How to Make the Most of Winter in Stardew Valley
When it comes to your farming experience, it’s safe to say that Stardew Valley can sometimes feel a little underwhelming in the Winter. Indeed, while the Winter months are undoubtedly beautiful in Stardew, it’s important to remember that traditional crops simply won’t grow. As a result of this, many people dread the winter months over all others—but this isn’t the case. And, while you may need to shift your farming and game style a little to get through the Winter comfortably, there are things you can try to help. In line with this thought, today, we’re looking at some of the best things to do in Stardew Valley in the Winter—including the different Winter seeds you can grow and more.
What are the Best Things to Do in Stardew Valley During the Winter?
As in the real world, Stardew Valley’s Winter season is typically considered the hardest time of year, simply because the cold weather freezes the ground solid—limiting you from growing grass or crops. As such, pre-planning is pretty much crucial to get through the winter unscathed.
Opportunities for Stardew Valley Players in the Winter
Once the cold season rolls around, you’ll hopefully have plenty of provisions and money to see you and your animals through. But what can you do to make sure you’re not just wasting the month? Well, the following activities are all well worth keeping in mind.
And remember! While the Winter months might seem a little slow in Stardew, you won’t have to worry about your game running sluggishly when you’ve invested in a top-quality ScalaCube server, helping ensure your farm runs smoothly (no matter how cold the in-game weather gets).
Growing Crops
You’ve probably assumed that crops will be completely off the cards in the Winter. However, that’s not entirely true—although it is in the traditional sense. Indeed, since the soil is frozen solid, you won’t be able to till the soil to grow regular crops.
You can still grow winter foraged crops from Winter Wild Seeds, as well as Powdermelons and fiber seeds. You can purchase a powdermelon at the Feast of the Winter Star, or you can trade for the seeds or find them at seed spots.
It’s also worth remembering that crops can still be grown in greenhouses year-round. So, if you managed to complete the greenhouse repair, you may have a much easier time during the Winter.
Fishing
Just because the soil is frozen doesn’t mean you can’t go fishing. Fish species are still abundant during the Winter months, so you’ll still be able to catch plenty of varieties—and some species are even unique in the winter.
Mining
For many players, one of the most obvious uses of the Winter months is going mining. Indeed, mining offers up a wealth of opportunities, allowing players to progress further than they may have had time for prior. If you can get down far enough in the mines, you may also begin finding ores to make sprinklers, which can be incredibly useful in the following year.
Foraging
Many plants are still forage-able during the Winter months, making this a great way to make a little cash on the side while waiting for the warmer weather to return. The main forage items include Winter Roots, Crystal Fruits, Snow Yams, Holly, and Crocus flowers; as usual, you can potentially also find forage options on the beach.
Events
Did you know, there are actually a few different events available throughout the Winter months that make this time of year a brilliant opportunity to get involved with the community? The Festival of Ice appears first on the 8th of Winter, followed by the Night Market between the 15th and 17th and the Feast of the Winter Star on the 25th.
Gifting
Birthdays are frequent during Winter, with Krobus, Linus, Caroline, Sebastian, Harvey, the Wizard, Evelyn, Leah, and Clint all celebrating their birthdays this season. As such, it’s a great time to work on community relations! If you’re looking to make new friends or potentially even woo a new partner, Winter might be the ideal time to focus on it.
Upgrades
Since you generally won’t need your farming tools—namely a watering can and a hoe—during the Winter, why not upgrade? This can be a lot more practical than upgrading during the rest of the year, as you’ll have to wait a few days before the upgraded tool is available and ready to use.
Care for Livestock
If you’ve managed to get livestock onto your farm before—or during!—Winter, they’ll still need care. Looking after your livestock well can provide an extra source of much needed income during this season, which is well worth keeping in mind.
Make Your Own Stardew Valley Server
What are the Best Things to Do in Stardew Valley During the Winter?
As in the real world, Stardew Valley’s Winter season is typically considered the hardest time of year, simply because the cold weather freezes the ground solid—limiting you from growing grass or crops. As such, pre-planning is pretty much crucial to get through the winter unscathed.Opportunities for Stardew Valley Players in the Winter
Once the cold season rolls around, you’ll hopefully have plenty of provisions and money to see you and your animals through. But what can you do to make sure you’re not just wasting the month? Well, the following activities are all well worth keeping in mind.And remember! While the Winter months might seem a little slow in Stardew, you won’t have to worry about your game running sluggishly when you’ve invested in a top-quality ScalaCube server, helping ensure your farm runs smoothly (no matter how cold the in-game weather gets).
Growing Crops
You’ve probably assumed that crops will be completely off the cards in the Winter. However, that’s not entirely true—although it is in the traditional sense. Indeed, since the soil is frozen solid, you won’t be able to till the soil to grow regular crops.You can still grow winter foraged crops from Winter Wild Seeds, as well as Powdermelons and fiber seeds. You can purchase a powdermelon at the Feast of the Winter Star, or you can trade for the seeds or find them at seed spots.
It’s also worth remembering that crops can still be grown in greenhouses year-round. So, if you managed to complete the greenhouse repair, you may have a much easier time during the Winter.
Fishing
Just because the soil is frozen doesn’t mean you can’t go fishing. Fish species are still abundant during the Winter months, so you’ll still be able to catch plenty of varieties—and some species are even unique in the winter.Mining
For many players, one of the most obvious uses of the Winter months is going mining. Indeed, mining offers up a wealth of opportunities, allowing players to progress further than they may have had time for prior. If you can get down far enough in the mines, you may also begin finding ores to make sprinklers, which can be incredibly useful in the following year.Foraging
Many plants are still forage-able during the Winter months, making this a great way to make a little cash on the side while waiting for the warmer weather to return. The main forage items include Winter Roots, Crystal Fruits, Snow Yams, Holly, and Crocus flowers; as usual, you can potentially also find forage options on the beach.Events
Did you know, there are actually a few different events available throughout the Winter months that make this time of year a brilliant opportunity to get involved with the community? The Festival of Ice appears first on the 8th of Winter, followed by the Night Market between the 15th and 17th and the Feast of the Winter Star on the 25th.
Gifting
Birthdays are frequent during Winter, with Krobus, Linus, Caroline, Sebastian, Harvey, the Wizard, Evelyn, Leah, and Clint all celebrating their birthdays this season. As such, it’s a great time to work on community relations! If you’re looking to make new friends or potentially even woo a new partner, Winter might be the ideal time to focus on it.Upgrades
Since you generally won’t need your farming tools—namely a watering can and a hoe—during the Winter, why not upgrade? This can be a lot more practical than upgrading during the rest of the year, as you’ll have to wait a few days before the upgraded tool is available and ready to use.Care for Livestock
If you’ve managed to get livestock onto your farm before—or during!—Winter, they’ll still need care. Looking after your livestock well can provide an extra source of much needed income during this season, which is well worth keeping in mind.FAQs
Can I grow crops in Stardew Valley in the winter?
During the Stardew Valley Winter season, the only crops you will be able to grow outdoors naturally are those that grow from Winter seeds, as well as Powdermelons and Fiber seeds. However, you can still grow crops from any season indoors if you have the greenhouse repaired on your farm.
Can I still catch fish in the Winter?
If you want to go fishing in the Winter, you can do so. In addition to regular fishing opportunities, the Night Market that appears between Winter the 15th and 17th allows you to catch unique fish species that cannot be caught in any other way.
How Long is Winter in Stardew Valley?
As with all Stardew Valley seasons, Winter lasts for a total of 28 days (four weeks exactly). It is followed by Spring of the following year.