Gardening

True gardening (that is, gardening that doesn't just require watering the plants, weeding the lawn, or trimming the bushes) was introduced in The Sims: Unleashed, where Sims could grow their own vegetables in their gardens. This feature also appears in The Sims 2: Seasons, The Sims 3, and The Sims 4.

The Sims: Unleashed
True gardening was introduced in The Sims: Unleashed, where Sims could grow their own vegetables in their gardens. First of all, a player needs to buy at least one plot in which to plant seeds (it's the Insta-Plot Victory Garden, which can be found in the Plant Tool section of Build Mode for §65). Then, the player needs to send a Sim to a community lot that has a seed rack, and have that Sim buy seeds. (Custer's Market in Old Town is designed as a one-stop gardening center, but other lots will have seed racks.). After buying seeds, the Sim who bought them can plant them. Click on an empty garden plot, and if a Sim has seeds in inventory, the option to plant them will appear. However, that's the easy part; they need watering frequently, and will often need weeding. (At times, a dog may "water" a plot, but this is not something which can be relied upon.) After a few days, they should be ready for harvesting, after which they can be stored in a pantry so they can be eaten, or taken to a lot which has the Vegano Market Cart so they can be sold. (By default, Custer's Market has one.) Green beans and tomatoes will continue to produce as long as garden pests don't get to them, but lettuce and carrots will need to be replanted after harvesting.

However, there are a few things that can endanger a crop-growing business. For a start, Sims can purchase plant tonic from Gardener Bob in Old Town. Using it on a plot may make it produce more, or even result in giant vegetables, which bring a high price at market - but there's also is a chance that it will kill the plants instead. Additionally, there are various pests, such as rabbits and gophers, that will try to eat the plants. They can be controlled by buying a cat, which can chase off any small mammals that come into a garden, or by buying a scarecrow (which is in the Sculptures section of the Decorative category in Buy Mode).

The Sims: Makin' Magic introduces a new plot (As the Plot Thickens), which allows the growth of grapes and elderberries (which can be purchased from Magic Town). Unleashed  plants cannot be planted in it.

The Sims 2: Seasons
True gardening was reintroduced into the Sims world with The Sims 2: Seasons. In this version, not many aspects of gardening have changed, though there are no longer rabbits and gophers to worry about. The primary difference is that gardening is now a talent that Sims can improve with experience. The higher the talent badge the gardening Sim has, the easier it is to grow crops.

Planting seeds requires a gardening plot that can be bought for §10 in the Build mode's Gardening Center. The plot can then be fertilized with a bag of fertilizer (§10) or compost (free with a compost bin). The plot does not have to be fertilized, but fertilizing yields better results. Next plant a seed. Sims no longer need to travel to community lots to buy seeds, but they are charged for them. After planting a seed, water it, tend it, and spray it with pesticides until it is ready to be harvested.

Sprinklers can be bought in Build mode's Gardening Center. A sprinkler can cover 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 360 degrees. When the game is in Buy mode or Build mode, the area a sprinkler covers will be marked by a transparent green dome; if any part of the dome touches a square, plants in that square will be watered. Sprinklers will not overwater plants, but plants can still be overwatered if it rains.

Players should note that active sprinklers are graphically intensive, and can cause lagging. A mod by Numenor at Mod the Sims can prevent this by making the water from sprinklers invisible.

Sims will need to spray plants when they become infested with bugs in order to keep them healthy. While the spray will reduce a plant's health, the effects of the spray are less than those of the bugs. Placing a ladybug loft within two tiles of the crop reduces the frequency of bug infestation. Sims (excluding Servos) that spray plants enough times may become PlantSims.

Sims can grow apples, oranges, and lemons by planting orchard trees, which cost §1200. Orchard trees are bought "as is" from Build mode's Gardening Center rather than grown from seeds. They do not require fertilizer or water, but do require occasional tending and can be infested with bugs. When a plant is ready to be harvested, clicking "Harvest" will put the fruit and vegetables in the Sim's inventory to be stocked in a fridge or juicer. Once a fridge is stocked, food made from that fridge will have sparkles around it (meaning it was made with homegrown fruit and veggies). It gives Sims a comfort boost as well as filling their hunger quicker than normal. When Sims eat this food, players will need to watch their hunger bars so they don't overeat and lose fitness. However, if the player doesn't let them overeat and is careful about having them store leftovers, gardening can help Sims' grocery purchases go farther.

