Sprinklers 101: Water Your Stardew Valley Farm While You Sleep

Sprinklers 101: Water Your Stardew Valley Farm While You Sleep

Tired of wasting precious morning hours and energy watering crops in Stardew Valley? Sprinklers are your automation solution, silently watering crops every morning while you focus on mining, fishing, or befriending villagers. This guide covers everything from unlocking your first basic sprinkler to optimizing iridium sprinkler layouts with pressure nozzles. For the impatient farmer: craft basic sprinklers at Farming Level 2 with 1 copper bar and 1 iron bar, quality sprinklers at Level 6 with 1 iron bar, 1 gold bar, and 1 refined quartz, or buy iridium sprinklers from Krobus every Friday for 10,000g. Read on for detailed strategies that will have you automating your farm as early as Summer Year 1.

Understanding Sprinkler Types

Stardew Valley offers three tiers of sprinklers, each with different coverage patterns, material requirements, and farming level prerequisites. Knowing the differences helps you plan your progression path and farm layout.

Basic Sprinklers: The Entry-Level Option

Basic sprinklers are your first opportunity to automate watering, unlocked at Farming Level 2. While limited in coverage, they represent your earliest access to automation technology.

Coverage: Waters 4 adjacent tiles in a “+” pattern (up, down, left, right from the sprinkler)

Required Materials:

• 1 Copper Bar (5 copper ore + 1 coal in furnace)
• 1 Iron Bar (5 iron ore + 1 coal in furnace)

Farming Level: Level 2 (300 farming XP)

The basic sprinkler is relatively inefficient, watering only 4 tiles while occupying 1 tile itself. This means it waters only 80% of the land it covers. Many experienced players skip this tier entirely, but for beginners struggling with energy management, even basic sprinklers can provide valuable assistance during the early game.

When arranged in a pattern, basic sprinklers typically follow what some players call a “knight’s move” pattern (reminiscent of chess movements) to ensure full coverage without overlap. This isn’t the most space-efficient pattern, but it works for small starter farms.

Quality Sprinklers: Your Mid-Game Upgrade

Quality sprinklers represent a significant improvement in watering efficiency and are often considered the first “truly useful” tier of sprinklers by many players.

Coverage: Waters 8 adjacent tiles (all surrounding tiles in a 3×3 grid, with the sprinkler in the center)

Required Materials:

• 1 Iron Bar (5 iron ore + 1 coal in furnace)
• 1 Gold Bar (5 gold ore + 1 coal in furnace)
• 1 Refined Quartz (1 quartz/fire quartz + 1 coal in furnace)

Farming Level: Level 6 (3,300 farming XP)

Quality sprinklers are dramatically more efficient than basic sprinklers, watering twice as many tiles with only a modest increase in crafting requirements. Their 3×3 pattern makes farm layout planning straightforward, as they can be arranged in a simple grid pattern with 2 tiles between each sprinkler.

Besides crafting, quality sprinklers can also be obtained through alternative methods:

• As a reward for completing the Summer Crops Bundle in the Community Center
• Occasionally available at the Traveling Cart for 1,350-2,250g
• Sometimes found in treasure rooms in the Skull Cavern
• One quality sprinkler is a possible prize from the Trout Derby festival

Many players make it a priority to rush quality sprinklers by Summer Year 1, which requires focused progression in both farming and mining during Spring.

Iridium Sprinklers: End-Game Automation

Iridium sprinklers represent peak irrigation technology in Stardew Valley, offering extensive coverage that transforms large-scale farming operations.

Coverage: Waters 24 adjacent tiles in a 5×5 square pattern (covers 2 tiles in every direction)

Required Materials:

• 1 Gold Bar (5 gold ore + 1 coal in furnace)
• 1 Iridium Bar (5 iridium ore + 1 coal in furnace)
• 1 Battery Pack (from lightning rod during thunderstorm)

Farming Level: Level 9 (15,000 farming XP)

The efficiency of iridium sprinklers is unmatched – they’re 300% more efficient than quality sprinklers and 600% more efficient than basic sprinklers. Their extensive coverage allows for massive farm layouts with minimal sprinkler placement.

For players who dislike mining or struggle to find iridium, there’s a reliable alternative acquisition method: Krobus sells one iridium sprinkler every Friday for 10,000g, but this requires unlocking the sewers by donating 60 artifacts to the museum.

