Complete Fruit Tree Guide
Fruit trees are a long-term investment in Stardew Valley. They take 28 days to mature from planting, but once fully grown, they produce one fruit per day during their designated season. This guide covers every fruit tree in detail, including growth mechanics, profitability, processing strategies, and optimal layouts.
Fruit Tree Overview
| Tree | Season | Fruit | Fruit Sell Price | Seed/Sapling Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry | Spring | Cherry | 80g | 3,400g (sapling) | Pierreโs (Spring) |
| Apricot | Spring | Apricot | 50g | 2,000g (sapling) | Pierreโs (Spring) |
| Orange | Summer | Orange | 100g | 4,000g (sapling) | Pierreโs (Summer) |
| Peach | Summer | Peach | 140g | 2,000g (sapling) | Pierreโs (Summer) |
| Pomegranate | Fall | Pomegranate | 140g | 6,000g (sapling) | Pierreโs (Fall) |
| Apple | Fall | Apple | 100g | 4,000g (sapling) | Pierreโs (Fall) |
| Mango | Summer | Mango | 130g | 1,000g (seed, Year 2+) | Island Trader (1 Golden Coconut) |
| Banana | Summer | Banana | 150g | 5 Qi Gems (seed) | Island Trader (5 Banana Saplings) |
Growth Stages
All fruit trees take exactly 28 days to mature from planting. The growth happens in stages:
| Stage | Days | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Seed/Sapling planted | Day 0 | Small seedling |
| Sprout | Day 1-7 | Small sprout |
| Sapling | Day 8-14 | Larger sapling |
| Small Tree | Day 15-21 | Small tree |
| Tree | Day 22-27 | Nearly mature |
| Mature | Day 28 | Full tree, produces fruit |
Growth Requirements
- Trees must be planted on clear tiles - no rocks, weeds, or debris on the 8 surrounding tiles
- Trees cannot be planted adjacent to each other - they need at least 1 tile of clearance
- Trees cannot be planted adjacent to buildings, fences, or other obstacles
- Trees grow in all seasons - growth does not pause in winter
- Trees do not die in winter - they simply do not produce fruit outside their season
Fruit Quality and Aging
Fruit tree fruit quality increases over time as the tree ages:
| Tree Age | Quality Chance |
|---|---|
| 0-3 years | 90% Normal, 10% Silver |
| 4-7 years | 70% Normal, 20% Silver, 10% Gold |
| 8+ years | 50% Normal, 20% Silver, 20% Gold, 10% Iridium |
Quality Sell Prices (Cherry Example)
| Quality | Price |
|---|---|
| Normal | 80g |
| Silver | 100g |
| Gold | 120g |
| Iridium | 160g |
Quality Sell Prices (Pomegranate Example)
| Quality | Price |
|---|---|
| Normal | 140g |
| Silver | 175g |
| Gold | 210g |
| Iridium | 280g |
Tapper Products
Fruit trees can be tapped with a Tapper to produce syrup instead of (or in addition to) fruit. Tapper products have different values depending on the tree type.
Tapper Product Table
| Tree | Tapper Product | Product Value | Days per Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple | Maple Syrup | 200g | 9 days |
| Oak | Oak Resin | 150g | 7 days |
| Pine | Pine Tar | 100g | 5 days |
| Cherry | Cherry Syrup | 240g | 13 days |
| Apricot | Apricot Syrup | 200g | 13 days |
| Orange | Orange Syrup | 280g | 13 days |
| Peach | Peach Syrup | 320g | 13 days |
| Pomegranate | Pomegranate Syrup | 320g | 13 days |
| Apple | Apple Syrup | 280g | 13 days |
| Mango | Mango Syrup | 300g | 13 days |
| Banana | Banana Syrup | 340g | 13 days |
Tapper vs Fruit Profitability
| Tree | Daily Fruit Value | Daily Tapper Value | Better Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry | 80g | 18.5g | Fruit |
| Apricot | 50g | 15.4g | Fruit |
| Orange | 100g | 21.5g | Fruit |
| Peach | 140g | 24.6g | Fruit |
| Pomegranate | 140g | 24.6g | Fruit |
| Apple | 100g | 21.5g | Fruit |
| Mango | 130g | 23.1g | Fruit |
| Banana | 150g | 26.2g | Fruit |
Fruit is almost always more profitable than tapper products. The exception is if you want to produce syrup for specific recipes or gifts. For maximum profit, harvest fruit and process it into wine or jelly.
Wine Profitability
Processing fruit into wine using a keg is the most profitable use of fruit tree products.
Wine Profitability Table
| Tree | Fruit Value | Wine Value | Wine Profit/Day | Wine + Artisan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry | 80g | 240g | 35.6g/day | 336g/day |
| Apricot | 50g | 150g | 22.2g/day | 210g/day |
| Orange | 100g | 300g | 44.4g/day | 420g/day |
| Peach | 140g | 420g | 62.2g/day | 588g/day |
| Pomegranate | 140g | 420g | 62.2g/day | 588g/day |
| Apple | 100g | 300g | 44.4g/day | 420g/day |
| Mango | 130g | 390g | 57.8g/day | 546g/day |
| Banana | 150g | 450g | 66.7g/day | 630g/day |
Note: Wine takes approximately 6.75 days to process in a keg. Artisan profession adds 40% to artisan goods.
