Gardening (The Sims 3)

For gardening in other games, see Gardening.

Gardening

A Sim gardening

File:Gardening Skill.png

Gardening is a skill in The Sims 3.

The skill is augmented by the Green Thumb and Loves The Outdoors traits, and the Super Green Thumb lifetime reward. It involves (as with gardening in real life and the previous Sims games) the planting, growing and harvesting of various plants that Sims can find within the game. Unlike the previous Sims games, The Sims 3 gardening has been much expanded upon, introducing many real-life plants and several fictional species such as the 'Life Fruit', 'Flame Fruit', and 'Plasma Fruit'.

With the arrival of The Sims 3: World Adventures, the gardening skill has been expanded even further, now to include plums, pomegranates, pomelos (a fruit similar to Grapefruit) and cherries. As well as these key fruits, many new species of grape have been introduced, spanning from the average, normal grape to rarer types found within the destination of France. Although it was said several times by independent gaming websites, the sixteen new grapes that there were supposed to be have not all been included. So far six new types of grapes have been found.

With The Sims 3: Ambitions expansion pack, players can register as a self-employed gardener.

Statistics

Number Planted, Unique Plants Planted, Items Harvested, Perfect Items Harvested, Unknown Seeds Planted, Best Harvestable, Money Earned, Largest Money Bag Harvested.

Challenges

Master Planter

A Master Planter must plant 19 types 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.

Botanical Boss

Botanical Bosses must harvest at least 75 Perfect fruits and vegetables. After so many Perfect harvastables, 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. And if you have a garden gnome he will come to life and water your garden.

Abilities

Level	Ability
1	Able to water and plant, given seeds: Lettuce, Apple, Grape and Tomato
2	Weed
3	Fertilize
5	Plant Uncommon Seeds and Watermelons
6	Revive Plants (with Green Thumb trait)
7	Plant Rare and Special seeds, and money tree
8	Plant Cheese and Egg plant (via Skill Opportunities)
9	Plant Burger Patty and Steak Plant (via Skill Opportunities)
10	Plant Omni Plant seeds (via Skill Opportunities)

Plants

Plants include things found around town, store bought produce that can be planted, seeds given from leveling up the gardening skill.

