Spring Season Guide
Spring is your first season on the farm and the foundation for everything that follows. This guide covers all aspects of Spring: foraging, fishing, festivals, crop strategy, social priorities, and a week-by-week plan to maximize your first season.
TL;DR
Spring priorities: plant parsnips on Day 1, buy Strawberry Seeds at the Egg Festival (Spring 13) for the best seasonal profit, forage Wild Horseradish for the Community Center bundle, fish whenever possible, and socialize with villagers. Two festivals: Egg Festival (Spring 13) for strawberry seeds, Flower Dance (Spring 24) for friendship with your dance partner. Key forageables: Leek (60g), Morel (150g), Wild Horseradish (50g).
Spring Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 28 days (Spring 1 - Spring 28) |
| Forage | Daffodil, Dandelion, Leek, Wild Horseradish, Common Mushroom, Morel, Salmonberry, Spring Onion |
| Fish | Anchovy, Herring, Sardine, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Catfish (rain), Eel (rain), Shad (rain), Flounder, Halibut, Legend (rain, Lv 10) |
| Festivals | Egg Festival (Spring 13), Flower Dance (Spring 24) |
| Special Events | Salmonberry Season (Spring 15-18), Earthquake (Spring 3, Year 1) |
Spring Foraging
Spring has eight forageable items across different map areas:
| Item | Locations | Sell (N/S/G/I) | Energy/Health | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daffodil | Pelican Town, Bus Stop, Railroad | 30/37/45/60g | 0/0 | No food value; universally liked gift |
| Dandelion | Cindersap Forest, Bus Stop, Railroad | 40/50/60/80g | 25/11 | Dandelion Salad recipe from LS |
| Leek | Backwoods, Mountain, Bus Stop, Railroad | 60/75/90/120g | 40/18 | Highest regular forage sell price |
| Wild Horseradish | Secret Woods, Cindersap Forest, Backwoods, Mountain | 50/62/75/100g | 13/5 | Spring Foraging Bundle item |
| Common Mushroom | Secret Woods, Farm Cave (Mushroom option) | 40/50/60/80g | 38/17 | Field Snack recipe |
| Morel | Secret Woods, Farm Cave (Mushroom option) | 150/187/225/300g | 20/9 | Highest spring forage value |
| Salmonberry | Bushes everywhere (Spring 15-18 only) | 5/6/7/10g | 25/11 | Free foraging XP; bushes around town |
| Spring Onion | Cindersap Forest (south pond area) | 8/10/12/16g | 13/5 | Unlimited supply; Pavel quest item |
Best Foraging Strategy
- Days 1-14: Collect Wild Horseradish (for CC bundle), Leeks (good gold), and Dandelions daily
- Days 15-18: Salmonberry Season — grab every berry for free foraging XP and energy
- After Earthquake (Day 3, Year 1): Railroad unlocks, adding more forage spawn points
- Secret Woods (needs steel axe): Morel (150g) and Common Mushroom are abundant here
Spring Fishing
Spring fish are generally easier to catch than other seasons, making it ideal for leveling fishing early.
Spring-Exclusive Fish
| Fish | Location | Time | Weather | Difficulty | Sell (N/S/G/I) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchovy | Ocean | Anytime | Any | 30 | 30/37/45/60g |
| Herring | Ocean | Anytime | Any | 25 | 30/37/45/60g |
| Sardine | Ocean | 6am-7pm | Any | 30 | 40/50/60/80g |
| Smallmouth Bass | Town River, Forest Pond | Anytime | Any | 28 | 50/62/75/100g |
| Sunfish | Town River, Forest River | 6am-7pm | Sun | 30 | 30/37/45/60g |
| Flounder | Ocean | 6am-8pm | Any | 50 | 100/125/150/200g |
| Halibut | Ocean | 6am-11am, 7pm-2am | Any | 50 | 80/100/120/160g |
| Catfish | Town/Forest River, Secret Woods | 6am-12am | Rain | 75 | 200/250/300/400g |
| Eel | Ocean | 4pm-2am | Rain | 70 | 85/106/127/170g |
| Shad | Town/Forest River | 9am-2am | Rain | 45 | 60/75/90/120g |
| Legend | Mountain Lake (near log) | Anytime | Rain | 110 | 5,000/6,250/7,500/10,000g |
Fishing Tips for Spring
- Rain days are golden: Catfish (200g), Eel (85g), Shad (60g), and the legendary Legend (5,000g) only appear in rain
- Ocean is easiest: Anchovy, Herring, and Sardine are great for quick fishing XP
- Save Rain Totems: Use them on Spring to catch rare rain-only fish
- Fishing Level 2: Buy the Fiberglass Rod from Willy (1,800g) to unlock bait usage
- Community Center: Ocean Fish bundle needs Sardine + Tuna (wait for Summer) + Pufferfish (wait for Summer); River Fish needs Catfish + Shad + Sunfish (Walleye is Fall/Winter)
Spring Festivals
Egg Festival (Spring 13)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Time | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
| Location | Pelican Town Square |
| Activities | Social + Egg Hunt |
Egg Hunt Rules:
- 50 seconds to find at least 9 colored eggs (fewer in multiplayer)
- First win reward: Straw Hat
- Repeat win reward: Prize Ticket (changed in 1.6)
- Default winner if you lose: Abigail always wins
Strawberry Seeds — THE most important purchase:
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberry Seeds | 100g each | Buy as many as possible! Only available here and Traveling Cart |
Strawberry Seeds planted on Spring 13 yield 2 harvests (Day 21 and Day 25), making them the best gold/day crop at 11.67g/day. Save seeds from Year 1 harvests for Year 2 — planting on Day 1 with saved seeds yields 5 harvests for 20.83g/day.
