Summer in Stardew Valley brings a burst of life with its lush greenery, vibrant trees, and fluttering butterflies. This lively season features the birthdays of nine characters and two key festivals: the Luau and the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies. Additionally, players will unlock the railroad and spa areas on the game map during their first summer, enhancing their gameplay experience.
Each season brings its unique characteristics, and summer is no exception. Players are encouraged to embrace farming while considering how the seasonal effects influence fish, crops, foraging, events, and weather patterns. To maximize success, players should focus on identifying the most profitable opportunities while preparing for seasonal events and the upcoming autumn.
Updated December 29th, 2024, by Usama Ali: The summer season in Stardew Valley has become even more enchanting with the recent 1.6 update, offering players exciting new events and activities. One highlight is the mesmerizing Green Rain, a unique occurrence that takes place only once during summer—mark your calendars and don’t miss this event!
Buy & Plant Starfruit
A Profitable Crop
Starfruit is renowned for its high profit margins; however, during the first year, players may not have access to the Oasis store in Calico Desert where these seeds are available for purchase through Sandy. In subsequent years, investing in a few packets of Starfruit seeds is highly recommended. Once processed into Wine using a keg and then aged in a cask, Starfruit offers the highest profit potential.
Regular Starfruit sells for an impressive 750 gold, but once turned into wine, the value skyrockets to 2,250 gold. This selling price remains consistent regardless of the quality of the Starfruit, making it particularly lucrative for players who plant standard quality Starfruit.
Complete Summer Bundles
Rebuild The Community Center
Completing all the Community Center bundles during the first summer should be a primary goal. Failing to do so may result in missing the opportunity for an entire year, which can be quite frustrating for players. The summer bundles include:
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Summer Foraging Bundle:
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Summer Crops Bundle:
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Quality Crops Bundle: 5x
(Gold quality)
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Artisan Bundle:
and 
from trees (this is unlikely for the first year)
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Fish for the fish tank:
How to Obtain Summer Bundle Items
The key to effectively completing summer bundles lies in early preparation. Understanding the themes of these bundles will enable players to quickly gather necessary resources—be it crops, fish, or forageable items. Summer offers an ideal environment for collecting these items, so players should aim to start gathering as soon as the season begins.
Summer Foraging Bundle
- Grapes: While primarily a fall crop, grapes can be foraged throughout summer, making them relatively easy to find.
- Spice Berries: These can be foraged in summer and are abundant. They can also be found in the farmer’s cave if the Fruit Bat option is selected.
- Sweet Peas: Summer flowers that bloom in various regions of Stardew Valley, including Pelican Town and Cindersnap Forest.
Summer Crops Bundle
- Tomatoes: Can be planted on the farm and take 11 in-game days to mature.
- Hot Peppers: A short-term crop with a growth period of just 5 in-game days.
- Blueberries: Not only do these take 13 in-game days to grow, but they also regrow every 4 days, allowing for multiple harvests within the season.
- Melons: A highly profitable crop that requires 12 in-game days to grow; planting early can facilitate two harvests in one season.
Quality Crops Bundle
- Melons and Corn are the focus here, as both can be cultivated in summer. Purchasing these seeds from Pierre’s shop is recommended.
- To achieve high-quality crops, players should apply deluxe fertilizer. Crafting this requires one iridium bar and 40 sap, significantly boosting the likelihood of gold-star crops.
Artisan Bundle
- Orange and Apricot Trees: Both produce summer fruit, but they require significant early investment, typically only achievable in the second year or later.
- These fruits can also be obtained through the Traveling Cart, albeit unpredictably based on the rotating stock.
- Alternatively, the Fruit Bat option may yield oranges and apricots in the player’s cave.
Summer Fish
- Carp: Found in the Mountain Lake, Secret Woods, and The Sewers. A friendly cat may also gift one if the friendship level is maxed out.
- Sunfish: Caught in Pelican Town’s river during sunny weather, this fish can also appear in the Traveling Cart’s offerings.
- Shad: Can be captured in the local rivers; occasionally found in Krobus’ shop or the Traveling Cart.
- Sturgeon: Best caught on rainy days in the mountain lake, also available in the Traveling Cart at random.
- Tuna: Available in both the ocean and on Ginger Island, a useful catch for various bundles.
- Red Snappers: Caught at The Beach, a rare appearance in the Traveling Cart as well.
- Tilapia and Pufferfish: Available in coastal waters; also found on Ginger Island or at the Traveling Cart.