The optimal layout for iridium sprinklers places them in a grid with 4 empty tiles between each sprinkler, creating complete coverage with no overlap. This pattern maximizes farmable space while ensuring every crop gets watered.

Unlocking and Crafting Requirements

Getting sprinklers requires progress in both farming and mining skills, making them a balanced goal that touches multiple aspects of gameplay.

Farming Level Progression

Each tier of sprinkler is locked behind a farming skill level requirement:

Sprinkler Type	Farming Level	XP Required
Basic Sprinkler	Level 2	300 XP
Quality Sprinkler	Level 6	3,300 XP
Iridium Sprinkler	Level 9	15,000 XP

Farming experience is gained primarily through harvesting crops, with each harvest action providing a fixed amount of XP. Importantly, you only get XP from the act of harvesting, not based on the quantity of crops harvested.

To reach Farming Level 6 (for quality sprinklers) as quickly as possible, you need to harvest approximately 413 crops total. This could be achieved through:

• Planting the 15 initial parsnips plus purchasing 25 more with starting gold
• Reinvesting profits into crops with quick growth cycles
• Adding green beans or cauliflower when you have sufficient funds

Animals also provide farming XP – each animal product harvested (milk, eggs, wool) grants 5 XP. While this isn’t the fastest way to level up farming, it provides a steady stream of XP without requiring energy for watering crops.

Materials Needed and Where to Find Them

Gathering materials for crafting sprinklers requires mining progression and resource processing:

For Basic Sprinklers:

• Copper Ore: Found on mine floors 1-39 (most common on floors 15-29)
• Iron Ore: Found on mine floors 41-79 (most common on floors 50-59)
• Coal: Found throughout mines, purchased from Clint, or from killing dust sprites

For Quality Sprinklers:

• Iron Ore: As above
• Gold Ore: Found on mine floors 80+ (first appears regularly at floor 80)
• Quartz: Common mineral found throughout the mines
• Coal: As above

For Iridium Sprinklers:

• Gold Ore: As above
• Iridium Ore: Primarily found in Skull Cavern or rarely from meteorites
• Battery Pack: Produced by Lightning Rods during thunderstorms

A practical mining progression timeline would be:

1. Reach mine level 40 by day 10-12 of Spring
2. Upgrade to steel pickaxe by day 15-18
3. Reach mine level 80-90 by day 20-22 of Spring
4. Begin collecting gold ore and processing quartz into refined quartz
5. Work toward the Skull Cavern (requires completing the mine) for iridium in Summer/Fall

Processing these raw materials requires a furnace, which you can craft after receiving the recipe from Clint when you collect your first copper ore. Each bar requires 5 of the appropriate ore plus 1 coal in the furnace.

Alternative Acquisition Methods

If crafting isn’t your preference or you want to supplement your crafted sprinklers, several alternatives exist:

Purchasing Options:

• Krobus sells one Iridium Sprinkler every Friday for 10,000g (requires unlocking the Sewers)
• The Traveling Cart occasionally sells Quality Sprinklers for 1,350-2,250g (appears in Cindersap Forest on Fridays and Sundays)

Rewards and Drops:

• Complete the Summer Crops Bundle in the Community Center to receive a Quality Sprinkler
• Quality Sprinklers can be found in treasure rooms in the Skull Cavern
• The Trout Derby festival offers a Quality Sprinkler as one of its prizes
• Four Quality Sprinklers can sometimes be obtained as prizes from the Prize Machine in the Mayor’s Manor (33% chance)

Special Orders and Events:

• Some special orders from the board outside Pierre’s shop might reward sprinklers
• Mystery Boxes from certain events can contain Quality Sprinklers

For players who dislike mining or struggle with the combat aspects of the game, focusing on fishing and farming to generate income for purchasing sprinklers from Krobus or the Traveling Cart can be a viable alternative strategy.

Fast-Track Strategies for Early Sprinklers

Getting sprinklers early can dramatically improve your farm’s efficiency. Here are proven strategies for obtaining them as quickly as possible.

