Fruit Trees
Fruit Trees are long-cycle crops in Starsand Island that take significantly longer to grow than standard farmland crops but produce harvestable fruit repeatedly once mature. Unlike regular crops (which you plant, harvest once, and replant), fruit trees stay in the ground permanently after planting. They go through a single long growth period, then produce fruit at regular intervals each season.
All fruit tree saplings are planted on standard farmland (not on Trellises, Paddy Fields, or Planting Boxes). They take up a regular farmland tile and require watering during their growth phase. Once mature, they no longer need watering and produce fruit automatically when in season.
All Fruit Tree Saplings
Fruit tree saplings become available as you advance through the Farming profession tiers with Graminova at the Happiness Seed Shop:
Tree | Growth Time | Seasons | Yield | Seed Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apple Sapling | 8.5 days | Summer, Autumn | 4 | 450 coins |
Orange Sapling | 8.5 days | Spring, Winter | 4 | 450 coins |
Camellia Sapling | 10 days | Spring, Summer | 6 | 950 coins |
Osmanthus Sapling | 15 days | Summer, Autumn | 4 | 800 coins |
Lemon Sapling | 12.5 days | Spring, Autumn, Winter | 3 | 1,100 coins |
Snow Pear Sapling | 20.75 days | Summer, Autumn | 3 | 700 coins |
Banana Sapling | 20 days | Spring, Summer, Autumn | 2 | 600 coins |
Lychee Sapling | 30 days | Summer | 5 | 950 coins |
Persimmon Sapling | 21.5 days | Summer, Autumn | 2 | 1,250 coins |
How Fruit Trees Work
Planting and Growth
Plant a sapling on tilled farmland, just like any other crop seed. During the growth phase, the sapling needs regular watering (manually or via sprinklers). Growth only progresses during the tree's designated season(s). If the season changes to one that is not in the tree's season list, growth pauses until the correct season returns.
Because of the long growth times (8.5 to 30 days), fruit trees are a long-term investment. The initial wait is significant, but once mature, the tree produces fruit every season cycle without replanting.
Harvesting
Once a tree reaches maturity, it produces fruit that can be picked directly by interacting with the tree. Mature trees produce fruit automatically at the start of each applicable season. You do not need to water mature trees. Harvest the fruit when it appears and the tree will produce more next cycle.
Yield
Tree yields vary from 2 to 6 per harvest depending on the species. Camellia has the highest yield at 6 per harvest. Banana and Persimmon have the lowest at 2 per harvest, but Banana grows across three seasons, giving it more total production opportunities per year.
Season Planning
Because fruit trees only grow and produce during specific seasons, planning your orchard around the calendar maximizes output:
Season | Growing Trees | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Spring | Orange, Camellia, Lemon, Banana | Good season to plant Orange and Camellia saplings |
Summer | Apple, Camellia, Osmanthus, Snow Pear, Banana, Lychee, Persimmon | Most trees are active in Summer; Lychee is Summer-only |
Autumn | Apple, Osmanthus, Lemon, Snow Pear, Banana, Persimmon | Second peak season for fruit production |
Winter | Orange, Lemon | Fewer options; focus on Orange and Lemon |
Fruit Uses
Fruit from trees serves multiple purposes:
Cooking: Many fruits are ingredients in cooking recipes. Apples, Oranges, Lemons, and Bananas appear in various dishes and drinks.
Gifts: Several characters like or love specific fruits. Check the gift guide for preferences.
Selling: Fruit sells for decent prices, especially higher-tier fruits like Lychee and Persimmon.
Processing: Some fruits can be processed through the Separator into Fruit Pulp or run through the Jam Maker for fruit jams.
Fruit Tree Removal
Planted fruit trees can be removed if you need to reclaim the farmland tile. Earlier in Early Access, a bug prevented removal of planted fruit trees under certain conditions, but this was fixed in patch v0.2.1598. To remove a tree, use your axe on it (this destroys the tree permanently). There is no way to transplant a fruit tree to a different location.
Tips
Plant fruit trees early. The long growth times (up to 30 days for Lychee) mean delaying planting delays your first harvest significantly.
Place sprinklers near fruit tree saplings to automate watering during the growth phase. Once mature, sprinklers are no longer needed.
Camellia is the best value per harvest with 6 yield. Plant multiple Camellia trees for a strong fruit supply in Spring and Summer.
Lemon grows across three seasons (Spring, Autumn, Winter), making it one of the most versatile trees despite its lower per-harvest yield of 3.
Banana is affordable (600 coins) and grows across three seasons. It is a good budget option for new orchards.
Lychee has the longest growth time at 30 days and only grows in Summer. Plant it at the very start of Summer to maximize your chance of harvesting that same season.
Use Everlasting Seeds on fruit tree saplings if available to prevent crop death from missed watering during the growth phase.
Dedicate a section of your farm to an orchard. Fruit trees do not need replanting, so once your orchard is established, it produces fruit every season with minimal maintenance.