Starting Garden Horizons for the first time can feel simple at a glance — plant seeds, wait, sell crops — but the game actually has several unique mechanics that make early progression much deeper than typical farming simulators.
This beginner guide explains everything you need to know when you first enter the game so you can build money quickly and avoid common mistakes.
Choosing Your Starting Plot
When you join the game, you’ll choose one of several available plots.
Your choice doesn’t affect gameplay advantages — the plots mainly differ in layout and location on the map. Some are closer to shops, while others offer more open planting space.
Because of this, you should simply pick whichever layout feels most comfortable to you rather than worrying about efficiency.
Buying Your First Seeds
The first step of the tutorial sends you to the seed shop to buy carrot seeds.
Seeds are the foundation of progression because:
- They determine your crop income
- Different plants grow at different speeds
- Higher rarity plants take longer to grow
Early on, carrots are your main source of income, so planting them efficiently is important.
How Plant Growth Works
After planting seeds, crops take time to grow. Growth speed varies based on rarity — basic plants grow quickly, while rare plants take longer.
A key detail many beginners miss:
Plants continue growing even when you are offline.
However, another important mechanic does not progress offline — ripening.
The Ripening System (Most Important Mechanic)
Ripening is one of the most powerful mechanics in the game.
Once a plant finishes growing, it begins to ripen through several stages:
- Unripe — basic value
- Ripe — increased value
- Lush — maximum multiplier
Unlike growth, ripening only happens while you are online.
This means harvesting immediately after growth results in much lower profits compared to waiting for full ripening.
Because ripening multiplies all other bonuses, it is one of the biggest sources of income scaling.
Selling Crops for Profit
After harvesting, you can sell crops to an NPC who evaluates their value.
Each crop has a base price, but its final selling value depends on factors like ripeness and special mutations.
Waiting longer before selling often results in significantly higher profits.
Using the Flora Book
The flora book acts as a collection system.
It records:
- Plants you’ve discovered
- Their base values
- Important information about each species
Checking this regularly helps you understand which crops are worth investing in.
Buying Tools From the Gear Shop
The gear shop sells tools that improve farming efficiency.
Some tools increase growth speed, while others help with harvesting or crop management.
These upgrades become increasingly important as your garden expands.
Weather and Crop Mutations
Weather plays a major role in Garden Horizons.
Different weather conditions can:
- Increase growth speed
- Apply special mutations
- Boost crop value
Each weather event offers unique opportunities to earn extra profit, especially if you have many crops planted during the event.
Completing Quests
The quest board provides daily and weekly challenges.
These usually involve simple tasks like planting, harvesting, or selling crops.
Completing them rewards:
- Money
- Seed packs
- Rare items
Quests are one of the fastest ways to progress early in the game.
Best Early Game Money Strategy
To build income quickly:
- Focus on fast-growing crops early
- Allow them to fully ripen before selling
- Take advantage of weather bonuses
- Complete quests regularly
Single-harvest plants are especially useful at the start because they provide quick bursts of profit.
Important Beginner Tips
Always wait for crops to ripen fully before selling for maximum profit.
Stay online when possible so crops can reach their highest value stage.
Use early fast-growing plants to build income quickly.
Pay attention to weather events, as they can dramatically increase crop value.
Garden Horizons combines relaxing farming gameplay with layered progression systems that reward patience and planning. Understanding ripening, weather effects, and efficient planting strategies early on makes a huge difference in how quickly you build your garden.
With consistent planting and smart timing, your empty starting plot can quickly grow into a highly profitable farm.