Clicking on "Sell Produce" will automatically sell the produce for Simoleons. If Open for Business is installed, homegrown fruit and vegetables can be placed on sale.

Sims can join the Garden Club to get a discount on fertilizer and seeds. Garden Club members get a §2 discount on tomato seeds, a §5 discount on eggplant seeds, and a §3 discount on everything else.

Greenhouses
Players can build greenhouses by using special walls, doors, and roofs which are available from Build mode's Gardening Center. Greenhouses can protect plants and trees from bugs and weather, and allow garden plants to be grown in Winter. While orchard trees cannot be placed indoors, they can be enclosed in a greenhouse by building the greenhouse around them. It appears that a greenhouse may not prevent an orchard tree from eventually going dormant in Winter.

Talent badges

 * None
 * Sims can grow tomatoes (§8) and have orchard trees (§1200).


 * Bronze
 * [[File:Gardening bronze.png]] Sims can grow strawberries (§12) and cucumbers (§12).


 * Silver
 * [[File:Gardening silver.png]] Sims can grow peppers (§16) and pole beans (§16). Some players have reported that eggplants can also be grown with a Silver badge.


 * Gold
 * [[File:Gardening gold.png]] Sims can talk to their plants to increase their health and grow eggplants (§20).

When Sims with higher Talent badges tend plants, the plants don't need to be tended as often.

A gardener will usually, but not always, have a bronze badge. A PlantSim will have a gold badge

Planting/Harvest Seasons
Plants can be planted in any season, so long as they will become harvestable before Winter begins. However, each type of plant has an optimum harvest season, and will yield more if harvested in that season.


 * Tomatoes
 * plant seeds no later than the 5th day of Summer, by 5pm. They will take 5 days and 6 hours to harvest.


 * Strawberries
 * plant seeds no later than the 5th day of Spring, by 5pm. They will take 5 days and 6 hours to harvest.


 * Pole Beans
 * plant seeds no later than the 5th day of Summer, by 11pm. They will take 4 days and 9 hours to harvest.


 * Peppers
 * plant seeds no later than the 4th day of Spring, by 8pm. They will take 6 days and 3 hours to harvest.


 * Cucumbers
 * plant seeds no later than the 5th day of Summer, by 11pm. They will take 4 days and 9 hours to harvest.


 * Eggplants
 * plant seeds no later than the 4th day of Spring, by 8pm. They will take 6 days and 3 hours to harvest.

Harvest Ratings
Caring for plants and trees affects their health level and affects the "rating" of their produce. When a plant's needs are perfectly met, they will have a health level of "Thriving", which will produce a "Mouthwatering" harvest. The highest rating is Mouthwatering, the middle rating is Tasty, and the lowest rating is Bland. This rating will not only affect how much the produce will sell for, but how many "Fresh Food Points" it will add to a fridge, and how effective juice made from it will be. If the Sim has a Gold Garden Badge, the player can click on plants or trees and have the Sims "Talk To" them. When they use the "Talk To" option on plants and trees, their health level will increase.

With Testingcheatsenabled, a player can shift+click plants and choose "Make Harvestable". The plant will be "Thriving" and will have fruit on it with the rating, Mouthwatering.

Messages
Congratulations! Digging in the dirt isn't so hard after all and [Name] has earned a Bronze Gardening Talent Badge!
 * Bronze

All that time planting seeds and pulling weeds has yielded great results! [Name] has earned a Silver Gardening Talent Badge!
 * Silver

Talk about a green thumb! [Name] has learned to understand the secret language of plants and all that work has produced a Gold Gardening Talent Badge!
 * Gold

The Sims 3
Gardening is a skill in The Sims 3, and is introduced in the base game. The skill is augmented by the Green Thumb, and Gatherer traits, as well as the Super Green Thumb lifetime reward.

Challenges

 * Master Planter
 * A Master Planter must plant every type of plant that can be planted in the game. Once you have mastered the varieties you will be able to reduce weed growth significantly on future plants.
 * Note: 19 types total, ca. 5.2% per type


 * Botanical Boss
 * Botanical Boss must harvest at least 75 Perfect fruits and vegetables. After so many Perfect harvestables, the plants of Botanical Bosses almost never die from neglect.


 * Master Farmer
 * Master Farmers have harvested at least 650 fruits and vegetables. The plants of Master Farmers remain watered and fertilized longer, meaning their gardens are more efficient.