Spring Year 1 Quality Sprinkler Rush

Ambitious players often aim to have quality sprinklers ready by Summer 1 to automate their blueberry crops. Here’s a detailed day-by-day strategy based on successful player experiences:

Days 1-5: Foundation Setup

1. Day 1: Plant all 15 parsnip seeds and purchase 25 more with starting gold
2. Days 1-4: Fish aggressively in the mountain lake or ocean for income
3. Day 5: Harvest all 40 parsnips (yields about 1,400g and 320 XP)
4. Begin exploring the mines, aim to reach level 10-15

Days 6-12: Mining Push

1. Purchase and plant 60-75 green beans or potatoes with parsnip profits (~4,500g)
2. Dedicate most energy to mining, aiming for 5-10 mine levels per day
3. Focus on reaching mine level 40 by day 12
4. Collect all copper and iron you find

Days 13-18: Gold Rush

1. Harvest beans/potatoes for additional farming XP
2. Upgrade pickaxe to steel if possible
3. Push to reach mine level 80-90
4. Begin collecting gold ore
5. Process quartz into refined quartz

Days 19-28: Final Production

1. Continue harvesting crops for farming XP to reach level 6
2. Craft quality sprinklers as materials become available (aim for 15-25)
3. Set up initial sprinkler grid for Summer crops
4. Purchase blueberry seeds for Summer 1

This aggressive timeline requires efficient energy management, making good use of foraged items for energy, and possibly using the spa once it becomes available in Summer. Players report success with making 15-24 quality sprinklers by Spring 28, which allows for a substantial automated blueberry operation in Summer.

To reach farming level 6 in time, you need to harvest approximately 413 crops total. The exact combination of crops can vary, but maximizing harvests through continuous-producing crops like green beans can help reach this milestone faster.

Energy Management While Working Toward Sprinklers

One of the biggest challenges in the early game is managing your limited energy while still making progress toward unlocking sprinklers.

Energy-Efficient Farming Tips:

• Focus on a manageable farm size (40-60 crops max) until you get sprinklers
• Upgrade your watering can as soon as possible (requires 5 copper bars)
• Eat foraged items and low-value crops for energy restoration
• Cook energy-rich meals once you have a kitchen
• Prioritize rainy days for mining, as you won’t need to water crops

Time-Saving Methods:

• Group crops in efficient watering patterns (straight lines are fastest to water)
• Use the upgraded watering can’s larger splash area effectively
• Take advantage of rainy days for intensive mining sessions
• Consider the spa (after it unlocks) to restore energy midday

The reason many players race for sprinklers is that manual watering consumes both time and energy – two of your most precious resources in the early game. Each tile watered with the basic watering can consumes 2 energy, meaning a 50-crop farm would require 100 energy just for morning watering. Sprinklers eliminate this daily cost, allowing you to redirect that energy toward mining, fishing, or expanding your farm.

When to Skip Basic Sprinklers

There’s ongoing debate in the Stardew Valley community about whether basic sprinklers are worth crafting at all. Here’s a breakdown of the arguments on both sides:

Arguments for Skipping Basic Sprinklers:

• Poor space efficiency (waters only 4 tiles while occupying 1)
• Awkward placement pattern that’s difficult to optimize
• Materials could be better used for tool upgrades
• Quality sprinklers become available relatively early (Farming Level 6)

Arguments for Using Basic Sprinklers:

• Available much earlier (Farming Level 2)
• Saves significant energy in the early game
• Materials are easily accessible (no gold required)
• “Solves the biggest early game problem: lack of energy”

The decision often comes down to your playstyle:

• Min-maxers typically skip basic sprinklers and focus on rushing quality sprinklers
• Players focusing on quality of life might find basic sprinklers useful temporarily
• First-time players may benefit from the early automation while learning the game

One popular approach is to use basic sprinklers for specific applications (like watering hops or flowers for bee houses) while focusing on quality sprinklers for your main crop fields. If you do craft basic sprinklers, consider them a temporary solution that can be repurposed or sold later.

Optimal Sprinkler Layouts

Proper sprinkler arrangement can maximize your farm’s efficiency, ensuring every tile is watered while minimizing wasted space.

Basic Sprinkler Patterns

The basic sprinkler’s “+” pattern (watering only the four adjacent tiles) makes efficient layouts challenging but not impossible.

Knight’s Move Pattern:
This player-developed layout works by placing sprinklers in a staggered pattern:

1. Place a sprinkler
2. Move two tiles right and one tile down
3. Place another sprinkler
4. Continue this pattern to form a grid

This staggered layout ensures each sprinkler waters four unique tiles while maintaining full coverage of your field. While not space-efficient, it’s the best arrangement for basic sprinklers if you choose to use them.

Alternating Rows:
Another approach places basic sprinklers in alternating rows, with each sprinkler offset horizontally to create a diamond-like pattern of coverage across your field. This requires careful placement but can work well for rectangular fields.

