Pumpkins in Animal Crossing: New Horizons are much more than just seasonal decorations. They’re a versatile resource that can be used for crafting, selling, and even decorating your island. If you’re wondering what to do with the piles of pumpkins you’ve grown, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s delve into the myriad uses for these autumnal delights!
Growing and Harvesting Pumpkins
Before you can put your pumpkins to good use, you’ll need to grow them! This process is fairly straightforward, but understanding the nuances can help you maximize your pumpkin yield.
Acquiring Pumpkin Starts
You can purchase pumpkin starts from Leif, the sloth who visits your island periodically, or from Nook’s Cranny during the month of October. Leif is your best bet early in the season, as Nook’s Cranny will only stock them as October approaches. Stock up whenever you see them available; you can never have too many pumpkins!
Planting and Watering
Once you have your pumpkin starts, find a suitable patch of land on your island. Till the soil with your shovel and plant the starts. Watering your pumpkin plants every day will increase the number of pumpkins each plant produces. You can get up to three pumpkins per plant if you water them daily!
Harvesting Your Pumpkins
Pumpkin plants take about four days to mature. Once they’re ready, simply walk up to them and press the “A” button to harvest your pumpkins. You’ll get a mix of different colored pumpkins – orange, yellow, green, and white – which are all useful for different crafting recipes. Don’t forget to harvest them regularly to maximize your yield throughout the growing season.
Crafting Spooky and Festive Items
The primary use for pumpkins in Animal Crossing is crafting a wide variety of spooky and festive items. These items are perfect for decorating your island for Halloween and creating a warm, autumnal atmosphere.
Spooky DIY Recipes
During the month of October, you can obtain Spooky DIY recipes from villagers, message bottles on the beach, and from balloons floating across your island. Pop every balloon you see; this is the best way to collect these recipes. Some of the most popular Spooky DIY recipes include the Spooky Arch, Spooky Fence, Spooky Garland, Spooky Lantern, and Spooky Scarecrow. Each recipe requires a specific number and color of pumpkins.
Customizing Your Spooky Creations
Many of the Spooky DIY recipes can be customized using different colored pumpkins. For example, you can craft a Spooky Arch using orange pumpkins, and then customize it to be yellow, green, or white by using the corresponding colored pumpkins at a workbench. This allows you to create a diverse range of decorations to match your island’s aesthetic.
Displaying Your Decorations
Once you’ve crafted your Spooky items, it’s time to decorate! Place them around your island to create a festive atmosphere. Consider placing Spooky Arches at the entrance to your island, Spooky Fences around your house, and Spooky Lanterns along pathways. Get creative with your decorating and have fun experimenting with different layouts and color combinations.
Selling Pumpkins for Bells
If you have more pumpkins than you need for crafting, you can sell them to Timmy and Tommy at Nook’s Cranny. This is a great way to earn bells, which you can then use to pay off your home loan, buy furniture, and other items.
Selling Individual Pumpkins
Each pumpkin sells for 350 bells. While this may not seem like a lot, it can add up quickly if you have a large pumpkin patch. Consider selling your excess pumpkins regularly to keep your pockets full of bells.
Selling Crafted Items
If you want to maximize your profits, consider crafting Spooky items and then selling them. Crafted items generally sell for more than the raw materials used to create them. For example, a Spooky Lantern sells for significantly more than the pumpkins needed to craft it. Crafting and selling can be a lucrative business in Animal Crossing.
The Hot Item of the Day
Keep an eye on the “hot item” of the day at Nook’s Cranny. If a Spooky item is the hot item, you’ll receive double the usual selling price for it. This is a great opportunity to earn a large amount of bells quickly. Check the bulletin board outside Resident Services each day to see what the hot item is.
Using Pumpkins for Villager Interactions
Pumpkins can also be used to interact with your villagers. This can increase your friendship levels with them and earn you rewards.
Gifting Pumpkins to Villagers
You can give pumpkins to your villagers as gifts. While they may not be the most exciting gift, they will appreciate the gesture, and it will help to increase your friendship level with them. Consider giving them a stack of pumpkins to make an even bigger impression.
Villager Requests
Sometimes, villagers will ask you to find specific items for them. This might include pumpkins. Fulfilling these requests will boost your friendship level and earn you a reward, such as bells or a new item. Always be on the lookout for villagers who need your help.
Halloween Trick-or-Treating
On Halloween night (October 31st), villagers will dress up in costumes and roam the island. You can give them candy, which you can purchase from Nook’s Cranny during October. If you don’t have any candy, you can give them a pumpkin instead. This is a fun way to interact with your villagers and celebrate Halloween in Animal Crossing.
Unique Pumpkin Uses and Tips
Beyond the standard crafting, selling, and villager interactions, there are some other unique and creative ways to use your pumpkins in Animal Crossing.
Decorating Your Home
Use pumpkins to decorate the interior of your home. Place them on tables, shelves, and other surfaces to create a cozy and festive atmosphere. You can also use them as part of larger decorating schemes, such as creating a haunted house or a harvest festival scene. Let your imagination run wild and create a unique and inviting space.
Creating Pumpkin-Themed Outfits
Use the Able Sisters’ Custom Design Kiosk to create pumpkin-themed clothing designs. You can design pumpkin-shaped hats, shirts, and dresses. Wear these outfits during the Halloween season to show off your love for pumpkins. Share your designs online so other players can enjoy them as well.
Participating in Island Events
During the Halloween season, your island may host special events and activities that involve pumpkins. These events can offer unique rewards and opportunities to interact with other players. Keep an eye on the bulletin board for announcements about upcoming events.
