Introduction
In Hay Day, planting the wrong crops can slow your progress just as much as ignoring machines or storage. Some crops look profitable but block production, while others quietly power nearly every recipe in the game.
This guide explains which crops are worth growing at each stage of the game, why they matter, and when to stop overusing certain crops. The focus is not just XP, but long-term efficiency and coin stability.
How to Judge a “Good” Crop in Hay Day
A crop is efficient if it:
- Grows quickly or fits your offline time
- Is used in many machines
- Sells reliably in the roadside shop
- Does not block more valuable production
A crop becomes inefficient when it:
- Takes a long time but has limited use
- Fills storage without demand
- Forces you to ignore core crops
Levels 1–10: Foundation Crops
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Corn
Why These Matter
- Zero cost to plant
- Very fast grow times
- Required for early production
- Excellent for roadside shop sales
Strategy
Wheat should be growing constantly. Corn fills short gaps and supports animal feed.
Avoid: Hoarding corn early. Sell excess.
Levels 11–20: Early Production Expansion
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Corn
- Soybeans
Why These Matter
- Soybeans unlock multiple production chains
- Still fast enough to farm actively
- High demand from machines
Strategy
Rotate wheat and soybeans during active play. Plant corn when stepping away briefly.
Avoid: Overplanting carrots early — they are slower and less flexible at this stage.
Levels 21–30: Medium Crops Become Important
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Soybeans
- Sugarcane
Why These Matter
- Sugarcane supports sugar production
- Required for many baked goods
- Still sells well if excess builds up
Strategy
Use sugarcane as a semi-offline crop. Keep wheat for fast turnover.
Avoid: Letting sugar mills sit idle due to crop shortages.
Levels 31–40: Balanced Farming Phase
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Soybeans
- Sugarcane
- Carrots
Why These Matter
- Carrots become more useful for animal feed
- Production chains expand
- Orders start demanding variety
Strategy
Split fields between fast (wheat) and medium (carrots, sugarcane) crops.
Avoid: Filling all fields with medium crops and losing flexibility.
Levels 41–50: Longer Crops Enter Rotation
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Soybeans
- Sugarcane
- Indigo
Why These Matter
- Indigo supports advanced machines
- High value but longer grow time
- Best planted before extended offline periods
Strategy
Plant indigo overnight or during work/school hours.
Avoid: Growing indigo during active sessions when faster crops would earn more coins.
Levels 51–60: High-Demand Crop Chains
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Sugarcane
- Soybeans
- Cotton
Why These Matter
- Cotton is required for fabric and clothing
- Demand increases sharply
- Poor planning causes major bottlenecks
Strategy
Always keep a cotton buffer. Treat it as a priority crop.
Avoid: Selling cotton casually — it becomes critical later.
Levels 61–70: Advanced Crop Planning
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Sugarcane
- Cotton
- Chili Peppers
Why These Matter
- Chili peppers support multiple high-value products
- Longer grow time but strong demand
- Must be planned in advance
Strategy
Use chili peppers as planned long crops. Do not grow reactively.
Avoid: Waiting for orders before planting long crops.
Levels 71–80: Storage-Sensitive Phase
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Cotton
- Sugarcane
- Tea Leaves
Why These Matter
- Tea leaves unlock long production chains
- High storage impact
- Expensive to rush
Strategy
Plant tea leaves only when storage allows and production is planned.
Avoid: Overproducing tea leaves without machine capacity.
Levels 81–90: Late-Game Efficiency
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Sugarcane
- Cotton
- Rice
Why These Matter
- Rice is used in multiple advanced recipes
- Medium grow time with steady demand
- Fits well into daily planning
Strategy
Balance rice with fast crops to avoid locking fields too long.
Levels 91+: Endgame Crop Stability
Best Crops
- Wheat
- Sugarcane
- Cotton
- High-demand specialty crops (as needed)
Why These Matter
- Core crops never lose relevance
- Specialty crops should be grown intentionally
- Overproduction causes storage pressure
Strategy
Grow specialty crops only with clear purpose. Wheat remains king.
Crops That Are Almost Always Worth Growing
Regardless of level:
- Wheat
- Soybeans
- Sugarcane
- Cotton (once unlocked)
If unsure what to plant, choose one of these.
Crops That Often Waste Time
- Long crops grown reactively
- Crops grown only for XP
- Crops with limited machine use
- Overproduced specialty crops
Efficiency beats variety.
Farming Tips That Apply at Every Level
- Never leave fields empty
- Match crop time to your real-life schedule
- Plant long crops before sleep
- Keep fast crops for active play
- Sell excess instead of hoarding
Common Crop Mistakes by Leveling Players
- Leveling faster than crop support allows
- Overgrowing slow crops during events
- Ignoring sugarcane and soybeans
- Hoarding crops instead of selling excess
These mistakes cause most farming frustration.
Final Thoughts
The best Hay Day farms are not the ones with the most variety — they are the ones with intentional planting.
If you:
- Treat wheat as your foundation
- Plan long crops instead of reacting
- Protect sugarcane and cotton supplies
- Sell excess confidently
You will earn more coins, avoid production stalls, and enjoy a smoother progression at every level.
Crops are not just plants in Hay Day — they are the engine of your entire farm.