Edge Utilization:
Basic sprinklers can be particularly useful for watering crops along the edges of ponds, buildings, or other obstacles where a more powerful sprinkler would waste some of its coverage. This makes them useful even after you’ve upgraded to better sprinklers for your main fields.

Despite these layout options, the awkward coverage pattern of basic sprinklers is one reason many experienced players skip them entirely.

Quality Sprinkler Grid Arrangements

Quality sprinklers water all eight surrounding tiles, making them much more efficient and easier to arrange effectively.

Standard Grid Layout:
The most straightforward and effective arrangement for quality sprinklers is a simple grid:

1. Place quality sprinklers in a grid pattern
2. Leave two empty spaces between each sprinkler
3. This creates perfect 3×3 coverage areas with no overlap

This layout is intuitive and highly effective, allowing you to organize your crops in neat rows and columns. For a typical farm width, you might place 3-5 sprinklers across and expand the rows as needed.

Scarecrow Integration:
When incorporating scarecrows (which protect crops from birds), consider placing them at the intersection points of four quality sprinklers. This maximizes coverage while ensuring all your crops are protected.

Visual reference: Imagine a grid where “S” represents a sprinkler and “C” represents crops:

C C C C C C C C C
C S C C S C C S C
C C C C C C C C C
C C C C C C C C C
C S C C S C C S C
C C C C C C C C C
C C C C C C C C C
C S C C S C C S C
C C C C C C C C C

This simple pattern provides complete coverage with quality sprinklers while maximizing farmable space.

Iridium Sprinkler Maximum Coverage

Iridium sprinklers provide exceptional coverage, watering 24 tiles in a 5×5 square around them.

Maximum Coverage Grid:
The optimal layout for iridium sprinklers is a grid pattern with four empty spaces between each sprinkler:

1. Place iridium sprinklers in a grid pattern
2. Leave four empty spaces between each sprinkler
3. This creates perfect coverage with no overlap

Large Field Layout:
For extensive farming operations:

1. Create a grid of iridium sprinklers with four spaces between each
2. Place scarecrows at strategic intersections
3. Divide the field into crop sections based on growth time or season

With iridium sprinklers, a relatively small number can cover an enormous farm area. Just 25 iridium sprinklers can water 600 crop tiles – enough for a highly profitable operation growing anything from ancient fruit to starfruit.

Visual reference: A pattern where “I” represents an iridium sprinkler:

. . . . . . . . . . . .
. I . . . . I . . . . I
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. I . . . . I . . . . I
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. I . . . . I . . . . I

Each iridium sprinkler waters a 5×5 area, creating complete coverage with this spacing.

Greenhouse Optimization

The greenhouse presents unique opportunities for sprinkler layouts due to its fixed size and year-round growing capability.

Classic Greenhouse Layout:
The most common iridium sprinkler greenhouse layout places them to maximize coverage:

1. Place iridium sprinklers in a specific pattern that leaves only one tile unwatered
2. Use the remaining tile for a seed maker or chest
3. Plant fruit trees around the outer perimeter where they don’t need watering

Maximum Coverage Layout:
With careful placement, you can cover all but one tile in the greenhouse:

T T T T T T T T T T T T
T . . . . . . . . . . T
T . C C C C C C C C . T
T . C I C C C I C C . T
T . C C C C C C C C . T
T . C C C C C C C C . T
T . C I C C C I C C . T
T . C C C C C C C C . T
T . C C C C C C C C . T
T . x . . . . . . . . T
T T T T T T T T T T T T

Where:

• I = Iridium Sprinkler
• C = Crop spaces
• T = Fruit tree spaces
• x = Single unwatered tile (used for chest)

This layout provides maximum efficiency while still allowing access to all crop tiles and incorporates fruit trees around the perimeter.

The greenhouse is often the first place players use their precious iridium sprinklers, as it provides year-round growing conditions and doesn’t need to be replanted seasonally. The investment in high-end sprinklers here pays dividends throughout the game.

Advanced Sprinkler Features

Beyond the three tiers of sprinklers, Stardew Valley offers special upgrades and features that enhance their functionality even further.

Pressure Nozzle Upgrade

Pressure Nozzles are late-game sprinkler attachments that significantly increase the watering range of any sprinkler.

