Gardening: Difference between revisions

Planting seeds requires a [[garden plot|gardening plot]] that can be bought for §10 in the [[Buildbuild 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.

[[Sprinkler (gardening)|Sprinklers]] can be bought in Buildbuild mode's Gardening Center. A sprinkler can cover 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 360 degrees. When the game is in [[Buybuy mode]] or Buildbuild 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.

<blockquote class="note">Players should note that active sprinklers are graphically intensive, and can cause lagging. A [https://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=222748 mod] by Numenor at [[Mod theThe Sims]] can prevent this by making the water from sprinklers invisible.</blockquote>

Sims can grow apples, oranges, and lemons by planting orchard trees, which cost §1200. Orchard trees are bought "as is" from Buildbuild 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 [[juicerjuice]]r. 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 [[Simoleon]]s. If ''[[The Sims 2: Open for Business]]'' is installed, homegrown fruit and vegetables can be placed on sale.

Sims can join the [[Garden Clubclub]] 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.

Players can build greenhouses by using special walls, doors, and roofs which are available from Buildbuild 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, although they will still eventually go dormant in the winter.<ref>A [https://modthesims.info/download.php?t=235693 mod] at [[Mod The Sims]] allows orchard trees to continue to remain active during the winter provided that they are located in a greenhouse. Orchard trees not in a greenhouse will still go dormant.</ref>

<blockquote class="note">A [[gardener]] will usually, but not always, have a bronze badge. A [[PlantSim]] will automatically have a gold badge.</blockquote>

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 [[Juices|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.