Jelly Profitability
| Tree | Fruit Value | Jelly Value | Jelly Profit/Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry | 80g | 160g | 80g |
| Apricot | 50g | 100g | 50g |
| Orange | 100g | 200g | 100g |
| Peach | 140g | 280g | 140g |
| Pomegranate | 140g | 280g | 140g |
| Apple | 100g | 200g | 100g |
| Mango | 130g | 260g | 130g |
| Banana | 150g | 300g | 150g |
Note: Jelly takes approximately 3 days in a preserves jar. Jelly is more profitable per day than wine for fruit trees, but wine has a higher total value per item.
Greenhouse Fruit Trees
The greenhouse allows fruit trees to grow year-round. This is extremely valuable because:
- Fruit trees in the greenhouse produce fruit every day regardless of season
- You can have all 8 tree types producing simultaneously
- No seasonal restrictions - cherry trees produce in summer, fall, and winter too
Greenhouse Fruit Tree Layout
The greenhouse has 12x10 = 120 interior tiles. With the 8 surrounding tile clearance requirement, you can fit a maximum of 18 fruit trees in the greenhouse using an optimal layout:
. = empty, T = tree
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. T . T . T . T . T . T .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. T . T . T . T . T . T .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. T . T . T . T . T . T .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. T . T . T . T . T . T .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. T . T . T . T . T . T .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. T . T . T . T . T . T .
This layout fits 18 trees. Each tree produces 1 fruit per day, for 18 fruits per day year-round.
Best Greenhouse Trees
| Rank | Tree | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pomegranate | High fruit value (140g), excellent wine (420g), needed for Enchanterโs Bundle |
| 2 | Banana | High fruit value (150g), excellent wine (450g), available from Island Trader |
| 3 | Peach | High fruit value (140g), excellent wine (420g) |
| 4 | Mango | Good value (130g), good wine (390g) |
| 5 | Apple | Moderate value (100g), good wine (300g) |
| 6 | Orange | Moderate value (100g), good wine (300g) |
| 7 | Cherry | Lower value (80g), decent wine (240g) |
| 8 | Apricot | Lowest value (50g), weakest wine (150g) |
Common Mistakes
1. Planting Trees Too Close Together
Fruit trees need at least 1 tile of clearance on all 8 sides. If a tree is adjacent to another tree, building, fence, or debris, it will not grow. Always check the surrounding tiles before planting.
2. Not Planning for the 28-Day Growth Period
Fruit trees take 28 days to mature. If you plant a spring tree on Spring 15, it will not mature until Summer 12, missing most of the spring fruit season. Plant trees as early in the season as possible.
3. Planting in the Wrong Season
Fruit trees only produce fruit during their designated season. A cherry tree planted in summer will grow fine but will not produce fruit until the following spring. Plan your planting season accordingly.
4. Ignoring Tree Age for Quality
Fruit quality improves with tree age. Young trees (0-3 years) produce mostly normal quality fruit. Be patient and let trees age for higher quality harvests.
5. Not Using Iridium Sprinklers with Trees
While fruit trees do not need watering, placing Iridium Sprinklers near them can water crops planted between trees, maximizing farm efficiency.
6. Forgetting About Mango and Banana Trees
Mango and Banana trees are available from the Island Trader on Ginger Island. They are excellent summer fruit trees that many players forget about. Mango saplings cost 1 Golden Coconut each, and Banana saplings cost 5 Qi Gems each.
Seasonal Planting Guide
| Season | Trees to Plant | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Cherry, Apricot | They produce in spring, so plant early for next yearโs harvest |
| Summer | Orange, Peach, Mango, Banana | They produce in summer |
| Fall | Pomegranate, Apple | They produce in fall |
| Winter | Any tree | Trees grow in winter, so you can plant any time |
Profitability Summary
| Tree | Sapling Cost | Days to First Harvest | Fruit/Season | Total Fruit Value (28 days) | ROI (Year 1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry | 3,400g | 28 days | 28 days | 2,240g | -1,160g |
| Apricot | 2,000g | 28 days | 28 days | 1,400g | -600g |
| Orange | 4,000g | 28 days | 28 days | 2,800g | -1,200g |
| Peach | 2,000g | 28 days | 28 days | 3,920g | +1,920g |
| Pomegranate | 6,000g | 28 days | 28 days | 3,920g | -2,080g |
| Apple | 4,000g | 28 days | 28 days | 2,800g | -1,200g |
Note: Fruit trees are a long-term investment. They typically do not turn a profit in Year 1 due to the 28-day growth period eating into the production season. However, in Year 2 and beyond, they produce a full season of fruit every year with no additional investment, making them extremely profitable over time.
Year 2+ Profitability (Full Season, 28 Days)
| Tree | Daily Fruit | Season Revenue | Wine Revenue (Artisan) | Wine Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pomegranate | 140g | 3,920g | 11,760g | 5,760g |
| Peach | 140g | 3,920g | 11,760g | 5,760g |
| Banana | 150g | 4,200g | 12,600g | 7,600g |
| Mango | 130g | 3,640g | 10,920g | 6,920g |
| Apple | 100g | 2,800g | 8,400g | 4,400g |
| Orange | 100g | 2,800g | 8,400g | 4,400g |
| Cherry | 80g | 2,240g | 6,720g | 2,720g |
| Apricot | 50g | 1,400g | 4,200g | 2,200g |