Rhubarb Farming: Turning Desert Seeds into Sweet Valley Profits

Rhubarb Farming: Turning Desert Seeds into Sweet Valley Profits

Looking to make serious gold from your spring crops? Rhubarb is your ticket to boosting your farm’s profits-but only if you know where to get the seeds and how to maximize your returns. Unlike other spring staples, rhubarb seeds require desert access and special planning to hit multiple harvests. This guide breaks down everything from acquisition to optimal processing, with special tricks to fit three harvests into a single season. Jump to the Multiple Harvest Strategy if you’re already on day 8 of Spring and need immediate planting advice.

Understanding Rhubarb Basics

What is Rhubarb in Stardew Valley?

Rhubarb is a unique spring crop that serves as a bridge between early-game and mid-game farming strategies. Unlike most crops you’ll encounter in your first year, rhubarb cannot be purchased from Pierre’s General Store or JojaMart-it requires access to the Calico Desert, making it a symbol of farming progression.

Classified as a fruit in the game (despite being a vegetable stalk in real life), rhubarb takes 13 days to mature and yields a single harvest per planting. When fully grown, each plant produces one rhubarb, which can be sold for a base price of 220g, representing a 120g profit over the 100g seed cost.

What makes rhubarb particularly interesting is that it’s technically inedible as a raw crop in the game-a nod to real-life rhubarb, whose leaves are indeed toxic. Instead, it serves primarily as a sale crop and artisan goods ingredient, particularly for wine production, where it ranks as the second most profitable spring crop for wine conversion.

Here’s what makes rhubarb stand out from other spring crops:

• Higher base selling price than most early spring options
• Excellent candidate for wine production
• Available to buy throughout spring (unlike strawberries)
• Doesn’t require replanting for multiple harvests (unlike green beans)

Where to Find Rhubarb Seeds

Acquiring rhubarb seeds requires planning and game progression, as they’re not available through conventional merchants in Pelican Town. Here are all the ways to obtain rhubarb seeds:

1. Oasis Shop (Primary Source)

The most reliable way to acquire rhubarb seeds is by purchasing them from Sandy at the Oasis store in the Calico Desert. Each seed costs 100g, making them a significant but worthwhile investment.

Requirements to access:

• Repair the bus at the bus stop (costs 42,500g through the Community Center Vault bundles or 40,000g through Joja Community Development)
• Purchase a bus ticket for 500g

Oasis Shop Hours:

• Open daily from 9:00 AM to 11:50 PM
• Closed during Desert Festival (added in 1.6 update)

2. Traveling Cart (Random Chance)

The Traveling Cart, which appears in Cindersap Forest south of the farm on Fridays and Sundays, occasionally sells rhubarb seeds at premium prices ranging from 150g to 1,000g.

Tips for Traveling Cart purchases:

• Check every Friday and Sunday
• Seeds are considerably more expensive than at the Oasis
• Consider only if you can’t access the desert yet

3. Seed Maker (Sustainable Source)

Once you have at least one rhubarb, you can use the Seed Maker to create 1-3 rhubarb seeds.

To obtain a Seed Maker:

• Complete the “Quality Crops” bundle in the Pantry (Community Center)
• Or reach Farming level 9 and craft it (requires Gold Bar ×1, Iron Bar ×1, Coal ×10)

Seed Maker yield:

• 1-3 rhubarb seeds per rhubarb (most common)
• 1-4 mixed seeds (uncommon)
• 1 ancient seed (rare - 0.5% chance)

4. Skull Cavern (Rare Find)

Treasure rooms in the Skull Cavern may occasionally contain 5-20 rhubarb seeds.

Requirements:

• Access to the desert
• Reach the bottom of the mines to obtain the Skull Key

5. Mixed Seeds on Ginger Island (1.5+ Feature)

Mixed seeds planted on Ginger Island have a chance to grow into any crop from any season, including rhubarb.

Requirements:

• Unlock Ginger Island (requires completing the Community Center or Joja Development Form)
• Plant mixed seeds in the farm area

Growth Timeline and Calendar

Understanding rhubarb’s growth cycle is essential for maximizing profits, especially when trying to fit multiple harvests into a single spring season.

Basic Growth Information:

• Total Growth Time: 13 days
• Growth Stages: 5 stages (2, 2, 2, 3, and 4 days respectively)
• Season: Spring only (except on Ginger Island)
• Regrowth: No (single harvest per planting)
• XP Earned: 26 Farming XP per harvest

Growth Timeline Visualization:

Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of rhubarb’s growth stages:

Spring Planting Calendar:

To help you plan your rhubarb crops, here’s a calendar showing optimal planting days and their corresponding harvest dates:

Important Calculation Tip: When planning harvests, remember that the day you plant doesn’t count as a growth day. The first growth day is the day after planting (assuming you watered the seed). Another way to think of it: the number of days shown on the seed packet is the number of nights needed for growth.

