/day3333Verdict: Peanut takes the crown for raw single-harvest profitability at 46.8 g/day, and it grows in all seasons. Cucumber's multi-harvest makes it the best sustained earner if you keep up with watering. Potato is the best early-tier option for players who have not yet built a Trellis.3434Junior Farmer Crops3636The Junior Farmer tier is where farming becomes genuinely profitable. You gain access to the big four Gmax-eligible crops (Watermelon, Pumpkin, Pineapple, Winter Melon) plus Trellis grapes.3838CropSeed CostSell PriceYieldGrowth TimeSeason(s)Profit/HarvestGold/DayWatermelon200g131g44 daysSummer324g81.0 g/dayPumpkin200g131g44 daysAutumn, Winter324g81.0 g/dayPineapple200g131g44 daysSpring324g81.0 g/dayWinter Melon200g131g44 daysWinter324g81.0 g/dayTomato150g103g22d 12hSpring, Summer262g (2 harvests)34.9 g/dayPepper160g101g22d 6hSummer244g (2 harvests)54.2 g/dayGreen Grape150g95g23 daysSpring, Summer420g (3 harvests)20.0 g/dayRed Grape150g95g23 daysAutumn, Winter420g (3 harvests)20.0 g/daySoybean150g93g43d 12hAll Seasons222g63.4 g/daySugarcane160g99g43d 12hAll Seasons236g67.4 g/dayCherry Radish160g94g43d 6hSpring, Autumn216g66.5 g/dayCarrot160g95g43d 6hWinter220g67.7 g/day4040Verdict: Watermelon, Pumpkin, Pineapple, and Winter Melon all hit 81 g/day, making them the clear winners at this tier. Together they cover every season. For an all-season alternative, Sugarcane at 67.4 g/day (Paddy Field required) and Carrot at 67.7 g/day (Winter only) are strong picks. Pepper is the best Trellis crop at this tier thanks to its fast regrowth.4141Intermediate Farmer Crops4343This tier introduces fruit tree saplings and the Strawberry/Blueberry pair. Fruit trees are excluded from gold/day rankings because they produce unlimited harvests once mature, making their long-term profitability essentially infinite.4545CropSeed CostSell PriceYieldGrowth TimeSeason(s)Profit/HarvestGold/DayCorn250g170g44d 12hSummer, Autumn430g95.6 g/dayStrawberry230g165g45 daysSpring, Winter430g86.0 g/dayBlueberry240g153g44d 6hSummer372g87.5 g/dayCherry Tomato240g139g23d 6hSpring, Autumn594g (3 harvests)26.1 g/day4747Verdict: Corn is the gold/day champion of the Intermediate tier at 95.6 g/day, but requires a Paddy Field. Blueberry (87.5 g/day) and Strawberry (86.0 g/day) are excellent farmland alternatives and cover different seasons. Strawberry is notable for being one of the few high-profit Winter crops.4848Senior Farmer Crops5050Senior Farmer unlocks the most powerful non-Expert crops in the game, including the Paddy Field powerhouse River Lotus. This tier also unlocks the Grinder machine, which lets you produce seeds from harvested crops instead of buying them, a massive cost savings at higher seed prices.5252CropSeed CostSell PriceYieldGrowth TimeSeason(s)Profit/HarvestGold/DayRiver Lotus420g310g46 daysAutumn, Winter820g136.7 g/dayMint400g296g46 daysSpring, Summer784g130.7 g/dayWater Caltrop420g301g45d 18hSpring, Summer784g136.3 g/dayMandrake370g294g46d 18hAll Seasons806g119.4 g/dayReishi Mushroom400g288g45d 18hSpring, Autumn752g130.8 g/dayAloe Vera390g260g45d 6hSummer, Autumn650g123.8 g/dayRice260g191g45 daysAll Seasons504g100.8 g/day5454Verdict: River Lotus (136.7 g/day) and Water Caltrop (136.3 g/day) dominate the Senior tier, both requiring Paddy Fields. Reishi Mushroom (130.8 g/day, Planting Box) and Mint (130.7 g/day) are the top farmland options. Mandrake (119.4 g/day) is the best all-season Senior crop for year-round income.5555Expert Farmer Crops5757The final and most lucrative tier. Expert crops have the highest seed costs but also the highest sell prices in the game. Multi-harvest Trellis crops at this tier are exceptionally profitable because you only pay the steep seed cost once.5959CropSeed CostSell PriceYieldGrowth TimeSeason(s)Profit/HarvestGold/DayKing Water Chestnut790g593g48d 12hAutumn, Winter1,582g186.1 g/dayZapweed790g593g48d 12hSummer, Autumn1,582g186.1 g/dayJadelume770g427g25 daysWinter1,792g (3 harvests)162.9 g/dayStar Plum710g453g26 daysSpring, Autumn2,008g (3 harvests)167.3 g/dayHoneyvine720g459g26 daysSpring, Summer2,034g (3 harvests)169.5 g/dayBell Pepper750g518g47d 12hAutumn1,322g176.3 g/dayChirpy Plum730g505g47d 12hSummer1,290g172.0 g/dayStar Mango730g505g47d 