Strategic Pumpkin Placement for Island Aesthetics
Pumpkins, beyond their crafting and selling potential, can significantly enhance your island’s overall aesthetic. Consider placing pumpkins strategically to create visual interest and guide visitors.
You can use pumpkins as pathway markers, lining them along your island’s roads to create a charming, autumnal feel. Varying the colors (orange, yellow, green, and white) adds depth and avoids monotony.
Creating dedicated “pumpkin patches” or small garden areas where pumpkins are the main focus can be a delightful addition to your island landscape. These areas can serve as photo opportunities or simply as visually pleasing areas for visitors to explore.
Pumpkins can also be incorporated into larger decorative scenes. For example, you can use them to create a graveyard scene, a haunted forest, or a festive fall market. Integrating pumpkins into these larger displays helps to tie the theme together and create a cohesive look.
Tips for Maximizing Your Pumpkin Harvest
- Water your pumpkin plants every day. This will maximize the number of pumpkins each plant produces.
- Harvest your pumpkins regularly. This will ensure that your plants continue to produce pumpkins.
- Plant pumpkins in a location that receives plenty of sunlight. Pumpkins need sunlight to grow properly.
- Use fertilizer to boost pumpkin growth. This will help your plants produce larger and more numerous pumpkins.
- Trade with other players for different colored pumpkins. This will allow you to craft a wider variety of Spooky items.
Conclusion
Pumpkins in Animal Crossing: New Horizons are a versatile and valuable resource. Whether you’re crafting spooky decorations, selling them for bells, interacting with villagers, or simply decorating your island, there are countless ways to put your pumpkins to good use. So, plant those pumpkin starts, water them diligently, and get ready to enjoy a festive and pumpkin-filled Halloween season on your island! The possibilities are endless, and with a little creativity, you can transform your island into an autumnal paradise.
What are all the uses for pumpkins in Animal Crossing?
Pumpkins in Animal Crossing have several valuable uses beyond decoration. You can use them as crafting materials for various DIY recipes, often spooky-themed, which are available during the Halloween season. Experimenting with different pumpkin colors allows you to customize furniture and decorations, adding a unique touch to your island.
Additionally, pumpkins can be sold at Nook’s Cranny for a decent profit, especially if you’ve grown a large quantity. You can also use them in cooking recipes, expanding your culinary repertoire in the game. Pumpkins serve as both functional resources and aesthetic elements, enhancing your gameplay experience.
How do I grow different colored pumpkins?
To grow different colored pumpkins, you need to plant pumpkin starts obtained from Leif or Nook’s Cranny. Water your pumpkin plants daily, and there’s a chance they will produce a pumpkin of a different color than the ones you planted. Keep in mind that watering significantly increases the yield of each plant.
The color of the pumpkin is determined randomly each harvest. If you don’t get the color you want, simply harvest the pumpkin and replant the start for another chance. Repeatedly planting and harvesting will eventually yield all four colors: orange, yellow, green, and white.
What DIY recipes require pumpkins?
Many Halloween-themed DIY recipes require pumpkins as an ingredient. These recipes include items such as the Spooky Fence, Spooky Arch, Spooky Tower, Spooky Garland, Spooky Table Setting, and more. These recipes add to the spooky atmosphere of your island during the Halloween season.
Other DIYs may also use pumpkins, sometimes in combination with other materials. Check your DIY recipe collection regularly to discover new ways to use your harvested pumpkins. You can obtain these DIY recipes from villagers, message bottles, or during Halloween events.
Can I eat pumpkins in Animal Crossing?
Yes, you can eat pumpkins in Animal Crossing! Eating a pumpkin gives you energy, allowing you to break rocks or dig up trees. Each pumpkin consumed adds one point to your energy meter, which can be helpful for clearing your island or reorganizing landscaping.
However, keep in mind that pumpkins are more valuable as crafting materials or for selling. Eating them should generally be reserved for situations where you urgently need energy. There are other easily accessible food items, like fruit, that might be more suitable for routine energy boosts.
How much do pumpkins sell for at Nook’s Cranny?
Orange pumpkins sell for 350 Bells each at Nook’s Cranny. Colored pumpkins (yellow, green, and white) also sell for 350 Bells each. Selling a large stack of pumpkins can be a good way to earn Bells, especially if you have a surplus after crafting and decorating.
The selling price is consistent regardless of the color, making it equally profitable to sell any type of pumpkin you grow. Consider selling excess pumpkins when you need to fund island upgrades, purchase new items, or pay off your home loan with Tom Nook.
What are some creative decorating ideas using pumpkins?
Pumpkins offer a wide range of creative decorating possibilities for your Animal Crossing island. You can place them individually around your island to add a touch of autumn or Halloween spirit. Combine different colored pumpkins to create visually appealing displays and patterns.
Use pumpkin-based DIY items like the Spooky Fence to create themed areas. Incorporate pumpkins into your villagers’ yards or outdoor seating arrangements. Get creative with custom designs and create pumpkin-themed paths or patterns on the ground to truly immerse your island in the Halloween aesthetic.
How can I get more pumpkin DIY recipes?
You can obtain pumpkin DIY recipes through several methods. Villagers crafting in their homes will often teach you a new recipe if you talk to them while they’re working. Shooting down balloon presents with your slingshot during the Halloween season sometimes yields pumpkin DIY recipes.
Participating in Halloween events and talking to Jack, the “Czar of Halloween,” will also grant you exclusive recipes. Checking message bottles washed up on the shore may occasionally reveal new pumpkin DIYs as well. Be persistent in your search to collect all the available recipes.