Create a Larger Farming Area
Maximize Your Farming Potential
Summer is a prime time for lucrative crop sales. Expanding farming areas allows for increased planting, but it is essential to maintain a layout that accommodates scarecrows and sprinklers. First-year players should diversify their crops to optimize yield.
Single-harvest crops like melons, wheat, sunflowers, poppies, and more should be balanced with continuous producers like hops, coffee beans, and blueberries, which offer sustained income throughout the season.
Capitalize on Blueberries
Maximize Your Crop Profits
Blueberries rank among the most lucrative summer crops. After 13 days of growth, players can harvest three berries each time. Although they can be sold directly, transforming them into jelly or wine significantly increases their value.
For optimal profits, players should plant blueberry seeds from Pierre’s shop on the first day of summer, reaping around four harvests before autumn begins. Each seed costs only 80 gold, and with blueberries selling at 50 gold each, this quickly translates to substantial earnings.
Players are encouraged to focus on producing gold star blueberries for use in kegs and preserves jars. While direct sales yield a good return, processed products command a higher price, making timely production essential for maximizing profit.
Purchase and Cultivate Corn
A Versatile Crop
Corn is unique in that it can thrive during both summer and fall, making it a valuable long-term crop. Similar to blueberries, corn yields multiple harvests over its lifetime.
With a growth period of 14 days, corn seeds are available for 150 gold at Pierre’s Shop, and they sell for 50 gold each, ensuring substantial profits are achievable as the crop matures for both seasons.
Additionally, corn can be processed into cooking oil using an oil maker. While its selling price may be relatively low, cooking oil is an essential ingredient for numerous beneficial recipes, allowing players to unlock powerful buffs for their adventures.
Participate in Summer Fishing
Collect Seasonal Fish
A variety of fish are exclusive to summer, such as Pufferfish, Tuna, Rainbow Trout, Octopus, Dorado, and Crimsonfish. Complete the main quest (either the Community Center or Joja Community) to unlock seasonal fishing on Ginger Island for some of these species.
Challenges arise with these fishes as specific requirements are in place; for example, the Crimsonfish can only be caught on the East Pier and requires level five fishing skill to access.
For players who find fishing daunting, leveling up fishing skills via crab pots is an effective alternative. This method is especially beneficial in the early game, allowing players to gather valuable resources effortlessly.
Invest in Quality Sprinklers
Streamline Your Farming Tasks
Daily watering can be a tedious process, making the acquisition of Quality Sprinklers an invaluable investment. These craftable items efficiently water a 3×3 area each morning, freeing up valuable time for players to engage in other tasks.
To unlock Quality Sprinklers, players must achieve level six in farming. They’re also rewards for completing either the Summer Crops Bundle or the Garden Bundle in the Pantry. It’s possible to find them at the Traveling Cart or in treasure rooms in Skull Cavern, although these methods can be rare.
Quality Sprinklers can be crafted using one iron bar, one gold bar, and one refined quartz. Players with access to the sewers can purchase Iridium Sprinklers from Krobus’ shop for 10,000 gold every Friday—a worthwhile investment that pays off significantly in farming efficiency.
Experience The Green Rain
An Uncommon Summer Event
The Green Rain event, introduced in Update 1.6, is a fascinating occurrence that only happens once per summer. During this event, the valley is graced with a translucent green downpour, adding a unique visual touch to the landscape.
Keep an eye on the calendar: the Green Rain can occur on specific dates (5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 18, and 23) during summer. Players can collect valuable resources like Moss and Fiddlehead Ferns on these days. Furthermore, trees may grow more rapidly, and some may even become unique Green Rain Trees.
During the Green Rain, players will also notice an increase in weeds, but these temporary nuisances won’t damage crops, allowing farmers to either ignore them or clear them for valuable materials like Moss and Mixed Seeds.
Get Ready for the Luau Event
Utilize Quality Ingredients
On the 11th of summer, the Luau event takes place from 9 AM to 2 PM, featuring a potluck soup that players can contribute to with high-quality ingredients. Although this doesn’t yield gold in the traditional sense, it’s crucial for enhancing friendships with villagers during the event, awarding 120 friendship points based on the ingredient’s quality.
Only uncooked, edible items like wines, fish, milk, crops, and select foragables are acceptable for the soup. Ensuring the ingredient is iridium or gold quality maximizes friendship gains.
For players who have befriended Marnie, a unique scene unfolds if Lewis’ purple shorts are introduced into the potluck soup—but note that doing so does not enhance friendship levels, potentially missing out on the friendship buff.