12hSpring1,290g172.0 g/dayStardew Fern690g483g47d 18hAll Seasons1,242g160.3 g/dayFluffbean700g490g47d 18hSummer, Winter1,260g162.6 g/dayExotic Egg700g490g47d 18hSpring, Winter1,260g162.6 g/day6161Verdict: King Water Chestnut and Zapweed tie at 186.1 g/day, the highest single-harvest g/day in the entire game, but both require Paddy Fields. Bell Pepper (176.3 g/day, Autumn only) is the top farmland single-harvest option. For multi-harvest Trellis income, Honeyvine (169.5 g/day) and Star Plum (167.3 g/day) are outstanding because their total lifetime revenue exceeds 2,000g per seed. Stardew Fern (160.3 g/day) is the best all-season Expert crop.6262Best Crops by Season6464This summary table shows the single most profitable crop available in each season at the highest tier. If you have not unlocked Expert Farmer yet, refer to the tier-specific tables above for the best crop at your current level.6666SeasonBest CropGold/DayTierNotesSpringStar Mango172.0 g/dayExpertSingle-harvest farmland. Honeyvine (169.5 g/day) also grows in Spring.SummerZapweed186.1 g/dayExpertRequires Paddy Field. On farmland, Chirpy Plum (172.0 g/day) leads.AutumnZapweed186.1 g/dayExpertShares Summer. King Water Chestnut (186.1 g/day) also starts in Autumn.WinterKing Water Chestnut186.1 g/dayExpertRequires Paddy Field. On farmland, Fluffbean/Exotic Egg (162.6 g/day).All SeasonsStardew Fern160.3 g/dayExpertBest year-round crop. At Senior tier, Mandrake (119.4 g/day) leads.6868Everlasting Crops6969Everlasting (Immortal) crops are the endgame farming strategy. Once planted, they never die after harvest. They regrow on their own indefinitely, meaning you never pay the seed cost again. This makes every subsequent harvest pure profit.7171After reaching Senior Farmer, you unlock the Eternal Blessings skill. At Blessing Level 3, there is a chance that regular crops convert into Everlasting versions when harvested. You can also earn some Everlasting Seeds through Islandpedia rewards.7373With everlasting versions, gold/day calculations change dramatically because the seed cost effectively becomes 0g after the first planting:7575CropSell PriceYieldGrowth TimeGold/Day (Everlasting)King Water Chestnut593g48d 12h279.1 g/dayZapweed593g48d 12h279.1 g/dayBell Pepper518g47d 12h276.3 g/dayChirpy Plum505g47d 12h269.3 g/dayStar Mango505g47d 12h269.3 g/dayRiver Lotus310g46 days206.7 g/dayStardew Fern483g47d 18h249.3 g/day7777If you remove an Everlasting crop, the seed returns to your inventory, so you can relocate plants without losing your investment. Focus on obtaining Everlasting versions of the highest gold/day crops first. Eating Mirthshroom Soup before harvesting activates the Creamy Seeds buff, which increases your chance of receiving an Everlasting version.7878Processing for Extra Profit8080Selling raw crops is the fastest path to income, but processing them through cooking, the Jam Maker, or the Separator can increase their value significantly. Here are some verified examples:8282Recipe / ProductIngredientsSell PriceRaw ValueProfit GainStir-Fried Water Spinach3x Water Spinach90g72g (3 x 24g)+18g (+25%)Smashed Cucumber2x Cucumber127g132g (2 x 66g)-5g (not profitable)Golden Fried Rice1x Egg + 1x Rice246g191g (Rice only)+55gLemonadeLemon + Sugarcane~750g~427g+323gJam (any fruit)Fruit + Sugar10-50% more than rawVariesConsistent marginStar Plum JuiceStar Plum1,000g+453g+547g (+120%+)8484Star Plum Juice is one of the most profitable processed items in the game. If you are growing Star Plum on Trellises, consider processing every harvest into juice rather than selling raw. The profit increase more than doubles the value per unit.8585The Jam Maker runs passively. Build multiple machines and keep them loaded for a steady stream of extra income.The Separator produces Flour from Wheat, Sugar from Sugarcane, and Pulp from various fruits. Pulp gives a 10% sale price bonus over raw crops.Save your highest-value processed goods for the Merchant Ship. At 200% buy price, a Star Plum Juice worth 1,000g becomes 2,000g.8787Gmax (Giant) Crop Profitability8989Four crops can mutate into giant Gmax versions when planted in a 3x3 grid (9 seeds). Gmax crops produce more items than 9 individual plants would, effectively boosting yield per seed. The