How do you get strawberries in The Sims 4? From wild foraging in lush Willow Creek parks to planting your own garden or simply buying them from the market, there are more ways to fill your Sim’s fridge with this juicy fruit than you might expect. Some players chase strawberries to whip up tasty recipes, but for many, they’re a critical secret ingredient: eating strawberries is the classic trick to increase your chances of having a baby girl in The Sims 4. So whether you’re a culinary perfectionist, a super-parent-in-training, or just want to max out your gardening skill, let’s dig deep into everything you’ll ever need to know about finding – or growing – strawberries in The Sims 4.
Your First Strawberry: Best Starter Strategies
There’s something rewarding about finding your very first strawberry in The Sims 4. Whether you’re just beginning your save or embarking on a new gardening adventure, a handful of straightforward options will get you started fast:
- Forage in the wild: Head out into your neighborhood parks and commons to find wild strawberry plants – particularly in Willow Creek, but also in Windenburg. Magnolia Blossom Park in Willow Creek is a local favorite.
- Buy strawberries at the market: Visit the Fresh Food Market stands in worlds like San Myshuno, or try your luck with the produce seller at the Kasbah Gallery. Open the “buy produce” menu and scroll down to strawberries.
- Open seed packets and plant your own: Purchase seed packets via Build/Buy mode and hope to pull a strawberry seed, or buy them directly if your Sim’s gardening level is high enough.
- Cheat your way there (it’s totally fine): Use the powerful “bb.showhiddenobjects” cheat to unlock strawberries directly through the build menu.
Prefer to watch and learn? Check out this clear and helpful explainer:
Finding Wild Strawberries: Where to Search
Don’t want to eat into your simoleons? Then wild foraging is the way to go. Head out for a stroll in Willow Creek, especially around:
- Magnolia Blossom Park (switch to map view and travel there directly)
- Residential neighborhoods, particularly near fishing spots and playgrounds
- The cluster of garden planters near the gym or along footpaths leading to water
Wild strawberry plants are tough to spot from a distance. Look for low, leafy bushes with small red berries. In Windenburg, check the rolling commons or follow built-in footpaths along park boundaries. That said, don’t waste your time in Oasis Springs – you’ll never find a wild strawberry there.
Timing matters: Strawberries are considered a spring crop. If you have The Sims 4: Seasons installed, stick to spring months or make sure your chosen spot is sheltered under a roof (walls are optional, as long as there’s enough coverage for the plants to count as “indoors”).
Buy, Don’t Forage: Nabbing Strawberries at the Market
If your Sim is more Geminis-and-shopping than Bears-and-foraging, markets offer a shortcut. Here are your best bets:
- San Myshuno – Produce stall at the Kasbah Gallery: Travel to the Arts Quarter and browse the “Buy Produce” list. You’ll usually find strawberries there alongside apples, carrots, and more exotic fruits.
- Community lots with stalls (across various packs): Some expansions and game packs add outdoor markets selling seasonal and basic produce. Shopkeepers sometimes rotate stock, so come back regularly if strawberries aren’t showing up right away.
This method is virtually foolproof once you have access, though you will pay a small premium for instant supply.
Curious for a quick walkthrough of different buying and planting options? Here’s another video you might find handy:
Planting and Harvesting: Grow Your Own Strawberry Supply
If you’re the type who likes to reap what you sow, planting strawberries is a fantastic investment. Once you get your hands on seeds or fresh fruit, the process is simple:
- Buy a garden planter pot or a small patch of dirt (found in Build/Buy mode under Outdoor Activities).
- Drag the strawberry from your Sim’s inventory and place it in the pot or on the ground.
- Click the planted strawberry and choose “Plant.”
- Water your new plant right away, and keep an eye on its needs each day – sims love attention (and so do strawberries).
A fully grown plant typically takes just over 5 days to mature. Once established, it’ll yield about six berries per harvest. If you’re lucky and consistent with watering, weeding, and protection from pests, you’ll have an ongoing supply almost all spring.
Don’t want to wait? Speed things up with some fertilizer and regular “Talk to Plant” interactions for a quality boost.
Which Seed Packets Include Strawberries?
- Farmer Flowers and Fruits packets – the most reliable if your Sim is level 7 gardening or higher. Unlock these through skill grinding.
- Seasonal Spring Plants packets – available if you have the Seasons pack, these may reward you with strawberry seeds.
- Starter Fruits – a bit of a gamble, but the cheapest option. Winnable at level 1 gardening from your home computer or purchase menu.
