How Do I Get More Ancient Seeds in Stardew Valley?

Getting your hands on more Ancient Seeds in Stardew Valley is a crucial step towards optimizing your farm and maximizing profits. These seeds are the key to growing Ancient Fruit, one of the most valuable and consistent crops in the game. While they can be initially tricky to obtain, several methods can be employed to steadily increase your supply.

The primary methods for obtaining more Ancient Seeds boil down to these three avenues:

1. Finding the Ancient Seed Artifact: This is the most important step. This artifact needs to be found and donated to the museum. Once you have done this, you will be rewarded with one packet of Ancient Seeds to plant and the recipe to craft more from the Ancient Seed artifact. This artifact is located by digging up Artifact Spots in Cindersap Forest or the Mountains (including the Quarry), or obtained inside Fishing Treasure Chests and Artifact Troves.

2. Using the Seed Maker: Once you have grown Ancient Fruit, you can use a Seed Maker to process the fruit into more Ancient Seeds. This method is essential for scaling your Ancient Fruit production.

3. Exploiting the Traveling Cart: The Traveling Cart occasionally sells Ancient Seeds, although the appearance rate is quite low (1.26%). Check the cart regularly for a chance to purchase them.

By combining these methods, you can go from having a single seed to a thriving crop of Ancient Fruit, providing you with a solid income stream. Let’s delve deeper into each method:

How to Maximize Your Ancient Seed Collection

Artifact Spots and Treasure Hunting

The first Ancient Seed you’ll likely obtain will be the Ancient Seed artifact itself. This artifact is found by digging up Artifact Spots (the wiggly worm tiles) in Cindersap Forest, the Mountains (including the Quarry), or found in Fishing Treasure Chests and Artifact Troves. Spend time in these areas daily and prioritize digging up artifact spots. The drop rate is not high, so persistence is key. The Geologist Profession can help improve your odds by giving you an extra chance at finding artifacts when breaking rocks. Furthermore, fishing for treasure chests can be a more passive way of trying to obtain them, especially when combined with the Pirate Profession.

The Power of the Seed Maker

Once you obtain an Ancient Fruit from that first donated seed, the Seed Maker becomes your best friend. Place the fruit inside the Seed Maker, and you’ll get between 1 to 3 seeds for your efforts. Although there is a small chance of receiving mixed seeds instead, this is the most reliable method for building up a large amount of seeds. If you have a large supply of Ancient Fruit, creating a second Seed Maker to feed 10 minutes after your first, can significantly increase your yield and minimize time waiting for new seeds. This method effectively duplicates output as time of day is measured in minutes.

The Traveling Cart Gamble

While not reliable, the Traveling Cart offers another, more passive, route to acquiring Ancient Seeds. The chances of an Ancient Seed showing up in the traveling cart are a mere 1.26%. While the odds are stacked against you, it’s good practice to check the Traveling Cart twice a week and see if you get lucky.

Donating the First Artifact

It’s absolutely crucial to donate your first Ancient Seed artifact to the Museum. Doing so will reward you with one pack of plantable Ancient Seeds and the recipe to craft the artifact into seeds. This is the only way you can begin planting them and obtaining a renewable source of Ancient Fruit, making museum donation the key to starting an Ancient Fruit farm.

The Ancient Seed Cheat (Alternative Method)

There is also an exploit to obtain an Ancient Seed through a glitch, although not as reliable as the above. If you visit Marnie’s Ranch, purchase a chicken and name the chicken [499] and click ok. You will receive an Ancient Seed. However, this method is not needed and you are better off obtaining the artifact and donating it.

By implementing all these methods, you’ll quickly see your Ancient Seed supply grow, allowing you to establish a thriving and profitable farm.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best way to get Ancient Seeds early in Stardew Valley?

The best way to get Ancient Seeds early is to focus on finding Artifact Spots in the Cindersap Forest and the Mountains. Don’t forget to check any Fishing Treasure Chests you obtain while fishing. Once you locate the Ancient Seed artifact, donate it to the museum. This will provide you with a single seed packet and a crafting recipe.

2. Can I plant Ancient Seeds in the Winter?

No, Ancient Seeds cannot be planted outside during the winter. You can plant them during Spring, Summer, and Fall. However, they can be planted in the Greenhouse or on Ginger Island during any season, allowing year-round farming.

3. How often do Ancient Fruit plants produce fruit?

Once mature (28 days from planting), an Ancient Fruit plant will produce fruit every 7 days.

4. What should I do with my first Ancient Seed artifact?

Always donate your first Ancient Seed artifact to the Museum. This unlocks the plantable seeds and crafting recipe. Do not sell it or use it for crafting beforehand.

5. Where can I find Artifact Spots?

Artifact Spots are most commonly found in the Cindersap Forest and the Mountains, including the Quarry. They appear as wiggly worm-like tiles on the ground.

6. How do I get the Ancient Seed crafting recipe?

The Ancient Seed crafting recipe is obtained by donating the Ancient Seed artifact to the Museum.

7. Can I use Ancient Fruit to make seeds?

Yes, you can use a Seed Maker to turn Ancient Fruit into Ancient Seeds. This is the most reliable way to continuously generate more seeds.

8. How long does it take for an Ancient Seed to mature?

An Ancient Seed takes 28 days to mature before it starts producing fruit.

9. What are the drop rates for Ancient Seeds from monsters?

Ancient Seeds have a very low drop rate (0.5%) from Bugs, Grubs, Cave Flies, Mutant Flies, and Mutant Grubs. The mines are not a reliable source for seeds, however, it may be worth it while you are hunting for ore or completing monster goals.

10. Is it worth checking the Traveling Cart for Ancient Seeds?

While it has a low chance (1.26%), it’s worth checking the Traveling Cart regularly for Ancient Seeds, especially if you are early in the game.

11. Can I duplicate seeds using the Seed Maker?

Yes, you can duplicate seeds using the Seed Maker. By placing a second Seed Maker 10 tiles to the left of the first and feeding it 10 minutes after the first, you can effectively duplicate the output. This happens because time is calculated in minutes.

12. Can I get multiple Ancient Seeds?

Yes, you can get multiple Ancient Seeds by repeatedly using the Seed Maker on Ancient Fruit, finding more Ancient Seed artifacts by digging in specific locations, and through the Traveling Cart.

13. Can I grow Ancient Fruit in the Greenhouse?

Yes, Ancient Fruit can be grown in the Greenhouse during any season. This allows for year-round harvesting and makes it ideal for establishing a large scale Ancient Fruit farm.

14. Are Ancient Seeds the rarest seed in Stardew Valley?

No, the rarest seed in Stardew Valley is the Rare Seed, which grows into the Sweet Gem Berry. However, Ancient Seeds are the most sought after because of the value of Ancient Fruit, compared to the Sweet Gem Berry which has no crafting uses.

15. Is Ancient Fruit better than Sweet Gem Berry for profit?

Ancient Fruit is generally considered better for profit than Sweet Gem Berries if you also have Kegs and a Cellar. The wine from Ancient Fruit will sell for the most amount of gold in the game, but it takes some time to set up your infrastructure. If you don’t want to use a keg, the Sweet Gem Berry would be a better alternative to selling as the berry as it is.