Image	Plant	Rarity	Skill Level	Normal Value	Perfect Value	Source	Note
	Apple Tree	Common	0	§04§4	§16	Store, Apple, Apple Seed	Eating apples in the earliest stage of pregnancy increases a Sim's chance of having a boy.
	Grapevine	Common	0	§04§4	§16	Store, Grapes, Grape Seed	Key (mediocre) ingredient in Nectar.
	Lettuce Plant	Common	0	§03§3	§12	Store, Lettuce, Lettuce Seed
	Tomato Plant	Common	0	§03§3	§12	Store, Tomato, Tomato Seed
	Lime Tree	Uncommon	5	§09§9	§36	Store, Lime, Unknown Uncommon Seed	Good plant for money making as they produce a lot of fruit at a reasonable rate for a lot of cash
	Onion Plant	Uncommon	5	§07§7	§28	Store, Onion, Unknown Uncommon Seed
	Potato Plant	Uncommon	5	§07§7	§28	Store, Potato, Unknown Uncommon Seed
	Watermelon Vine	Uncommon	5	§09§9	§36	Store, Watermelon, Unknown Uncommon Seed	Eating Watermelon in the earliest stage of pregnancy increases a Sim's chance of having a girl.
	Bell Pepper Plant	Rare	7	§12	§48	Store, Bell Pepper, Unknown Rare Seed
	Garlic Plant	Rare	7	§15	§60	Store, Garlic, Unknown Rare Seed	Inflicts 'Garlic Breath' on Sim if eaten. (This has no bad effects).
	Life Plant	Special	7	§25	§100	Life Fruit, Unknown Special Seed, Science career opportunity, Gardening opportunity. Mining.	Increases a Sim's life span by one extra day per fruit eaten. Best plant Fertilizer. Starts life stage over if cooked with Deathfish to make Ambrosia. Life fruit is best used in cooking to expand life.
	Death Flower Plant	Special	7	§0	§0	Death Flower, Unknown Special Seed, Science career opportunity, Graveyard, Fishing	Can allow a Sim who carries one in his/her inventory to placate the Grim Reaper. Plant produces only 1 flower before dying. After being revived with Green Thumb trait, it will produce one more and then become permanently barren. (The chances of this Plant's success in being revived is 50/50).
	Flame Fruit Bush	Special	7	§18	§72	Flame Fruit, Unknown Special Seed, Catacombs exploring, Science career opportunity	Fruit provides +5 mood (Cozy Fire) if kept in inventory. Certain fruits can be turned into flame fruits if your sim has the (hidden) Pyromaniac trait using the interaction Transmorgify.
	Money Tree	Special	7	§100-200 Per bag	§700-§800 Per bag	Money Tree Seed, Unknown Special Seed, Fishing, Criminal career opportunity	Produces Money Bags and cannot be replanted. If a full vacant square is next to it when it reaches "perfect" a seed (Normal quality) will drop. WARNING: If it dies, the tree will practically explode, leaving behind 3 hefty bills.
	Cheese Plant	Special	8	§05§5	§20	Store, Cheese	Enabled through skill opportunity, after which you will be able to directly "plant" cheese.
	Eggplant	Special	8	§07§7	§28	Store, Egg	Enabled through skill opportunity, after which you will be able to directly "plant" eggs.
	Burger Patty Plant	Special	9	§16	§64	Store, Burger Patty	Enabled through skill opportunity, requires ability to plant Cheese/Eggplant
	Steak Plant	Special	9	§20	§80	Store, Steak	Enabled through skill opportunity, requires ability to plant Cheese/Eggplant
	Omni Plant	Special	10	Varies	Varies	Complete The Omnificent Plant Opportunity, Order seeds through mailbox	The Omni Plant has the ability to replicate any item it's fed. (Left click the plant, choose "Feed"). It can only be fed fish, books and food from the store etc. (It can be fed special fruits i.e. Life Fruit. As well as special fish i.e. Death Fish).
	Pomelo	Rare	7	§15	§60	Shang Simla, China
	Plum	Uncommon	5	§7	§28	Shang Simla, China
	Cherimola Blan Grapes	Common	0	§4	§16	Champs Les Sims, France
	Renoit Grapes	Common	0	§4	§16	Champs Les Sims, France
	Pomegranate	Uncommon	5	§8	§32	Al Simhara, Egypt
	Cherry	Rare	7	§12	§48	Al Simhara, Egypt and Shang Simla, China
	Cranerlet Nuala Grapes	Rare	7	§13	§52	Adventure reward in Champs Les Sims, France, Secret Garden on Chateau du Landgraab
	Gralladina Fran Grapes	Rare	7	§10	§40	Adventure reward in Champs Les Sims, France, Secret Garden on Chateau du Landgraab
	Avornalino Grapes	Uncommon	5		§28	Adventure reward in Champs Les Sims, France, Secret Garden on Chateau du Landgraab
	Meloire Grapes	Uncommon	5		§32	Adventure reward in Champs Les Sims, France, Secret Garden on Chateau du Landgraab
	Plasma Fruit Bush	Rare	7		§18	Store, Plasma Fruit, Seed	Upon becoming a vampire, a sim receives 3 normal quality Plasma Fruits

If the harvested produce is sold to a supermarket, it sells at a 10% higher value than if sold via an inventory hole.