Maximizing Rhubarb Profitability

Raw Profit Analysis: Rhubarb vs Other Spring Crops

To determine whether rhubarb is worth your investment compared to other spring options, let’s break down the raw profitability of various spring crops.

Basic Profit Comparison:

Season-Long Profit Analysis:

Assuming planting on Spring 1 with no speed-gro or profession bonuses:

Quality Considerations:

The profit numbers above reflect base quality. With increased farming skill and fertilizer, the profits increase substantially:

Rhubarb Quality Prices:

• Base Quality: 220g
• Silver Quality: 275g (+25%)
• Gold Quality: 330g (+50%)
• Iridium Quality: 440g (+100%)

With Tiller Profession (+10% crop value):

• Base Quality: 242g
• Silver Quality: 302g
• Gold Quality: 363g
• Iridium Quality: 484g

Multiple Harvests Strategy

One of the key strategies for maximizing rhubarb profits is getting multiple harvests within a single spring season. With proper planning, you can achieve two harvests consistently, and with the right techniques, even three harvests are possible.

Standard Two-Harvest Strategy:

The simplest approach is to aim for two harvests:

1. Plant on Spring 1: Your first harvest will be ready on Spring 14
2. Immediately replant on Spring 14: Your second harvest will be ready on Spring 27

Requirements:

• Must plant by Spring 10 at the latest (without Speed-Gro)
• Must water every day without fail
• Must replant immediately on harvest day

Achieving Three Harvests (Advanced Strategy):

Getting three harvests requires careful optimization:

1. Use Deluxe Speed-Gro: Reduces growth time from 13 to 10 days
2. Plant on Spring 1: First harvest on Spring 11
3. Replant immediately on Spring 11: Second harvest on Spring 21
4. Replant immediately on Spring 21: Third harvest on Spring 28 (final day of spring)

Requirements:

• Deluxe Speed-Gro (purchase from Pierre for 80g after Farming level 5, or from Oasis for 80g)
• Perfect watering (every single day)
• Immediate replanting on harvest days

Agriculturist Profession Bonus:

If you’ve reached Farming level 10 and chosen the Agriculturist profession (10% faster growth), you can further reduce growth times:

• Standard growth: 13 days
• With Agriculturist: ~12 days
• With Speed-Gro: ~11 days
• With Deluxe Speed-Gro: ~10 days
• With Deluxe Speed-Gro + Agriculturist: ~9 days

With Deluxe Speed-Gro and Agriculturist, you could potentially get a comfortable three-harvest schedule:

1. Plant Spring 1, harvest Spring 10
2. Plant Spring 10, harvest Spring 19
3. Plant Spring 19, harvest Spring 28

Multiple Harvest Calculator:

Use this formula to check if you can still get multiple harvests:

Last Viable Planting Day = 28 - (Growth Days)

For three harvests with Deluxe Speed-Gro:

First Planting: Spring 1
First Harvest: Spring 1 + 10 = Spring 11
Second Planting: Spring 11
Second Harvest: Spring 11 + 10 = Spring 21
Third Planting: Spring 21
Third Harvest: Spring 21 + 10 = Spring 31 (not possible)

With Deluxe Speed-Gro + Agriculturist:

First Planting: Spring 1
First Harvest: Spring 1 + 9 = Spring 10
Second Planting: Spring 10
Second Harvest: Spring 10 + 9 = Spring 19
Third Planting: Spring 19
Third Harvest: Spring 19 + 9 = Spring 28 (last day of Spring - possible!)

Processing into Artisan Goods

Raw rhubarb sales provide decent profit, but processing your crop into artisan goods can dramatically increase your returns. Here’s a breakdown of the different processing options and their profitability:

Artisan Goods Profit Comparison:

Rhubarb Wine vs. Strawberry Wine Analysis:

Many players debate whether to focus on rhubarb or strawberry for wine production. Here’s a comparison assuming Artisan profession and optimal growing conditions:

Rhubarb Wine:

• Seed cost: 100g
• Wine value: 924g per bottle
• Profit per bottle: 824g
• Three harvests possible: 3 × 824g = 2,472g per tile for the season
• Processing requirement: 3 rhubarbs = 3 kegs

Strawberry Wine:

• Seed cost: 100g
• Wine value: 503g per bottle
• Profit per first bottle: 403g
• Subsequent harvests: 503g profit each
• Six harvests possible: 403g + (5 × 503g) = 2,918g per tile for the season
• Processing requirement: 6 strawberries = 6 kegs

Based on this analysis, strawberry wine produces approximately 15% more profit per tile over the course of a season. However, rhubarb requires half as many kegs to process, making it more efficient if keg production is your limiting factor.

