How to Plant Fruit in Animal Crossing: A Guide to Growing Your Virtual Orchard and Why Pineapples Don’t Belong in the Ocean

How to Plant Fruit in Animal Crossing: A Guide to Growing Your Virtual Orchard and Why Pineapples Don’t Belong in the Ocean

Planting fruit in Animal Crossing is one of the most rewarding activities in the game. Not only does it add aesthetic value to your island, but it also provides a steady source of income and resources. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about planting fruit, optimizing your orchard, and why pineapples, despite their tropical nature, have no business being underwater.


1. Understanding the Basics of Fruit in Animal Crossing

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, fruit is more than just a snack for your villagers. It’s a valuable resource that can be sold, gifted, or used to craft items. There are six types of native fruit: apples, cherries, oranges, peaches, pears, and coconuts. Each island starts with one native fruit, but you can obtain others through trading with friends, visiting mystery islands, or receiving them as gifts.

How to Plant Fruit Trees

  1. Dig a Hole: Use your shovel to dig a hole in the ground. Make sure there’s enough space around it—fruit trees need at least one empty space on all sides to grow.
  2. Select the Fruit: Open your inventory and choose the fruit you want to plant.
  3. Plant the Fruit: Stand next to the hole and select “Plant.” The fruit will be buried, and a sapling will appear.
  4. Wait for Growth: Fruit trees take four days to fully grow. On the fifth day, they will bear fruit.

2. Maximizing Your Fruit Yield

To get the most out of your fruit trees, consider the following tips:

Optimal Placement

  • Spacing: Ensure each tree has at least one space between it and other trees, rocks, or structures. Overcrowding can stunt growth.
  • Aesthetic Layout: Arrange your trees in rows or patterns to create a visually pleasing orchard. Use paths or fences to define the area.

Fertilizer and Watering

While Animal Crossing doesn’t have a traditional watering or fertilizing system for fruit trees, you can boost your island’s overall health by:

  • Planting flowers nearby to increase your island’s star rating.
  • Keeping the area clean and free of weeds.

Harvesting Strategy

Fruit regrows every three days. To maximize efficiency, stagger your planting so that you have a continuous supply of fruit. For example, plant a few trees each day instead of all at once.


3. Non-Native Fruit: The Key to Big Bells

Selling non-native fruit is one of the most profitable activities in Animal Crossing. Non-native fruit sells for 500 Bells each, compared to 100 Bells for native fruit. Here’s how to get started:

Obtaining Non-Native Fruit

  • Visit Friends: Trade fruit with friends who have different native fruits.
  • Mystery Islands: Use Nook Miles Tickets to visit mystery islands. Some islands have non-native fruit trees.
  • Mom’s Gift: Early in the game, your in-game mom may send you a non-native fruit.

Expanding Your Orchard

Once you have non-native fruit, plant as many trees as possible. A large orchard can generate tens of thousands of Bells every few days.


4. Coconuts: The Beach Dwellers

Coconuts are unique because they can only be planted on the beach. Here’s how to grow them:

  1. Dig a hole in the sand.
  2. Plant the coconut.
  3. Wait four days for the tree to grow.

Coconuts sell for 250 Bells each, making them a decent mid-tier fruit for profit.


5. The Pineapple Paradox: Why They Don’t Belong in the Ocean

While pineapples are a tropical fruit, they don’t grow underwater—or in Animal Crossing, for that matter. This raises an interesting question: why aren’t pineapples in the game? Some theories suggest:

  • Game Balance: Adding pineapples might disrupt the existing fruit economy.
  • Aesthetic Reasons: Pineapples might not fit the game’s art style.
  • Developer Choice: The developers simply chose not to include them.

Regardless, the absence of pineapples has sparked countless debates among players. Some have even created custom designs to mimic pineapple trees, proving that creativity knows no bounds.


6. Advanced Tips for Fruit Enthusiasts

  • Hybrid Fruit Trees: While hybrid fruit isn’t a feature in Animal Crossing, you can create hybrid designs using custom patterns and paths.
  • Seasonal Fruit: Some players speculate that future updates might introduce seasonal fruit. Keep an eye on Nintendo’s announcements!
  • Fruit-Themed Areas: Dedicate parts of your island to specific fruits. For example, create an apple orchard or a cherry blossom grove.

FAQs

Q: Can I move fruit trees after planting them? A: Yes, you can dig up fully grown trees with a shovel and replant them elsewhere. Just make sure to eat a fruit to gain the strength needed to uproot the tree.

Q: Do fruit trees die in winter? A: No, fruit trees remain healthy year-round. However, some trees, like cherry blossoms, change appearance during specific seasons.

Q: How many fruit trees should I plant? A: It depends on your goals. For profit, aim for at least 20-30 non-native fruit trees. For aesthetics, plant as many as you like!

Q: Can I plant fruit on mystery islands? A: Yes, but the fruit won’t grow unless you’re on your own island. Mystery islands are great for collecting fruit to bring back home.

Q: Why can’t I plant pineapples? A: Pineapples aren’t a feature in Animal Crossing. Maybe in a future update!


By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating a thriving fruit empire in Animal Crossing. Happy planting!