Participate in Summer Festivals
Engage with the Community
Summer hosts three distinctive festivals in Stardew Valley. Each provides a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in local culture and bond with the townspeople.
Luau: 11th of Summer
The Luau occurs on the 11th, serving as the first summer festival. Taking place on the beach, this is an ideal moment for players to showcase their high-quality produce during the potluck soup event. With the Governor in attendance, it’s a time for players to shine—or perhaps play subtle tricks!
Trout Derby: 20th & 21st of Summer
The Trout Derby, a recent addition in the 1.6 update, caters specifically to fishing enthusiasts. Unlike typical festivals, players can come and go freely. The objective is to catch Rainbow Trout and collect Golden Tags for unique prizes along the way.
Dance of the Moonlight Jellies: 28th of Summer
On the final day of summer, community members gather for the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies, a magical event centered around appreciating a beautiful natural spectacle. Set at the docks, players can engage with various villagers, sharing heartfelt moments as moonlight jellies grace the waters.
Plan for Nine Birthdays
Enhance Town Relations
Summer in Stardew Valley features the birthdays of Jas, Gus, Maru, Alex, Sam, Demetrius, The Dwarf, Willy, and Leo. To strengthen friendships and maximize points, it’s essential to prepare gifts for the various NPCs.
Gift Suggestions for Jas
- Pink Cake
- Plum Pudding
- Fairy Roses
Gift Suggestions for Gus
- Diamonds
- Oranges
Gift Suggestions for Maru
- Strawberries
- Cauliflower
Gift Suggestions for Alex
- Salmon Dinner
- Complete Breakfast
Gift Suggestions for Sam
- Cactus Fruit
- Pizza
Gift Suggestions for Demetrius
- Strawberries
- Ice Cream
Gift Suggestions for The Dwarf
- Most Gems (like Rubies and Emeralds)
Gift Suggestions for Willy
- Pumpkins
- Catfish
Gift Suggestions for Leo
- Duck Feathers
- Mangoes
Collect Gifts for Relationships
Utilize Seasonal Produce
During the summer months, players can discover crops and items that are favorites among various characters in Stardew Valley. For those seeking romance or wishing to improve friendships, it’s beneficial to stock up on these items to quickly reach higher heart levels with beloved villagers.
Gifting Sweet Peas
Sweet Peas enjoy universal appeal, except among Clint, George, and Sebastian, making them excellent gifts for other villagers. Sandy in the Calico Desert particularly adores them.
Gifting Grapes
While Grapes can be grown on the farm in the fall, they are readily available for foraging in summer as well. While some might convert them into wine for profit, they are actually favorites of Vincent, increasing their value as a gift item.
Gifting Pufferfish
Pufferfish, exclusive to summer, are beloved by quirky villager Abigail. This makes them an optimal item for befriending her; however, they are rather peculiar for gifting to others in town.
Gifting Willy’s Favorite Fish
Willy stands out as an exception, relishing multiple types of fish, including Catfish, available in the Secret Woods, Octopus at The Beach, and Sturgeon in the mountain lake. Each has its unique challenges, allowing players to develop relationships through well-timed fishing expeditions.
Gifting Melons
Melons rank as one of the most valuable single-harvest crops of summer, offering 250g profit doubles as an ideal gift for shy teacher Penny.
Gifting Poppies
Summer belongs to Penny, who adores Poppies. Contrary to others, she stands out as the sole enthusiast, making poppies a sure way to grow fondness.
Gifting Summer Spangles
While Summer Spangles are less loved than Poppies, they still create fondness for Caroline. These flowers hold value among other villagers, aside from Clint, George, and Sebastian.
Invest in Hops for Profits
Profiting from Hops
Hops, a summer vegetable that matures in 11 days, can be harvested to produce Pale Ale—a high-return item in Stardew Valley. Selling for 300 gold, they offer lucrative profits, especially when crafted properly.
Ensure a sustainable production method by obtaining a keg, which can be crafted after achieving farming level eight and completing either the Artisan Bundle or the Brewers Bundle in the Pantry. Aside from beer, kegs are useful for wine, coffee, green tea, mead, and various juices.
Moreover, coffee serves as one of the best consumables, providing a speed boost essential for optimizing daily tasks and dungeon exploration. Reserve a few kegs specifically for coffee, and don’t forget to grab the Triple Shot Espresso recipe from Gus for an enhanced speed boost.
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