Still can’t wait? Read on…
Want Strawberries Instantly? Here’s the Cheat Method
No shame in using shortcuts! If you’d rather bypass foraging, markets, or packet luck, there’s a quick cheat for guaranteed strawberries:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + C to open the cheat bar.
- Type testingcheats true, then hit enter to enable all cheats.
- Type bb.showhiddenobjects and hit enter.
- Go to Build/Buy mode and search for “Strawberry” in the search bar.
- The debug strawberry object will now be unlocked. Just place it on your lot and drag it into your Sim’s inventory or use it for planting.
This trick works in any world, any season, and for any Sim – just don’t brag about your strawberry empire too loudly in a challenge run!
Maximizing Your Strawberry Yields: Gardening Tips
Great Sims gardeners swear by a few key strategies:
- Upgrade your skill: As your Sim advances, unlocking higher-level interactions (like Evolve, Graft, and Tend Garden) will help you earn more and higher-quality strawberries.
- Fertilize regularly: Fish, produce, or even purchased fertilizer will accelerate growth and raise the chance of evolving to Excellent or Perfect quality.
- Harvest frequently but carefully: Letting harvestables collect boosts the next yield, but don’t neglect plants, or they’ll wither.
- Use helpers: Patchy the Straw Man (Seasons) can work your garden autonomously, saving tons of time. Burtie’s Bee Box (if you’re adventurous) can help pollinate and protect plants too.
- Protect against weather (if you have Seasons): Use a roof or covered porch; this creates an “indoor” zone that’s still open to the sky, which lets plants grow out of season.
Strawberries for Gameplay: Why They Matter
Beyond being a delicious fruit for recipes and drinks, strawberries have two major uses in Sims gameplay:
- Guarateed baby girls: Eating strawberries and listening to pop music while pregnant significantly increase your Sim’s odds of having a girl. Many family challenge players swear by this old trick (explained here).
- Recipe flexibility: Several cooking and baking recipes require strawberries for the highest quality end results. Think strawberry cakes, mixed fruit salads, and gourmet desserts.
- Excellent cash crop: Once evolved to Perfect, a strawberry patch can make a fantastic side hustle for Sims who prefer their lives a little less 9-to-5.
FAQ: Your Sims 4 Strawberry Questions Answered
Do I need any expansion packs to get strawberries?
No expansion packs are required to get strawberries! You can forage, buy, or get lucky with seed packets in the base game. However, some worlds and features (like the ability to buy from specific market stalls or plant in greenhouses) may be easier or more flavorful with packs like City Living or Seasons.
Can I find wild strawberries in Oasis Springs?
Unfortunately not. Oasis Springs doesn’t spawn wild strawberry plants, so your Sim will need to buy them at a market, trade with another Sim, order from a seed packet, or use the debug cheat method instead.
How long does it take for strawberry plants to grow?
Your first crop typically matures just after five Sim days, assuming you water and tend them faithfully. Weather and seasons can speed up or slow down the process if you have the Seasons pack installed.
Do strawberries really increase chances of a baby girl?
They sure do! If your pregnant Sim eats several strawberries during the first and second trimesters, and listens to pop music, you’ll have a much higher probability of a girl. The effect isn’t 100 percent guaranteed, but most legacy players rely on this little trick regularly.
What’s the easiest way to get strawberries for a first-time player?
If you’re new to the game, try a stroll in Willow Creek’s Magnolia Blossom Park and check for wild strawberry bushes. If that feels tedious, just visit a produce market in a world like San Myshuno and buy a few straight from the vendor. The cheat method is always available too if you want instant gratification!
Are there any other ways to use strawberries in the game?
Absolutely! In addition to having babies and making recipes, strawberries can be used in grafting to create hybrid plants (like the Dragonfruit, if you splice strawberries with snapdragons). They’re also great gifts for gardening-obsessed Sims and can be sold for profit once you’ve evolved your plants to higher quality levels.
Can I store strawberries for later use?
Of course. Drag harvested berries into your Sims’ fridge or inventory. They’ll last even longer in the fridge and won’t spoil as quickly, so you can save them for future recipes or hybridizing experiments.
If you’re hungry for even more tips and specifics, you can check out guides from trusted resources like TheGamer, EA’s own forums, or the legendary Carl’s Sims 4 Guide. And don’t forget to check out the official EA Gardening Guide for all the foundational gardening wisdom you might need.
However you go about it, strawberries are a sweet way to shape your Sims’ future. Happy simming!
