The Sims 4 Gardening Collection

It may be Fall as I'm writing this, with crisp leaves and brilliant auburn hues, but I'm still gardening–in the Sims 4.

Following up on previous games in The Sims franchise, there are now more plants and features than ever, which is why I'm giving you a guide to all things gardening, with a plant list, to get you started.

Whether you want to sell produce, create your own makeshift career, or just get some joy out of watching crops grow, gardening is both rewarding and, at times, challenging. It's also one of my favorite ways to make a home feel distinct, and get just a little feel of farming gameplay, especially after a rumor about a Country Living expansion pack turned out to be fake.

Farming expansion pack aside, there's still plenty to do in Sims 4. So if you like gardening, in real life or in a virtual one, or just want a new channel of revenue for your Sims, read on. Consider this your guide to all things gardening, with a plant list so you can plan.

Is Gardening new to Sims 4?

Gardening isn't new to the Sims 4–far from it. While the plant list has changed and there are new features, gardening as a system has been a mainstay of the Sims franchise since The Sims Unleashed, the 2002 expansion pack for the original Sims generation that introduced the concept of growing and tending plants.

Here's a snapshot of the history of gardening in the Sims, to see just how it has evolved over two decades.

Sims Unleashed

The Sims Unleashed, when it was released, was truly innovative for its time. Not only did the expansion introduce gardening; it also came with 125 new items, 5 new careers, and the ability to own cats, dogs, and small pets, such as birds, fish, and reptiles.

The gardening was more advanced than you might imagine. To begin gardening, you need to buy a gardening pilot and seeds, which were both located under a new plant tool in Build Mode. After buying seeds from the community garden center shop, plants required weeding, watering, and tending. Sims could harvest and store things such as green beans and tomatoes, as well as carrots and lettuce.

The main dangers included pests; predators like rabbits; and not caring for the crops properly. One of my favorite features includes the introduction of the Scarecrow, which has since reappeared in subsequent Sims games.

Sims 2

Gardening was introduced in Sims 2: Seasons Expansion Pack. If the original Sims introduction of gardening was innovative, it was just as much in Sims 2– in part because now weather added benefits and challenges to gardening, for a more fully fleshed and realistic experience, and, for me, remains one of the most memorable additions.

Now gardening was not only a way to grow crops but a talent. As Sims became more experienced, they were able to earn talent badges, and gardening itself became more efficient. Just like with the original Sims, in Sims 2 seeds could be planted in gardening plots, with additional options for fertilizing and compositing. Tending required not only watering but also spraying with pesticides. Water was made easier by buying the new sprinklers.

Orchard trees; the ability to juice; greenhouses; a garden club, and new comfort buffs complemented a more nuanced system. Certain plants could be grown at different times of the year, and crops were given different values based upon their health rating.

Sims 3

A big step in the right direction for gardening came in the Sims 3. Unlike previous Sims games, the gardening system came with the base game, which means you could enjoy it without purchasing a single expansion pack.

Gardening became a skill, and tied in with traits like Green Thumb and Gatherer; challenges; and the ability to earn a lifetime reward for points. Previous options like weeding, fertilizing, and water was still an option. Now Sims could also produce in even more ways, from cooking to nectar making, mixology, and even for fishing bait and making jam.

The gardening experience was enhanced with expansions, with more capabilities and rare plants. Herbs and coffee beans were options alongside a growing list of plants, and there was a new, enhanced fertilizer system, with quality ratings from putrid to perfect.

What is new about gardening in the Sims 4? Your Guide

As is the case with gardening from previous generations, Sims 4 took many features introduced in Sims 2 and 3 and added some more. Like Sims 3, gardening was introduced in the base game, though the Seasons and other dlc packs do enhance your experience.

While Sims 4 started out with arguably more basic features that some even considered a step back, an overhaul before the release of the Sims 4 Seasons expansion pack introduced nuance to grafting, watering, plant evolution, and more.

At the same time, gardening in Sims 4, with its new features, will still feel familiar to any players who enjoyed gardening in Sims 2 and Sims 3.

Preparation

As with other games, you'll first need to purchase seeds, either from Build Mode or from a computer. You'll also need single garden pots (50 simoleons) or planter boxes, which hold a tree or up to four plants (200 simoleons). You have the option to plant both inside and outside, and, if you have Seasons installed, you may want to consider constructing a greenhouse.

To plant, simply place your seeds from your inventory in your pots or boxes.

Tending Plants

The next step is to make sure you at least tend your plants so they grow. Sims 4 actually makes this easy by having certain times of day when it's best to do things. Mornings around 6am game time are when plants should be watered and checked for weeds. You'll want to look for an average of 6 harvestable fruit or vegetables per plant. Plant quality is rated as Normal, Nice, Excellent, Magnificent, or Perfect.

