In Stardew Valley, cultivating crops is essential for a successful farm. This farming simulation game has a diverse collection of seasonal crops, each with its unique growth requirements and profitability. One such crop exclusive to Summer is Melon – a sweet and juicy fruit, perfect for the hot weather.
Melons are ranked as the third-most profitable crop in the Summer, after Starfruit and Red Cabbage. Growing Melons is an excellent choice for new players aiming to boost their earnings in the early years of their farm life in Stardew Valley. This comprehensive guide covers how players can grow these juicy fruits and harvest them for maximum benefits.
How to Grow Melons in Stardew Valley
To grow Melons on the farm, players will need Melon Seeds, which can be obtained through various sources:
- Pierre’s General Store sells Melon Seeds for 80 g.
- JojaMart sells Melon Seeds for 100 g.
- Occasionally, they can be found at the Traveling Cart, with prices ranging from 120 to 1,000 g.
- At the Night Market, Melon Seeds can be purchased from the Magic Shop Boat for 80 g.
- Nine Melon Seeds can be collected from Gunther after players donate 10 items to the Museum’s collection.
- Five to twenty Melon Seeds can be found in the treasure rooms within The Skull Cavern.
- Melon Seeds can also be produced from a Seed Maker in Stardew Valley.
When planted in the Summer, Melon Seeds take 12 days to grow into mature Melons, ready for harvest. This process can be sped up by using Fertilizers, as shown in the table:
| Fertilizer | Time Saved | Ready for Harvest |
| Normal | – | 12 days |
| Speed-Gro | 10% | 11 days |
| Deluxe Speed-Gro | 25% | 10 days |
| Hyper Speed-Gro | 33% | 9 days |
All crops grow 10% faster , even without fertilizers, if players have chosen the Agriculturist Profession.
Melons are one of the three crops in Stardew Valley capable of growing into a Giant Crop. Melon Seeds, when planted in a 3×3 square on the farm, have a 1% chance of growing into a Giant Melon. mTo harvest a Giant Melon, players need to hit it with their Axe at least three times. A Giant Melon may drop 15-21 normal Melons when harvested.
Additionally, Melon crops may grow by planting Mixed Seeds on Ginger Island.
Giant crops, including Melons, cannot be grown in the Greenhouse or in Garden Pots.
Uses of Melon in Stardew Valley
Melons can be consumed to boost the player’s Energy levels by 113 points and Health by 50 points. Additionally, Melons make the perfect gift for Penny, who loves receiving them. In fact, most of the villagers in Pelican Town would happily accept Melons as a gift – except Haley, Jas, Abigail, and Vincent, who dislike Melons.
Melons are also required to complete a few bundles in the Community Center, namely the Summer Crops Bundle and Quality Crops Bundle in the Pantry.
Melons can be sold for good profits in Stardew Valley. Their prices increase depending on the quality of the fruit and the player’s profession.
| Quality | Base Sell Price | Prices with Tiller Profession (+10%) |
| Normal | 250 g | 275 g |
| Silver | 312 g | 343 g |
| Gold | 375 g | 412 g |
| Iridium | 500 g | 550 g |
Alternatively, they can be placed into Kegs to produce Melon Wine, which sells for decent money. Melons can also be put in a Preserves Jar to make Melon Jelly. Since both of these are Artisan Goods, their prices are influenced by the Artisan Profession, as shown in the table below:
| Quality | Melon Wine | Wine + Artisan (+40%) | Melon Jelly | Jelly + Artisan (+40%) |
| Normal | 750 g | 1,050 g | 550 g | 770 g |
| Silver | 937 g | 1,311 g | – | – |
| Gold | 1,125 g | 1,575 g | – | – |
| Iridium | 1,500 g | 2,100 g | – | – |
Quests
- On Summer 20, Demetrius requests a Melon via Mail as part of the “Crop Research” Quest. Completing the quest rewards players with 550 gold and 1 Friendship heart.
- The Gourmand Frog’s Puzzle on Ginger Island requires a fully-grown and unharvested Melon.
- The “Help Wanted” board outside Pierre’s General Store may randomly request a Melon in the Summer. Players are rewarded with 750 gold and 150 Friendship Points for successfully delivering a Melon.
Cooking Recipes
Melons are a key ingredient in the following recipes:
- Fruit Salad: Players can obtain the recipe for this delicious combination of summer fruits by watching an episode of The Queen of Sauce, aired on Fall 7, Year 2. The ingredients required are 1 Melon, 1 Apricot, and 1 Blueberry. When consumed, this dish restores the player’s Energy by 263 points and Health by 118 points.
- Pink Cake: The recipe for this adorable cake with little heart candies on top is shared in an episode of The Queen of Sauce, which airs on Summer 21, Year 2. The ingredients required are 1 Melon, 1 Sugar, 1 Wheat Flour, and 1 Egg. Players can consume this cake to replenish their Energy levels by 250 points and Health by 112 points.
Stardew Valley is available now for Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