Effects on Each Sprinkler Type:

• Basic Sprinkler: Increases to a 3×3 area (now includes corner tiles)
• Quality Sprinkler: Increases to a 5×5 area
• Iridium Sprinkler: Increases to a 7×7 area (48 tiles total)

How to Obtain:
Pressure Nozzles can be purchased in Qi’s Walnut Room on Ginger Island for 20 Qi Gems (which buys 4 nozzles). They can also rarely drop from monsters in the Skull Cavern during certain Qi’s special quests.

Installation Process:

1. Craft and place your sprinkler
2. Hold the Pressure Nozzle and click on the placed sprinkler
3. The sprinkler will now show a visual indicator of the enhancement

Pressure Nozzles are particularly valuable for iridium sprinklers, as they double the covered area from 24 to 48 tiles, dramatically reducing the number of sprinklers needed for large fields. With pressure nozzles, a single iridium sprinkler can water the entire greenhouse planting area from a central position, leaving no tiles unwatered.

Enricher Attachment

The Enricher is another premium sprinkler attachment that automates fertilizer application, further streamlining your farming workflow.

Functionality:

• Attaches to any sprinkler
• Must be loaded with fertilizer by the player
• Automatically applies fertilizer when seeds are planted nearby

How to Obtain:
Like Pressure Nozzles, Enrichers are available in Qi’s Walnut Room for 20 Qi Gems (which buys 4 enrichers).

Usage Process:

1. Attach the Enricher to a placed sprinkler
2. Load it with fertilizer (basic, quality, or deluxe)
3. Plant seeds within the sprinkler’s range
4. The Enricher will automatically apply fertilizer to newly tilled and seeded soil

Important to note: You cannot have both a Pressure Nozzle and an Enricher on the same sprinkler. This forces a strategic choice between coverage area and automated fertilization.

While the Enricher doesn’t save a huge amount of time (you still need to pre-load each one with fertilizer), it makes getting high-quality crops extremely easy and streamlines the planting process, especially for large fields.

Torch on Sprinkler Lighting

As of the 1.6 update to Stardew Valley, players can now place torches directly on sprinklers, providing lighting without taking up additional farm space.

Benefits:

• Provides light without using extra floor tiles
• Creates a clean, organized farm appearance
• Works with all sprinkler types

How to Set Up:

1. Craft or obtain a torch
2. With the torch selected, click on a placed sprinkler
3. The torch will attach to the top of the sprinkler while maintaining the sprinkler’s functionality

This feature is particularly useful for night farming and can make it much easier to see your crops after dark without cluttering your field with standalone torches. Many players consider this a “game changer” for farm lighting as it keeps the surrounding area from looking cluttered while still providing necessary illumination.

Currently, this feature works with all types of sprinklers, though some players have reported issues with torch placement on quality sprinklers in certain versions, which may be addressed in future patches.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Even with careful planning, you might encounter some issues with your sprinkler setup. Here are answers to common questions and problems.

Why Aren’t My Sprinklers Appearing in Crafting Menu?

Some players report being unable to find sprinkler recipes in their crafting menu despite meeting the level requirements.

Common Causes and Solutions:

1. Empty Recipe Slot: The recipe appears as an empty slot until you have all required materials in your inventory. Gather all needed materials to see the recipe.
2. Insufficient Materials: You need to have the exact required materials in your inventory for the recipe to display properly.
3. Game Bug: If you’re certain you’ve met all requirements and still can’t see the recipe, try restarting your game or verifying your farming level.

Remember that you must have all the materials in your inventory (not in chests) for the recipe to display properly in your crafting menu.

Can I Upgrade My Existing Sprinklers?

A common misconception is that lower-tier sprinklers can be upgraded directly to higher tiers. In the base game, this isn’t possible.

Facts to Know:

1. You cannot upgrade a basic sprinkler to a quality sprinkler directly
2. You must craft each tier of sprinkler separately
3. Some players have suggested that the crafting system should allow using lower-tier sprinklers as ingredients for higher tiers

When progressing through sprinkler tiers, you’ll need to craft each type independently. Many players end up with unused basic sprinklers after upgrading to quality or iridium sprinklers. Consider repurposing them for specialized areas or selling them to recoup some costs.

Do Sprinklers Work Everywhere?

Sprinklers have some placement restrictions that can cause confusion.

Known Limitations:

1. Beach Farm Sand: Sprinklers don’t work on the sandy areas of the Beach Farm map, only on the soil patches.
2. Sand Tiles: Sprinklers cannot be placed on sand tiles anywhere in the game.
3. Garden Pots: Sprinklers cannot water crops in garden pots.
4. Pet Water Bowl: Sprinklers cannot fill your pet’s water bowl.