Spraying

Spraying plants is a key to gardening success in the Sims 4, especially if you have Seasons installed. But even without the additional pests that come with Seasons, bugs can still eat away at your plants. You should spray if you see insects, but not at will; I recommend checking daily.

Plant Evolution

Plant evolution is unique to the Sims 4, and tied directly to produce quality. You'll be given the option to evolve plants when there is a glittering icon surrounding them. Plants evolve simply by tending to them properly, though they tend to evolve best indoors, and weather can have an impact.

If you're impatient like me, you can also use plant evolution in the Sims 4 to make gardening quicker. Perfect Plants will grow faster if you evolve every time the option pops up. You can further speed up the process by collecting a rare plant and grafting it to your Perfect Plant.

Grafting

One of the most interesting new additions to gardening in Sims 4 is grafting. For this option, your Sim will have to be at a level 5 in the gardening skill, so be patient. Grafting is there to make the garden more efficient, meaning plants will require less maintenance. Grafting basically means that you're splicing the tissue of one plant and joining it with another.

An added bonus comes if you have the Seasons expansion. A plant that can be grown all year can be grafted with another to make the second plant usable outside of its typical season.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing plants in the Sims 4 requires your Sim to have a level 3 of the gardening skill, and ties directly in with plant evolution. Fertilizer improves the quality of your produce. Fish and other plants can be used as fertilizers, with different values assigned. The most expensive fish are the best fertilizers, and the game will limit how often you fertilize your plants.

Gardening Skill Levels

Gardening skill levels, as you've seen, are very important to understand if you want to be successful in Sims 4. It's also important to note that certain traits and aspirations are helpful in getting your skills up faster, or motivating your Sim, especially the Loves the Outdoors trait and Freelance Botanist Aspiration.

Level One: No perks
Level Two: You can start learning quicker by researching gardening on a computer
Level Three: Start fertilizing your plants
Level Four: You can now talk to your plants ( to fulfill social needs)
Level Five: Cut and graft your plants
Level Seven: Can weed and water simultaneously using a new "Tend Garden" interaction
Level Eight: Sell multiply harvestable at once
Level Ten: Rare seed packets can be purchased

Seasons Features

If you do have the Seasons Expansion, there are a few considerations beyond the weather. Not only do you have more options for gardening in Sims 4, but you'll also need to keep new challenges in mind.

Weather and Seasons

Of course, the most obvious difference between gardening in the Sims 4 Base Game vs gardening with Sims 4 Seasons is when and how you can garden. Certain plants are season-specific, and inclement weather can impact how you tend your plants. Plants that are out of season cannot grow, evolve, or be fertilized outdoors.

Beekeeping

While not technically part of the gardening system, beekeeping actually does enhance your gardening. You'll need to purchase the Bertie's Bee Box from the Outdoor Activities section in the Buy catalog.

Beekeeping takes patience and requires you to bond with and establish a healthy relationship with your bees. With patience, however, you can accelerate the rate of fertilization. Place your bee box within 3-5 squares of the plant for the best impact.

Sims 4 Plant List

One of the most impressive aspects of gardening in the Sims 4 is the sheer number of plants and plant types. There are unique plants to several game packs and expansion packs, and countless harvestable even with the base game.

This is not exhaustive but includes plants you'll most engage with, broken down by plant type. Seasons for harvesting, of course, will only apply if you have Sims 4 Seasons installed.

Common Gardening Plants

Plant	Can Sell for (without upgrades)	Pack & Where to Find in Game	Season
Apple	$3	BG; seed packet	Fall
Basil	$2	BG; seed packet	Summer, Fall
Bell Pepper	$3	Seasons; seed packet	Summer
Blue Bells	$2	BG; seed packet	Spring, Summer
Carrots	$3	BG; seed packet	Spring, Fall
Camomille/ Toxic Camomille	$8/ $4	Outdoor Retreat; Granite Falls	Summer
Daisy	$2	BG; seed packet	Spring
Elderberry/ Noxious Elderberry	$2/ $2	Outdoor Retreat; Granite Falls	Fall, Summer
Grapes	$6	BG; seed packet	Fall
Green Peas	$3	Seasons; seed packet	Spring
Holly	$3	Seasons; seed packet	Fall, Winter
Lemons	$6	BG; Oasis Springs	Unspecified
Mushrooms	$1	BG; seed packet	Spring, Fall
Parsley	$2	BG; seed packet	Spring, Summer
Plantains	$3	BG; seed packet	Summer
Sage	$3	BG; Oasis Springs	Unspecified
Snapdragon	$16	BG; Willow Creek	Spring, Fall
Spinach	$1	BG; seed packet	Winter

