How to Get Honey in Stardew Valley: A Beekeeper’s Guide
Getting honey in Stardew Valley involves placing a Bee House near flowers, allowing bees to collect nectar and produce different types of honey depending on the flower’s type, with the quality of the honey depending on the type of flower.
The Sweet World of Stardew Valley Honey
Stardew Valley offers a delightful farming simulation experience where you can cultivate crops, raise animals, and even delve into the world of beekeeping. Honey, a valuable resource in the game, isn’t just a tasty treat; it’s a versatile ingredient for crafting, a beneficial gift for villagers, and a steady source of income. Understanding how to produce honey effectively is crucial for optimizing your farm’s potential.
Why Bother with Beekeeping? The Benefits of Honey
Beekeeping is a rewarding endeavor in Stardew Valley for several reasons:
- Income Generation: Flower honey can be sold for a profit, with prices varying depending on the flower type used. Fairy Rose Honey, in particular, fetches a premium.
- Gifting: Honey is a universally loved gift, making it an excellent choice to improve your relationships with villagers. Most villagers “like” or “love” honey.
- Crafting: Honey is an essential ingredient in various crafting recipes, including Mead, a profitable alcoholic beverage.
- Buffs: Some food items that you can craft with honey provide temporary buffs, such as bonus farming.
From Bee House to Honey Jar: The Honey Production Process
Producing honey in Stardew Valley is a straightforward process:
- Acquire a Bee House: You’ll receive the recipe for a Bee House from raising your Farming skill to level 3. The crafting recipe requires:
- 40 Wood
- 8 Coal
- 1 Iron Bar
- 1 Maple Syrup
- Placement: Place the Bee House anywhere on your farm. For optimal results, place them within five tiles of flowers. Multiple Bee Houses can be placed in close proximity.
- Plant Flowers: Plant flowers nearby. The flower type determines the honey type and its selling price. You can use the flowers you grow from seed or forage wild flowers.
- Wait: It takes approximately 3 days for the Bee House to produce honey. The production process begins at 6 AM and ends at 6 PM.
- Collect: Harvest the honey by interacting with the Bee House. The honey will automatically be added to your inventory.
Choosing the Right Flowers: Honey Variety and Value
The type of flower planted near the Bee House directly impacts the honey produced and its value:
| Flower | Honey Produced | Base Selling Price | Growth Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Jazz | Blue Jazz Honey | 200g | Spring | |
| Poppy | Poppy Honey | 380g | Summer | Used to make Poppyseed Muffin |
| Summer Spangle | Summer Spangle Honey | 280g | Summer | |
| Sunflower | Sunflower Honey | 260g | Summer/Fall | |
| Tulip | Tulip Honey | 170g | Spring | |
| Fairy Rose | Fairy Rose Honey | 680g | Fall | Most valuable honey, great for profit |
| Wild Honey | Wild Honey | 100g | All | Produced without nearby flowers |
Common Mistakes to Avoid: A Beekeeper’s Troubleshooting Guide
Even with the simple process, there are a few common mistakes to be aware of:
- Forgetting Flowers: Without flowers within range, the Bee House will produce only Wild Honey, which has a significantly lower value.
- Placing Bee Houses Too Far Apart: Bee Houses need to be placed within five tiles of flowers to get the type of honey you want. If the houses are too far apart or in the wrong places, you’ll produce Wild Honey.
- Ignoring Seasonal Changes: Flowers have specific growth seasons. If flowers die at the end of the season, your Bee Houses will produce Wild Honey until new flowers are planted.
- Not Protecting Your Flowers: Crows can damage your flowers. Use Scarecrows to protect your flower beds.
- Forgetting the honey: If you leave the honey in the Bee House after it’s ready, then it won’t produce any more.
- Using a sprinkler: Sprinklers can block the space so that you are not able to get the honey.
Maximizing Your Honey Production: Pro Tips
- Optimize Flower Placement: Arrange flowers in a grid pattern to maximize the number of Bee Houses within range.
- Invest in Quality Sprinklers: Automate flower watering to save time and ensure consistent growth.
- Utilize Fertilizers: Use fertilizers to speed up flower growth and increase yield.
- Experiment with Different Flowers: Try different flowers to discover which honey types are most profitable for your playstyle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happens to my Bee Houses in Winter?
In winter, your Bee Houses will not produce any honey, because flowers do not grow. However, they will not disappear, so you do not need to worry about that. It is a good time to plan for which flowers you will grow when spring comes.
Can I move my Bee Houses after I’ve placed them?
Yes, you can move your Bee Houses at any time using your axe or pickaxe. Keep in mind that moving them will interrupt the honey production cycle, and you’ll need to wait another 3 days for honey to be produced.
How do I get the Bee House recipe?
The Bee House recipe is automatically unlocked when you reach Farming level 3. No additional steps are required; it will appear in your crafting menu.
Does the quality of the flower affect the honey?
No, the quality of the flower (normal, silver, or gold) does not affect the quality of the honey. The quality is based solely on whether you have the Artisan profession or not.
What’s the best flower to use for honey production?
Fairy Rose honey is generally considered the best due to its high selling price (680g base). It’s important to note that Fairy Roses can only be grown in the Fall.
Can I place Bee Houses inside my Greenhouse?
While you can place Bee Houses inside the Greenhouse, it’s not recommended. Because the Greenhouse can only grow flowers from seed, it doesn’t give you very many flowers for Bee House placement. Since flowers still won’t grow in the winter, the value isn’t very high.
Does rain affect honey production?
Rain does not affect honey production. The Bee Houses continue to produce honey regardless of the weather.
Can I plant flowers in pots instead of directly in the ground?
Yes, you can plant flowers in Garden Pots, which can be placed indoors or outdoors. This allows you to grow flowers in areas where planting directly is not possible.
What is Mead, and how is it related to honey?
Mead is an alcoholic beverage crafted using Honey. It’s a profitable item to produce, but it requires a Keg to be made. Mead can be a great way to increase your profits on your farm.
Is there a way to speed up honey production?
No, there is no in-game mechanic to directly speed up the 3-day honey production cycle. However, you can optimize your farm layout and flower placement to maximize the number of Bee Houses producing honey at any given time.
What is the Artisan profession, and how does it affect honey?
The Artisan profession, chosen at Farming level 10, increases the selling price of artisan goods, including honey, by 40%. This significantly boosts the profitability of honey production, making it a highly desirable profession for beekeepers.
Do Bee Houses attract bees?
Yes, Bee Houses are responsible for attracting bees to your farm. This is why you can’t find wild honey anywhere but in a Bee House.