The sales value are as follows, rounded down:

• Normal: 100%
• Nice: 110%
• Very Nice: 150%
• Great: 200%
• Excellent: 250%
• Outstanding: 300%
• Perfect: 400%

Detailed Plant Information

Image	Plant	Experience gained for plant/harvest	Weed chance	Maximum number of produce before barren	Minimum and maximum produce per harvest
	Apple Tree	175/125	0.1	40	3-5
	Grapevine	175/125	0.2	15	2-4
	Lettuce Plant	175/125	0.2	15	1-3
	Tomato Plant	175/125	0.2	20	2-4
	Lime Tree	225/175	0.25	40	3-5
	Onion Plant	225/175	0.05	25	1-3
	Potato Plant	225/175	0.05	15	1-3
	Watermelon Vine	225/175	0.25	10	1-2
	Bell Pepper Plant	325/250	0.2	15	2-4
	Garlic Plant	325/250	0.1	30	3-5
	Life Plant	375/300	0.25	12	1-3
	Death Flower Plant	375/300	0.025	2	1
	Flame Fruit Bush	375/300	0.05	20	1-3
	Money Tree	375/300	0.25	10000	2-5
	Cheese Plant	150/100	0.25	15	2-5
	Eggplant	150/100	0.25	15	2-5
	Burger Patty Plant	150/100	0.25	15	2-5
	Steak Plant	150/100	0.25	15	2-5
	Omni Plant	400/300	0.15	25	2-5

Fertilizer

Fertilizer is used to enhance the produce. The quality of the produce will increase as long as the fertilizer is applied.

Image	Fertilizer	Grade	Time (Days)
	Lifefruit	25	6
	Sea Sludge	25	4
	Angelfish	25	4
	Vampirefish	25	3
	Plasma Fruit	20	4
	Shark	20	4
	Lobster	20	3
	Garlic	15	6
	Steak	15	4
	Bell Pepper	15	4
	Flame Fruit	15	4
	Blowfish	15	4
	Piranha	15	4
	Red Herring	15	4
	Siamese Catfish	15	4
	Tragic Clownfish	15	4
	Sewer Trilobite	15	3
	Black Goldfish	12	3
	Salmon	12	3
	Swordfish	12	3
	Watermelon	10	5
	Jellyfish	10	4
	Minnow	10	4
	Tuna	10	3
	Rainbow Trout	8	3
	Lime	5	6
	Onion	5	6
	Potato	5	5
	Burger Patty	5	4
	Cheese	5	4
	Egg	5	4
	Apple	5	4
	Lettuce	5	4
	Tomato	5	4
	Kissing Gourami	5	3
	Grapes	5	3
	Alley Catfish	5	3
	Anchovy	5	3
	Goldfish	5	3
	Deathfish	-200	4

The time is increased by 1 day for Great, Excellent, and Outstanding fertilizer, and 2 days for perfect fertilizer.

The quality of the fertilizer modifies its effectiveness. For qualities ranging from Horrifying (the lowest) to Very Nice inclusively, a multiplier is applied to the fertilizer's effectiveness or grade ranging from 0.6 to 1.2. This modifier increases by 0.1 with each successive level of quality the fertilizer gains. Starting from Very Nice up to Perfect, that is from 1.2 to 2.0, the modifier increases by increments of 0.2 with each improvement to the fertilizer's quality. The net result is that the worst possible quality (Horrifying) reduces the effectiveness of the fertilizer by 40%, a Normal quality fertilizer maintains it as it is (fertilizer x 1.0), and a Perfect fertilizer doubles the original efficiency (fertilizer x 2.0). The following table presents all the relevant data.

Fertilizer modifiers based on its quality

Fertilizer Quality	Multiplier
Horrifying	0.6
Putrid	0.7
Foul	0.8
Bad	0.9
Normal	1.0
Nice	1.1
Very Nice	1.2
Great	1.4
Excellent	1.6
Outstanding	1.8
Perfect	2.0

Furthermore, having the Master Farmer challenge completed gives an additional 2 days of fertilized time to any plant.

For more on fertilizer's effects, see Carl's Sims 3 Fertilizer Tests

Helpful tips

Sprinkler area of effect.

