Fall just rolled in and your farm is probably looking pretty good. Honestly? This is the season where everything clicks. You have the tools, a bit of savings and a few seasons of practice, and Fall rewards all of it with the best crops of Year 1.
Let’s walk through this together: what to plant on Fall 1, the last safe planting dates, the two festivals and how to walk into Winter with a plan instead of a panic.
Fall Year 1 at a Glance
- The Vibe: Cozy, productive and a little spooky. Amber leaves, repeat harvests and festival nights.
- Money Crops: Cranberries for steady repeat harvests, Pumpkins for the biggest single payday.
- Festivals: The Stardew Valley Fair on Fall 16 and Spirit’s Eve on Fall 27.
- Bundle Goal: The Fall Crops bundle wants Corn, Eggplant, Pumpkin and Yam.
- Deadline: Fall 28 is the last day. Outdoor crops die when Winter starts, so every planting needs a finish date.
Best Fall Seeds for Year 1
Here’s the chill version of what is worth your gold at Pierre’s this season.
| Crop | Seed price | Days to grow | Base sell price | Last safe planting day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranberries | 240g | 7, then every 5 | 75g (two per harvest) | Fall 21 |
| Pumpkin | 100g | 13 | 320g | Fall 15 |
| Yam | 60g | 10 | 160g | Fall 18 |
| Eggplant | 20g | 5, then every 5 | 60g | Fall 23 |
| Amaranth | 70g | 7 | 150g | Fall 21 |
| Bok Choy | 50g | 4 | 80g | Fall 24 |
| Corn | 150g | 14, then every 4 | 50g | Fall 14 |
No Stress: those last safe days assume no fertilizer. Speed-Gro shaves off a day or two, and you can always count forward on the calendar before buying.
Your Fall Step by Step
Fall 1: Clear and Replant
Pull up anything that died with the season change and get seeds in right away. Every day you wait is a lost harvest. If you planted Corn in Summer, it keeps producing through Fall, so leave it.
Repeat Crops First
Cranberries are the star. Planted on Fall 1, they produce on Fall 8, 13, 18, 23 and 28, two berries per plant each time. That is ten berries from one 240g seed. Pumpkins are the other big earner: plant on Fall 1, harvest on Fall 14 and replant straight away for a second round on Fall 27.
Bundle Crops on the Side
Plant a few Corn, Eggplant, Pumpkin and Yam early and put one of each in a chest the moment you harvest it. It is very easy to throw them in the shipping bin by accident when you are rushing.
Build Processing Power
Kegs and Preserves Jars turn raw crops into much better money. Even a handful of jars full of Cranberries or Pumpkins makes a noticeable difference, and Fall is the perfect season to start your machine collection.
The Fall Festivals
Festival days never rain, and they take a chunk of your day, so water and harvest before you head out.
Stardew Valley Fair (Fall 16)
The Fair runs from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. in the town square. Fill your Grange display with nine different high quality items, like crops, artisan goods, forage, fish and minerals, and Mayor Lewis scores it for Star Tokens. You also earn tokens from the mini games, then spend them at the token shop. Okay but, this part is so good: the shop sells a Stardrop for 2,000 Star Tokens, which permanently raises your maximum energy.
Spirit’s Eve (Fall 27)
Spirit’s Eve opens at 10 P.M. in town. Wander the spooky decorations, buy from Pierre’s special stall, and head into the hedge maze set up for the night. Find your way through and there is a Golden Pumpkin waiting at the end (since version 1.6, even years give a Prize Ticket instead). Take your time with this one, the maze has a few secret passages.
Fall Pro Tips
- Forage Often: Blackberry season runs Fall 8 to 11, and you will also find Hazelnuts, Wild Plums and mushrooms all over the valley.
- Stock Up for Winter: Once crops are watered, mine and fish. Copper, Iron, Coal and Stone stockpiles make Winter upgrades painless.
- Tool Upgrade Window: Winter is the ideal time to leave a tool with Clint, so save some bars and gold now.
- Seed Maker: If you have one, extra crops become seeds for Year 2.
- Birthdays: Check the calendar outside Pierre’s and gift on birthdays for a big friendship boost.
- Who Else Is Farming? Our Stardew Valley player count tracker shows how busy the valley is right now.
Setting Up Winter
Winter removes your regular outdoor crops, which makes it the best season for planning and upgrades. If you have unlocked the Greenhouse, you can keep planting inside it all year, so save a few seeds now. If not, a strong Fall still funds a Winter of mining, fishing and friendship.
Fall Year 1 FAQ
What is the best crop for Fall Year 1?
Cranberries for repeat income and Pumpkins for the biggest single harvest. Plant both on Fall 1 for the best results.
When is the Stardew Valley Fair?
Fall 16, from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. in the town square. Bring nine different quality items for your Grange display.
What do you get at Spirit’s Eve?
The Golden Pumpkin at the end of the hedge maze, plus a special shop and a fun night with the whole town.
What is the last day to plant Pumpkins?
Fall 15, since Pumpkins take 13 days and must finish by Fall 28. Fertilizer can buy you a little extra time.
The Payoff: Open your calendar, circle Fall 16 and Fall 27, plant Cranberries and Pumpkins on Day 1, and keep a chest for bundle crops. Fall will just about run itself. You’ve got this.