Uncommon Gardening Plants

Plant	Can Sell for (without upgrades)	Pack & Where to Find in Game	Season
Avocado	$15	Jungle Adventure; Selvadorado Market	Unspecified
Black Beans	$2	Jungle Adventure; Selvadorado Market	Summer, Fall
Begonia	$23	Seasons; seed packs	Summer, Fall
Cherries	$8	BG; Oasis Springs	Summer
Christmas Rose	$14	Seasons; seed packets	Winter
Coconut	$3	Island Living; Sulani	Spring, Summer
Crocus	$9	Seasons; seed packets	Winter, Spring
Dahlia	$17	Seasons; seed packets	Fall
Fireleaf/ Poison Fireleaf	$2	Outdoor Retreat; Granite Falls	Spring, Summer
Garlic	$4	Vampires; seed packs and Forgotten Hollow	Unspecified
Huckleberry	$2	Outdoor Retreat; Granite Falls	Summer, Fall
Kava	$3	Island Living; Sulani	Spring, Summer
Lily	$36	BG; Willow Creek	Summer
Muckleberry	$3	Outdoor Retreat; Granite Falls	Summer, Fall
Onion	$6	BG; Willow Creek	Fall, Winter
Pear	$10	BG; Willow Creek	Fall, Winter
Plasma (Fruit)	$6	Vampires; Forgotten Hollow	Unspecified
Pineapple	$4	Island Living; Sulani	Spring, Summer
Potato	$3	BG; Willow Creek	Winter
Rose	$29	BG; Willow Creek	Spring, Fall
Snowdrop	$5	Seasons; seed packets	Winter
Strawberries	$9	BG; Willow Creek	Spring
Tomato	$5	BG; Oasis Springs	Summer
Tulip	$14	BG; Oasis Springs	Spring

Rare Gardening Plants

Rare seed packs can be purchased on the computer.

Plant	Can Sell for (without upgrades)	Pack & Where to Find in Game	Season
Bird of Paradise	$51	BG; seed packs	Spring, Summer
Blackberry	$3	BG; Oasis Springs	Summer
Bonsai Seedlings	$35	BG; seed packs	Unspecified
Bizarre Fruit	$2	Strangerville; Strangerville Shop	Unspecified
Cow Berry (for Cow Plant)	$180	BG; Oasis Springs, or Sylvan Glade (Get to Work)	Unspecified
Death Flower	$240	BG; seed pack	Winter
Dragon Fruit	$250	BG; seed pack	Fall
Emotion Berries	$5	Jungle Adventure; Temple	Unspecified
Growfruit	$30	BG; seed pack, but hard to find	Unspecified
Mandrake	$3	Realm of Magic/ Portal	Spring, Fall
Money Tree	$1600	Seasons; Reward Store	Unspecified
Morel/ False Morel Mushroom	$36/ $6	Outdoor Retreat; Granite Falls	Spring, Summer
Orchid	$225	BG; seed pack	Spring, Winter
Pomegranate	$30	BG; Willow Creek	Winter
Trash Fruit	$1	BG; seed pack	Unspecified
Valerian	$3	Realm of Magic/ Portal	Spring, Fall

No Rarity

A select few plants are not classified on the rarity scale. This includes Catnip from the Cats & Dogs Expansion (seed pack from the computer); the Fang Flower, Glow Orb, and Quill Fruit from the hidden Alien planet, Sixam that comes from the Get to Work Expansion, and the Sixam Mosquito Trap from the Vampires Pack.

FAQs

Question: Is there a gardening career in Sims4?

Answer: Yes, there are a few careers directly related to the gardening system. The Seasons Expansion gives you the Florist and Botanist career branches, both from the Gardening Career track. Both include active work from home features and are enhanced by traits such as Loves the Outdoors.

Question: How do you get more plants in Sims 4?

Answer: If you're looking for more plants to garden outside of what Simsa 4 seed packets provide, start looking around different worlds. You'll find a wealth of plants in Oasis Springs and Willow Creek; Granite Falls if you have Sims 4 Outdoor Retreat, and even some in the jungle and market with the Jungle Adventure Pack. There are also a few plants exclusive to Forgotten Hollow (Vampires Game Pack) and Realm of Magic Game Pack.
Finally, you can find rare seeds by purchasing on a computer, and also new plants through the grafting feature. Meanwhile, more eccentric plants, like Cow Plants, can sometimes be found from fishing.

Question: What is the best fertilizer for gardening in Sims 4?

Answer: The most potent fertilizer is from valuable fish. To get the best fish, you'll need to play for a while to increase your fishing skill. Shy away from fish like minnows, which are not adequate fertilizers.