Stardew Valley Summer Crops: Best Picks & Planting Dates

How this Stardew Valley summer crops comparison works

Summer lasts 28 days. The table assumes seeds are planted and watered on Summer 1, crops receive water every day, and every ready crop is picked on time. A first harvest arrives after the listed growth time: a 13-day crop planted on Summer 1 first produces on Summer 14. Single-harvest crops are replanted only when another crop can mature by Summer 28.

Net return means base-price revenue minus the seeds needed for the harvests counted in that row. It excludes crop quality, Tiller, fertilizer, Speed-Gro, Agriculturist, kegs, jars, and random bonus drops. These are transparent examples rather than a promise about a particular farm. The community-maintained Stardew Valley Wiki Summer page lists crop timings and its own assumptions. Values were checked on October 2, 2026.

Summer crop profits from a Summer 1 planting

This is a decision table, not a universal ranking. It uses guaranteed harvests at normal base prices. Melons and Starfruit need a replacement seed after the first pick, so both purchases are counted. Corn's row shows Summer-only return even though the crop continues into Fall.

*The Red Cabbage example assumes ordinary Year 2 shop access, not guaranteed Year 1 access. The Traveling Cart and other special sources are random. Corn's 50g is Summer-only; it leaves out Fall harvests, which are the reason to keep the same plant through the season change.

Choose the best summer crop for your save

For most first-year farms: Blueberries

Blueberries are a practical answer to “what should I plant in Summer?” because Pierre sells them from Summer 1 and one seed produces several harvests. A Summer 1 planting is ready on day 14, then returns on days 18, 22, and 26. Three normal berries at 50g each make 600g in total; after the 80g seed, net return is 520g. That routine works well when sprinklers cover the field but you do not want to buy and replant a crop every few days.

It is still possible to plant too many Blueberries. They mature halfway through the season, so a late seed has fewer harvests. Random bonus berries are not included in the baseline. If you need early cash or a crop for a bundle, add a faster crop such as Hot Pepper or Melon rather than putting every tile on the same schedule.

For a save with Desert access: Starfruit

Starfruit's 750g base sale price looks impressive, but seed access changes the recommendation. You need to repair the Bus and reach the Desert Oasis before buying a 400g seed. A Summer 1 plant gives a first harvest on day 14; replant that day and a second harvest fits on day 27. Two fruits bring 1,500g and two seeds cost 800g, for 700g net before processing. This assumes timely watering and no bonuses.

Do not include Starfruit in an early-summer budget if the Bus is still broken. Blueberries are easier to obtain and give a strong repeat crop. Starfruit suits a save with Desert access and enough cash for the upfront seeds; Keg processing raises sale value, but it also ties up equipment and time.

For a farm with Kegs: Hops

Hops take 11 days to mature and regrow every day afterward. From a Summer 1 planting, up to 17 Hops can be picked between days 12 and 28. At 25g each, that is 425g raw; subtract one 60g starter for 365g. A Keg turns one Hop into Pale Ale with a 300g base price, so processing changes the comparison significantly.

Processing is not instant or unlimited. Each batch takes time and a small Keg room may not keep up with a large daily harvest. Hops grow on trellises, which the farmer cannot walk through. Put them beside a path, at the edge of a field, or near your Kegs. Sketch the route with the farm layout guide before planting a dense block.

For early harvests and bundles: Hot Pepper and Melon

Hot Pepper matures on day 6 and regrows every three days. One 40g seed can produce eight base peppers worth 320g, leaving 280g before other costs. Melon takes 12 days and sells for 250g. From Summer 1, you can harvest on days 13 and 25 by buying another seed after the first pick; two seeds cost 160g, leaving 340g net. Melon can become a giant crop in a suitable 3-by-3 block, but that random outcome is not part of the table.

The standard Community Center Summer Crops Bundle lists Tomato, Hot Pepper, Blueberry, and Melon. Remixed bundles may differ, so check your in-game bundle screen. If one of those crops is the next required item, its use may matter more than a small gap in raw profit. Put the bundle item aside before shipping the rest of the harvest.

When to plant summer crops: work back from the harvest date

To estimate the last day for one harvest before Summer 28, use latest planting day = 28 − growth days. This assumes normal growth speed and daily watering. It predicts the first maturity date, not a second harvest. For regrowing crops, also check whether the regrowth interval fits before the season ends.

Blueberry takes 13 days, Melon 12, Hot Pepper 5, and Wheat 4. Their last planting dates therefore differ. A Blueberry planted on Summer 15 may still mature on day 28, but it cannot earn the four harvests in the Summer 1 estimate. Before spending your last gold, write down the planting day and expected first pick, then count how many repeat harvests remain.

Corn and Wheat are exceptions to the Summer 28 cutoff because they grow in both Summer and Fall. Corn has a modest Summer-only return, but the same plant keeps producing after the season changes. Summer-only crops that have not matured by Fall 1 do not turn into a Fall harvest. Leave enough days for replanting if you are counting a second crop.

Bundles, processing, and a crop plan that fits your farm

Fifteen crops can grow in Summer: Blueberry, Coffee Bean, Corn, Hops, Hot Pepper, Melon, Poppy, Radish, Red Cabbage, Starfruit, Summer Spangle, Summer Squash, Sunflower, Tomato, and Wheat. Their seed sources and growing seasons differ. Coffee Bean, Corn, Sunflower, and Wheat can grow outside Summer too. Summer Squash is a 1.6 crop, but its seeds are found, traded, or made rather than bought at an ordinary shop. A crop list does not mean every seed is available on Summer 1.

Selling a crop and selling an artisan good answer different questions. The table counts base-price crops sold directly. Hops can become Pale Ale in a Keg, while Blueberries can also be processed. Processing value depends on machine count, batch time, storage space, and whether you need gold now. Enter your own seed cost and expected sale price in the crop margin calculator, then track processing time separately so you compare like with like.

Watering and walking can matter more than a small difference in the table. Regrow crops reduce replant work but still need a visit on harvest days. Hops require a clear trellis route. A second Melon cycle needs time to replant after the first pick. Corn keeps growing through Fall, avoiding a new seed purchase. Keep daily crops near sprinklers and a route you already walk.

Planning the previous season? See the Stardew Valley spring crop guide for seed timing and season-long returns. Use the farm planner to leave room for crops and paths, then use the fall crop guide to plan the next season.