four eligible crops are:9191Gmax CropSeasonSeed Cost (x9)Normal Yield (x9)NotesGmax PineappleSpring1,800g36 PineappleSpring is the only window.Gmax WatermelonSummer1,800g36 WatermelonMost popular due to Summer availability.Gmax PumpkinAutumn1,800g36 PumpkinRequired for Intermediate Farmer certification.Gmax Winter MelonWinter1,800g36 Winter MelonOnly giant crop option during Winter.9393All four Gmax crops share the same base stats: 200g seed cost and 131g sell price per unit. Nine individual plants yield 36 items worth 4,716g total (profit: 2,916g). A successful Gmax mutation produces additional items beyond this baseline, increasing your effective g/day. Use Gmax Fertilizer III (320g for 5 bags, unlocked at Intermediate Farmer) to boost mutation chance by 15%. Only one tile in the 3x3 grid needs the fertilizer.9494Fruit Tree Long-Term Value9696Fruit trees are unique because they produce unlimited harvests once mature. The initial sapling cost is high and growth times are long, but after the first harvest, every subsequent harvest is essentially free (similar to Everlasting crops). Here are the top trees ranked by per-fruit sell price:9898TreeSapling CostSell Price/FruitYieldRevenue/HarvestGrowth TimeTierPersimmon1,250g334g2668g21d 12hSeniorLemon1,100g328g3984g12d 12hSeniorBanana600g288g2576g20 daysIntermediateSnow Pear700g216g3648g20d 18hIntermediateOsmanthus800g199g4796g15 daysSeniorCamellia950g178g61,068g10 daysSeniorApple450g174g4696g8d 12hIntermediateOrange450g174g4696g8d 12hIntermediate100100Camellia stands out for total revenue per harvest (1,068g) thanks to its yield of 6 fruit, plus a relatively fast 10-day growth time. Lemon is the best for per-fruit value (328g) with a solid yield of 3. Both are Senior-tier trees. For Intermediate players, Apple and Orange saplings offer the fastest path to tree-based income at just 8.5 days to maturity.101101Wild Crops: Free Seeds, Pure Profit103103Wild and foraged crops have a seed cost of 0g. Their seeds are found through foraging, treasure chests, or exploring the Moonlit Forest. Since every harvest is 100% profit, wild crops are excellent passive income sources:105105CropSell PriceYieldGrowth TimeGold/DaySpirit Fruit73g47 days41.7 g/dayMirage Sunflower73g47 days41.7 g/dayFluffweave43g44d 6h40.5 g/dayPlainberry43g44d 6h40.5 g/dayEldergrain43g44d 6h40.5 g/dayMidnight Herb43g44d 6h40.5 g/day107107While 40 to 42 g/day is modest compared to Expert crops, wild crops cost nothing to plant. If you accumulate a stash of seeds through exploration, plant them immediately. Every harvest is pure bonus income on top of your main farming operation.108108Tips for Maximizing Farm Income110110Diversify by season. Plant Watermelon in Summer, Pumpkin in Autumn, Winter Melon in Winter, and Pineapple in Spring. At 81 g/day each, this combo keeps you earning consistently all year at the Junior tier.Upgrade to Paddy Fields early. The top earners at Senior (River Lotus, Water Caltrop) and Expert (Zapweed, King Water Chestnut) all require Paddy Fields. Build them as soon as you can.Use the Grinder for free seeds. Once you unlock the Grinder at Senior Farmer, feed raw crops into it to produce seeds. This eliminates seed costs and effectively turns every crop into an Everlasting earner.Stack bees with sprinklers. Bumblebee hives placed near crops significantly speed up growth. Combined with sprinklers, this makes farming almost entirely passive while cutting effective growth times.Save premium goods for the Merchant Ship. The Merchant Ship pays 200% of normal sell price. A King Water Chestnut worth 593g becomes 1,186g. Save your highest-value harvests for its weekly arrival.Process Star Plum into juice. Star Plum Juice sells for over 1,000g per unit, more than doubling the 453g raw sell price. If you have Trellises full of Star Plum, processing is almost always worth the time investment.Hunt Everlasting Seeds relentlessly. Eat Mirthshroom Soup (Creamy Seeds buff) before every harvest. Each Everlasting version you obtain is a permanent income source that never needs replanting.Do not overlook wild crops. Spirit Fruit and Mirage Sunflower seeds cost nothing and produce 41.7 g/day of pure profit. Plant them whenever you find seeds in the wild.