Processing Decision Tree:

To determine the best use for your rhubarb:

1. If keg-limited: Process rhubarb into wine first, as it provides higher gold per keg than most other spring crops
2. If time-limited: Process into jam (faster) or sell raw (immediate returns)
3. If space-limited (cellar): Age rhubarb wine to iridium quality for maximum profit per cask
4. If recipe-focused: Create Rhubarb Pie for gifting and some profit

Rhubarb Pie Recipe:

Rhubarb can be used to create Rhubarb Pie, a useful cooking item:

Ingredients:

• Rhubarb (1)
• Wheat Flour (1)
• Sugar (1)

Recipe Source: Marnie (Friendship mail at 7+ hearts)
Sell Price: 400g (560g with Artisan)
Energy/Health: 215 energy / 96 health

Advanced Rhubarb Farming Techniques

Speed-Gro and Deluxe Speed-Gro Impact

Fertilizers can significantly reduce growth time for rhubarb, making multiple harvests more achievable. Here’s how different fertilizers impact rhubarb growth:

Fertilizer Comparison:

Optimizing Fertilizer Usage:

1. Spring 1-10: Use Deluxe Speed-Gro for potential three harvests
2. Spring 11-15: Use Deluxe Speed-Gro to ensure two full harvests
3. Spring 16-19: Use Deluxe Speed-Gro to get at least one full harvest
4. Spring 20+: Consider using Quality Fertilizer instead to maximize value of single harvest

Pro Tip: When replanting after a harvest, you’ll need to apply fertilizer again before planting the new seeds. Keep extra fertilizer on hand for replanting days.

Calculated Growth Days with Fertilizers:

For the most accurate calculation, use this formula:

Actual Growth Time = Base Growth Time × (1 - Speed Bonus) × (1 - Profession Bonus)

Agriculturist Profession Benefits

The Agriculturist profession, available at Farming level 10 if you chose the Tiller profession at level 5, provides a 10% growth speed boost to all crops. This boost stacks multiplicatively with fertilizers.

Agriculturist Impact Analysis:

For rhubarb specifically, Agriculturist provides these benefits:

1. Faster Growth: 10% reduction in growing time (13 days → ~12 days)
2. Increased Harvest Potential: Makes three harvests more attainable with Deluxe Speed-Gro
3. Better Insurance: Provides buffer days for multiple harvests in case you miss a watering day

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Profession Switch:

If you’re using the 1.5+ update feature to change professions at the Statue of Uncertainty (20,000g):

Benefits of Agriculturist for Rhubarb:

• Potential for extra harvest (100+ rhubarb plots = 12,000g+ additional profit)
• Reduced risk of missing harvest window
• Applies to all crops, not just rhubarb

Benefits of Artisan for Rhubarb:

• 40% increased value for processed goods (potentially 264g more per rhubarb wine)
• Applies to all artisan goods, not just crop-based ones

Decision Point: If you have less than ~45 rhubarb plants that you’re processing into wine, Artisan is more profitable. With more plants, or if you’re not processing all crops, Agriculturist might yield better returns.

Year-to-Year Scaling Strategy

As you progress through multiple years in Stardew Valley, your rhubarb strategy should evolve. Here’s a year-by-year approach:

Year 1:

• Focus on repairing the bus to access the desert
• Save money for Spring Year 2 rhubarb seeds
• Collect materials for kegs and preserves jars

Year 2:

• Start with rhubarb for the first crop of Spring
• Aim for two harvests with regular replanting
• Begin processing into wine or jam based on available equipment
• Consider using Speed-Gro if available

Year 3:

• Implement large-scale rhubarb planting with Deluxe Speed-Gro
• Aim for three harvests with optimal timing
• Have a dedicated processing setup for quick turnaround
• Consider alternating plots between rhubarb and strawberries for processing efficiency

Year 4 and Beyond:

• Evaluate whether to continue with rhubarb or transition to greenhouse-based Ancient Fruit or Starfruit
• Use rhubarb as supplementary income while focusing on higher-profit crops
• Consider automating rhubarb watering with upgraded sprinklers

Long-term Efficiency Tip: Once you’ve established a steady income, consider whether the time spent on multiple rhubarb replantings might be better invested in mining, fishing, or other activities that generate resources for more efficient farming (like Ancient Fruit in the greenhouse, which doesn’t require replanting).

