How to Grow Pumpkins in Animal Crossing (The Easy Way)

Players in Animal Crossing: New Horizons are able to grow and harvest pumpkins for the first time in the series history. While growing fruit on trees and watering flowers in gardens has always been a staple for Animal Crossing fans, this is the first time that this great gourd can be cultivated.

Pumpkins were appropriately added during the fall 2020 update to celebrate the arrival of October and the Halloween season. Now, the haunted festivities are more lively than ever before with New Horizon’s more in-depth customization. To prepare for the event, or decorate one’s island with lovely pumpkin patches, here’s how to obtain them.

Growing a Pumpkin Patch in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Starting on the first day of October, pumpkin starts can be purchased from the cabinet in Nook’s Cranny where the tools and wallpaper are sold. They’re found at the very top of the list, next to the seasonal candy item, and cost 280 bells each. As 3 native fruits sell for 300 bells, 1 tree of them will provide enough cash to exchange it for a single pumpkin. Timmy and Tommy also sell them in bulk, 5 for 1,400 bells. A tree of fruit that isn’t native to the player’s island can be sold for 1,500, letting players buy pumpkins in bulk should they have enough imported produce. Alternatively, Leif the garden sloth will sell their starters when he visits the island. After October ends, this will be the only method players have to obtain this colorful squash. Don’t ignore him even if he comes during this month, as his starts are sold for a discounted price!

Much like the flowers players are already accustomed to growing, pumpkins are grown in the same fashion. Find an area suitable for a patch, select the start in the inventory, and choose the option to plant them. It will then appear below the player’s feet, so be sure to stand in the designated planting area. Their sprouts can still be dug up and planted, so don’t fret if they’re placed incorrectly. The trailer for this update shows pumpkins planted in dirt made by the path maker, but that’s just for aesthetic. Those that have just started the game and have not unlocked that feature can still partake in the fall season. Additionally, they can come in 4 different colors: the iconic orange, yellow, green, and white.

Pumpkins take 4 days to mature before they can be sold and crafted, but players can make even more should they water them every day with a watering can. If this is done, then they’ll grow into bunches of 3 instead of 1! Not only will there be more to use in decorative DIY recipes, but more can be sold. They sell for 300 each, so 3 of them will net 900 bells. This ensures economic players will gain more than they originally paid for, but don’t sell all of them. Planting 1 pumpkin into the ground is needed to start another patch without buying more of them. Consider planting their patch somewhere near Nook’s Cranny or on the way to it, so they can be conveniently harvested on the way to the sell them. Whether they’re sold as a cash crop, used for Autumn decorations, or to add some fall flavor to the island, pumpkins are a welcome addition to New Horizons.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for Nintendo Switch

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