• Dead vs Barren

Dead plants can occur after you neglect any plants under 'Wilting' condition for one day. After that, your Sim will have to dispose or revive them (Green Thumb trait is required for reviving). Barren plants have the same appearance as dead plants, but they cannot be revived. Each plant will become barren after it reaches its maximum amount of produce.

(Note: Money trees cannot be revived as they'll explode upon their death)

• Sick of watering your plants?

This helpful 'Sprinkler' waters plants in a 5x5 area. Once turned on, it will run 24/7. It can be upgraded with Auto-Water so it will run between 4am and 7am, which is helpful as it starts an hour before the growth occurs, and ends an hour after.

• The best choice in traits for Gardening

The Green Thumb trait allows the ability to "Talk To Plant"s, which will increase the quality of plant produce.

The Loves the Outdoors trait will create a positive moodlet when a Sim possessing it is outdoors.

The Eco-friendly trait will also create a positive moodlet when gardening.

• Search the neighborhood for better quality seeds to start with.

• For faster growing use high-quality fertilizer which shortens harvesting time.

• Plasma Fruit seed is the easiest unknown special seed to recognize, the seed have a red pulse on it.

Opportunities

Uncommonly Good

Bring 20 Excellent Harvestables to the restaurant to receive the ability to plant Cheese and Eggs.

Outstandingly Rare

Bring 10 Excellent (or better) Cheeses to the Restaurant. The chef at the restaurant has upped the ante on your gardening abilities. You've been asked to bring in 10 homegrown Cheeses of Excellent quality. It's no simple task, but it is one that'll land you the ability to plant some meaty new items. Allows you to plant steak and hamburger patties.

The Omnificent Plant

Bring 10 Outstanding Steaks to the Restaurant. The chef at the restaurant has one final challenge for you to complete before granting you unlimited gardening power! You've been asked to bring in 10 homegrown Steaks of Outstanding quality. It's a nigh impossible order to fill, but you must find a way if you want the Omni Plant!

Extreme Life Insurance

[Friend] fears a visit from the grim reaper may come all too soon and would like a little... insurance. Grow a Death Flower and deliver it to [Friend] before it's too late. You'll be paid handsomely for this piece of insurance - a wise choice!

Garlic Goodness

The Restaurant is featuring a new all-garlic menu to keep up with the current garlic trend all over town. Unfortunately, everyone's eating so much garlic that the restaurant is running low! Grow 3 Very Nice (or better) bulbs of garlic and deliver them to the restaurant. They'll pay for your produce!

Bad Apples

Bring 10 bad quality apples to the restaurant for stew.

Outstanding Tasting Ingredients

[Friend] is trying to prepare a special recipe at home, but insists upon fresh homegrown ingredients. Unfortunately, [Friend] doesn't know how to garden! Grow 3 Outstanding fruits or vegetables for [Friend] and deliver them to earn some money!

Absolutely Great Produce

[Friend] is trying to prepare a special recipe at home, but insists upon fresh homegrown ingredients. Unfortunately, [Friend] doesn't know how to garden! Grow 3 Great fruits or vegetables for [Friend] and deliver them to earn some money!

Don't Cry

The chefs at the restaurant are crying because they just sliced their last onion! Their menu will suffer if more onions aren't supplied soon! You need to grow 3 Very Nice (or better) onions and deliver them to the restaurant. You'll be paid for your produce!

Lettuce Help Out

Locusts intercepted a lettuce shipment heading to the restaurant, which makes it impossible for them to toss their world-famous salads. The restaurant needs your Lettuce! You need to grow 3 Very Nice (or better) heads of lettuce and deliver them to the restaurant. You'll be paid for your produce!

Grape-Aid

There's a regional grape shortage, so the restaurant is asking all local farmers to sell them their grapes until the crisis is resolved. You need to grow 3 Very Nice (or better) grapes and deliver them to the restaurant. You'll be paid for your produce!