How to Plant Fruit Trees in Animal Crossing: A Comprehensive Guide
Planting fruit trees in Animal Crossing is achieved by burying fruit using a shovel. Successfully grown, these trees provide a constant source of fruit, boosting your island’s economy and aesthetic appeal.
Why Plant Fruit Trees in Animal Crossing?
Animal Crossing thrives on resource management and island beautification. Fruit trees are essential for both. They offer several distinct benefits:
- Income Generation: Selling fruit, especially non-native varieties, is a reliable income source. Each piece of native fruit sells for 100 Bells, while non-native fruit fetches 500 Bells.
- Crafting Materials: Many DIY recipes require fruit. Having a readily available source of each type is crucial for crafting.
- Island Aesthetics: A well-organized orchard adds a touch of realism and charm to your island.
- Villager Interaction: Villagers will sometimes ask for specific fruits. Fulfilling these requests strengthens your bond with them.
- Bug Catching: Certain bugs are only attracted to fruit trees, providing another opportunity for collection and sale.
Preparing Your Island for an Orchard
Before you start planting, careful planning is essential. Consider the following:
- Space Requirements: Fruit trees need a 3×3 tile area to grow without being obstructed. Avoid planting too close to cliffs, rivers, buildings, or other trees.
- Fruit Variety: Determine which fruits you want to cultivate. Native fruit is easily obtained, but non-native varieties are more profitable. Remember each island has one native fruit, and another fruit is given by your mom when you first start.
- Orchard Layout: Design your orchard’s layout. Consider grouping similar fruits together for easy harvesting and aesthetics. A grid pattern is a popular and efficient approach.
- Tool Acquisition: Ensure you have a shovel, which can be purchased from Nook’s Cranny or crafted.
- Compost/Fertilizer (Optional): Although not directly implemented in the game, think of prepping your soil by clearing debris and weeds to give your trees the best start.
The Fruit Tree Planting Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Planting a fruit tree is simple, but precise execution is vital:
- Obtain Fruit: Acquire the fruit you wish to plant. This can be done by harvesting it from existing trees, receiving it from villagers, or traveling to other islands.
- Equip Your Shovel: Select your shovel from your inventory and press ‘A’ to equip it.
- Choose a Planting Location: Find a suitable 3×3 tile area free from obstructions.
- Dig a Hole: Stand in the center of the designated tile and press ‘A’ to dig a hole.
- Open Your Inventory: Press ‘X’ to open your inventory.
- Select the Fruit: Choose the fruit you want to plant.
- Select “Bury”: Select the “Bury” option. Your character will bury the fruit in the hole.
- Wait and Water: After three days, the seed will become a sapling, which will then mature into a tree a few days later. Watering isn’t required, but it can give you something to do while waiting!
- Patience is Key: Fruit trees take several days to fully mature and produce fruit.
Troubleshooting Common Planting Mistakes
Even experienced players can encounter issues when planting fruit trees. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
- Tree Won’t Grow: Ensure the planting location is not too close to other trees, buildings, cliffs, or rivers. The 3×3 tile rule is crucial. Remove any obstructing items. Also make sure you haven’t buried something else in that spot (like a time capsule).
- Fruit Doesn’t Appear: Fruit trees need several days to produce fruit after reaching maturity. Be patient and check back daily. Also, only three items of fruit can exist on a tree at a time. Make sure the fruit wasn’t swiped by a villager, and make sure to harvest at least once every three days to ensure the tree continues to generate fruit.
- Tree Dies: Trees can wither and die if they are struck by lightning during a thunderstorm. To help avoid lightning strikes, add lightning rods to your island.
Getting Non-Native Fruit
Non-native fruit is crucial for maximizing profits. Here’s how to obtain it:
- Island Tours: Visit other islands using Nook Miles Tickets. You may find different fruit varieties on these islands.
- Best Friends: Trade fruit with friends who have different native fruits on their islands. Best Friends can send you fruit in the mail!
- Mom’s Letter: Your mom will send you non-native fruit when you first move to the island.
- Mystery Islands: When using Nook Miles Tickets to visit mystery islands, it’s possible to occasionally find an island that only contains your sister fruit.
Optimizing Your Orchard for Maximum Yield
Once your orchard is established, optimizing its yield becomes important:
- Regular Harvesting: Harvest fruit regularly to ensure trees continue producing.
- Strategic Planting: Plant trees in rows or grids for efficient harvesting.
- Maintaining Space: Ensure each tree has adequate space to grow and produce fruit.
- Aesthetic Considerations: Design your orchard to be both functional and visually appealing, incorporating pathways, fences, or decorative items.
| Fruit | Native Sell Price | Non-Native Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | 100 Bells | 500 Bells |
| Oranges | 100 Bells | 500 Bells |
| Pears | 100 Bells | 500 Bells |
| Peaches | 100 Bells | 500 Bells |
| Cherries | 100 Bells | 500 Bells |
| Coconuts | 250 Bells | 250 Bells |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I plant fruit trees on the beach?
No, you cannot plant regular fruit trees on the beach. Only coconut trees can be planted on sand.
2. How long does it take for a fruit tree to grow from start to finish?
It typically takes around five to six days for a fruit tree to fully mature and produce fruit, starting from the day you bury the fruit.
3. Can I move a fully grown fruit tree?
Yes, you can move a fully grown fruit tree. You need to eat a piece of fruit, dig up the tree with your shovel, and replant it elsewhere. Be aware that you can only move one tree at a time!
4. What happens if I plant a tree too close to another object?
If a tree is planted too close to another object, it will not grow past the sapling stage. Ensure there’s a 3×3 tile area around the planting location.
5. Can I plant fruit trees in the plaza or other special areas?
No, you cannot plant fruit trees in the plaza, near buildings, or in other designated areas within your town.
6. Is there a limit to how many fruit trees I can have on my island?
There is no hard limit to the number of fruit trees you can have on your island, but island space is finite.
7. Do fruit trees attract any special insects or fish?
Certain bugs, like the cicada shell, brown cicada, robust cicada, evening cicada, and lantern fly, are specifically found on fruit trees.
8. Will villagers pick fruit from my trees?
Yes, villagers may occasionally pick fruit from your trees. They may also buy it from you at a low price.
9. Can I sell the whole fruit tree at Nook’s Cranny?
No, you cannot sell the entire fruit tree. You can only sell the fruit it produces.
10. Does the season affect fruit tree growth or fruit production?
No, fruit trees always produce fruit regardless of the season.
11. What happens if I shake a fruit tree too much?
If you shake a fruit tree after all the fruit has already fallen, nothing will happen.
12. Can I customize the appearance of my fruit trees?
No, you cannot customize the appearance of fruit trees beyond the type of fruit they bear.