Flower Dance (Spring 24)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Time | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
| Location | Far west of Cindersap Forest (festival-only area) |
| Requirement | 4 hearts (1,000 friendship) with dance partner |
Dance Mechanics:
- Talk to a bachelor/bachelorette 2 times until the dance invitation appears
- Dancing gives +250 friendship (1 heart)
- If you don’t dance, default pairs form (Abigail + Sebastian, Haley + Alex, etc.)
- Available at Pierre’s shop: Rarecrow #5 (2,500g)
Spring Birthdays
| Day | Villager | Loved Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 4 | Kent | Fiddlehead Risotto, Lucky Lunch, parsnip, roasted seeds |
| Spring 7 | Lewis | Golf Tee, Scratch-off Ticket, Rabbit’s Foot, wine |
| Spring 10 | Vincent | Snail, Joja Cola, spacetime piece, octopus |
| Spring 14 | Haley | Coconut, Fruit Salad, Pink Cake, sunflower |
| Spring 18 | Pam | Beer, Iridium Bar, cactus fruit, parsnip |
| Spring 20 | Shane | Beer, Hot Pepper, Jalapeno Peppers, Pizza |
| Spring 26 | Pierre | Bubble Tea, Cactus Fruit, Fried Calamari, Espresso |
| Spring 27 | Emily | Amethyst, Aquamarine, cloth, cloth, wool, ruby, topaz |
Week-by-Week Spring Plan
Week 1 (Spring 1-7)
- Day 1: Clear some farm space, plant 15 Parsnip Seeds (free gift), introduce yourself to villagers
- Day 2: Water parsnips, forage, fish at the ocean for easy XP
- Day 3: Earthquake unlocks the Railroad. Keep foraging and fishing
- Day 4: Kent’s birthday. Water crops, continue clearing farm
- Day 5-6: Buy Potatoes (50g, 240g sell, 6 days) — best single-harvest early profit. Plant more parsnips if you have space
- Day 7: Lewis’s birthday. Parsnips harvest. Plant more crops
Week 2 (Spring 8-14)
- Day 8-10: Plant Cauliflower (150g seed, 525g sell, 12 days) if you can afford it. Continue foraging
- Day 11-12: Prepare for Egg Festival. Ensure you have enough gold for strawberry seeds
- Day 13: Egg Festival. Buy as many Strawberry Seeds as you can afford. Plant them immediately after the festival
- Day 14: Haley’s birthday. Water strawberries and remaining crops
Week 3 (Spring 15-21)
- Day 15-18: Salmonberry Season. Pick berries from every bush for free XP and energy
- Day 16-17: Plant a second round of Potatoes if desired
- Day 18: Pam’s birthday. Parsnip/Potato harvest if planted. Plant new crops
- Day 20: Shane’s birthday
- Day 21: First Strawberry harvest! Save seeds from at least some berries
Week 4 (Spring 22-28)
- Day 24: Flower Dance. Dance with whoever has 4+ hearts for +250 friendship
- Day 25: Second Strawberry harvest
- Day 26: Pierre’s birthday
- Day 27: Emily’s birthday
- Day 28: Last day of Spring. Prepare for Summer: buy Melon and Blueberry seeds if available
Spring Money Milestones
| Goal | Amount | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass Rod | 1,800g | Fishing Level 2 — unlocks bait |
| Strawberry Seeds (13+) | 1,300g+ | Egg Festival investment |
| Backpack Upgrade | 2,000g | 24 slots (Willy, first time) |
| Cauliflower Seeds | 4,500g+ | 30 seeds for high profit |
| Summer Seeds Buffer | 5,000g+ | Melon + Blueberry start |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I plant potatoes or cauliflower in Spring?
Potatoes are safer for early game (50g seed, 240g sell, 6 days). Cauliflower has higher per-harvest profit (150g seed, 525g sell, 12 days) but more risk if crops fail. Plant potatoes early, cauliflower mid-season.
How many strawberry seeds should I buy?
Buy as many as you can afford. At minimum, buy 15-20 for a good return. If you have 5,000g+, buy 50. Save some harvested strawberries to turn into seeds with the Seed Maker for Year 2.
When does it rain in Spring?
Rain is semi-random. Check the TV weather channel each morning. If rain is forecast, plan to fish for Catfish, Eel, and Shad. Use Rain Totems if you have them.
Can I complete the Spring Foraging Bundle in Year 1?
Yes. Wild Horseradish spawns commonly in Cindersap Forest, Backwoods, and the Secret Woods (once unlocked). You only need one for the bundle.
Last Updated: July 2026 | Game Version: 1.6.15