Rhubarb Beyond Profit

Gifting Preferences

While rhubarb’s primary value comes from selling and processing, it also has uses in building relationships with villagers through gifting:

Villager Gift Reactions:

Like (+45 friendship points):

• Demetrius
• Elliott
• Harvey
• Jodi
• Kent
• Leah
• Linus
• Pam
• Robin
• Sandy
• Shane

Neutral (+20 friendship points):

• Alex
• Caroline
• Clint
• Dwarf
• Emily
• Evelyn
• George
• Gus
• Krobus
• Leo
• Lewis
• Marnie
• Maru
• Penny
• Pierre
• Sam
• Sebastian
• Willy
• Wizard

Dislike (-20 friendship points):

• Abigail
• Haley
• Jas
• Vincent

Strategy for Gifting:

• Save high-quality rhubarb for processing
• Use normal quality for gifting to liked villagers
• Consider giving twice weekly to quickly build relationships
• Particularly useful for building friendship with Pam (desert bus driver)

Recipe Usage

Rhubarb’s culinary applications are limited but valuable:

Rhubarb Pie Recipe Details:

Ingredients:

• Rhubarb (1)
• Wheat Flour (1)
• Sugar (1)

How to Obtain Recipe: Reach 7+ hearts with Marnie, who will mail you the recipe
Benefits of Cooking:

• Excellent energy restoration (215 energy)
• Good health restoration (96 health)
• Better value than raw ingredients (400g vs. 350g total)
• Useful for mining trips or skull cavern exploration

Cooking Strategy:

• Use normal quality rhubarb for cooking
• Save gold/iridium quality for wine production
• Consider cooking pies for energy during intensive farming days

Special Processing Options

Beyond the standard processing methods, rhubarb has some specialized uses:

Tailoring Applications:

Rhubarb can be used in the Sewing Machine to create specific clothing items:

• Green Buttoned Vest: Place rhubarb in the spool of the Sewing Machine
• Red Dye: Use in the dye pots at Emily and Haley’s house (2 Willow Lane)

Dehydrator Processing (1.6 Update):

The 1.6 update introduced the Dehydrator, which provides another processing option for rhubarb:

Dried Rhubarb:

• Requires 5 rhubarb per dried rhubarb
• Processing time: 1 day
• Higher sale value than raw ingredients
• Less profitable than wine or jam per rhubarb

When to Use:

• If you have excessive rhubarb and limited kegs/jars
• For faster processing when time is a concern
• To diversify your artisan goods production

Making the Right Rhubarb Decisions: Case Studies

Case Study 1: The Early Desert Unlocked

Sarah unlocked the desert in Fall of Year 1. When Spring Year 2 arrived, she had 10,000g to invest. She chose to buy 100 rhubarb seeds and Deluxe Speed-Gro, planting on Spring 1 with upgraded watering can and several quality sprinklers.

Her results:

• First harvest on Spring 11: 100 rhubarb (22,000g value)
• Immediately replanted with another 100 seeds and Deluxe Speed-Gro
• Second harvest on Spring 21: 100 rhubarb (22,000g value)
• Final replanting with remaining funds
• Third harvest on Spring 28: 30 rhubarb (6,600g value)

Total investment: 23,000g (seeds + fertilizer)
Total return: 50,600g
Net profit: 27,600g

The initial investment in rhubarb gave her enough capital to significantly expand her Summer crop operations.

Case Study 2: The Processing Specialist

Marcus had already built 50 kegs by Spring Year 3. He planned a rhubarb operation specifically for wine production.

His approach:

• Planted 150 rhubarb with Deluxe Speed-Gro on Spring 1
• Harvested on Spring 11 and immediately began wine production
• Replanted all 150 plots for a second harvest
• By the time the second harvest was ready, the first batch of wine was complete
• Continued cycling through the kegs with all three harvests

Results:

• 450 rhubarb total from all three harvests
• 450 bottles of wine at 660g each (924g with Artisan)
• Total revenue: 297,000g (415,800g with Artisan)
• Net profit after seed/fertilizer costs: ~260,000g (~379,000g with Artisan)

The key to his success was matching his planting scale to his processing capacity.

Case Study 3: The Late Starter

Elena didn’t access the desert until Spring 15 of Year 2. She wondered if rhubarb was still worth planting.

Her decision:

• Purchased 50 rhubarb seeds and Deluxe Speed-Gro
• Planted on Spring 16
• Harvested on Spring 26
• Used Quality Fertilizer instead of Speed-Gro for some plots to get higher quality produce

Results:

• Single harvest yielded mix of normal, silver and gold quality rhubarb
• Processed highest quality into wine
• Made jam from mid-quality
• Gifted normal quality to villagers
• Still achieved positive ROI, but recognized that earlier planting would have been better

For late starters, rhubarb remains viable but requires more strategic processing to maximize returns.

Action Steps Recap

To master rhubarb farming: Unlock the desert early, plant on Spring 1 with Deluxe Speed-Gro, immediately replant after harvests, process into wine for maximum profit, and match your planting scale to your processing capacity.

Rhubarb Patch History