However, sprinklers do work for:

• Slime Hutch water troughs (automatically filling them each morning)
• Ginger Island farm (despite being tropical, the farm area has regular soil)
• Winter tilled soil (keeping it tilled and ready for Spring planting)

Which Sprinkler Should I Start With?

For new players, deciding which sprinkler tier to aim for first can be confusing. Here’s a simplified decision guide:

Start with Basic Sprinklers if:

• You’re struggling with energy management early game
• You have specific small areas you want to automate
• You’ve reached mining level 40 but not 80 yet

Skip to Quality Sprinklers if:

• You’re comfortable managing energy in the early game
• You’re progressing quickly through the mines
• You plan to have a larger farm layout by Summer

Focus on Iridium Sprinklers if:

• You’ve unlocked the Sewers and have spare cash (10,000g on Fridays)
• You’re in Year 2+ and have access to iridium and battery packs
• You want maximum efficiency for large-scale farming

Most experienced players recommend skipping basic sprinklers entirely and focusing on quality sprinklers, but beginners might benefit from the energy savings that even basic sprinklers provide.

Community Success Stories

The Stardew Valley community has developed many creative approaches to sprinkler usage. Here are some real player experiences that might inspire your farming strategy.

The Quality Sprinkler Rush

One dedicated player documented “The quality sprinkler run,” successfully crafting 24 quality sprinklers by Spring 28 of Year 1:

“My overall plan was to acquire as many quality sprinklers as possible in preparation for blueberries. I needed to reach farming level 6 by acquiring 3,300 farming experience and reach level 80 of the mines for the necessary materials. For farming, I planted my initial 15 parsnips plus 25 more, then added 10 potatoes daily for the first week. By day 13, I had enough money to buy 60 strawberry seeds. While farming, I pushed through the mines, hitting 5-10 levels each day until I reached level 80. This strategy succeeded beyond my expectations, letting me plant 192 blueberries with full automation on Summer 1.”

This aggressive approach yielded impressive results, creating a highly profitable Summer season without any manual watering.

Energy-Saving Compromise

Another player shared this balanced approach:

“I make exactly one basic sprinkler to water my flowers for the bees. For crops, I focus on upgrading my watering can to copper and steel as soon as possible, which drastically reduces energy usage. I maintain a small, manageable farm until I’ve unlocked quality sprinklers, then expand significantly for Summer. This strategy lets me balance energy usage while still making steady progress toward automation.”

This compromise approach recognizes the value of selective automation while acknowledging the limitations of basic sprinklers.

Krobus Shortcut Strategy

A player who disliked mining shared this alternative approach:

“I fish my rear end off and take pirate for my rank 10 fishing skill. From there, it’s easy to get the 60 artifacts for the rusty key that unlocks Krobus. After the sewer is open, every Friday I have access to an iridium sprinkler for 10,000g. I usually don’t go too much into farming until I have sprinklers anyway, just do a basic 40 or 80 plant farm with the essentials I need for quests and bundles.”

This strategy bypasses much of the mining grind by leveraging fishing profitability to purchase high-end sprinklers directly.

Action Steps Recap

To implement an effective sprinkler strategy in your Stardew Valley farm: determine which sprinkler tier matches your playstyle, balance farming and mining progression to reach required levels and materials, implement efficient layout patterns that maximize coverage, consider advanced upgrades like pressure nozzles for late-game expansion, and don’t forget you can now place torches on sprinklers for better farm lighting.

Further Resources

• Farm Type Comparison: https://www.stardewvalleywiki.com/Farm_Maps (overview of different farm layouts)
• Crop Profit Calculator: https://thorinair.github.io/Stardew-Profits/ (optimize crop choices)

Sprinkler Update History

Update	Date	Change	Impact on Sprinklers
1.6	March 2024	Added ability to place torches on sprinklers	Improved farm lighting without using additional space
1.5	December 2020	Added Pressure Nozzle and Enricher upgrades	Dramatically increased sprinkler effectiveness with coverage and fertilizing options
1.5	December 2020	Added Beach Farm type with sprinkler limitations	Created new challenge for players who rely heavily on sprinklers
1.4	November 2019	Added ability to place sprinklers on Slime Hutch water troughs	New utility for sprinklers beyond crop watering
1.1	October 2016	Sprinklers now work during Winter	Allowed for better preparation for Spring planting
1.0	February 2016	Initial game release with all three sprinkler types	Established core sprinkler mechanics