The 5-minute weather cycle is the backbone of efficient farming in Garden Horizons. Understanding which weather to plant in, which mutations to chase, and when to hold versus harvest separates casual farmers from Shilling-maximising experts. This guide covers everything you need to know.
The 5-Minute Weather Cycle
Garden Horizons runs on a repeating weather cycle. Each weather event lasts approximately 5 minutes before transitioning to the next event. The sequence is not fixed — weather events appear in a semi-random rotation — but some events (Starfall, Thunderstorm) are significantly rarer than others (Rain, Fog, Snow).
Your planting timing must be aligned with the weather cycle. A plant receives mutations based on the weather active when it is planted. If you plant during Sunny weather, you get no mutation. If you plant during Starfall, you get Starstruck.
⚠️ You cannot add mutations retroactively
Weather Events & Their Mutations
| Weather | Mutation(s) | Total Bonus | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Sunny | None | 0 | ⬇️ Low — plant basics only |
| 🌧️ Rain | Flooded (1.5×) + Soaked (1.5×) | +3× | 🟡 Medium — reliable income boost |
| 🌫️ Fog | Foggy (1.5×) | +1.5× | 🟡 Low–Medium |
| ❄️ Snow | Chilled (1.5×) + Snowy (2×) | +3.5× | 🟢 Good — plant premium crops |
| ⛈️ Thunderstorm | Shocked (4.5×) | +4.5× | 🔴 High priority — rare! |
| 🌠 Starfall | Starstruck (6.5×) | +6.5× | 🔴 Maximum priority — very rare! |
When to Plant — Weather Decision Guide
Sunny — Plant Basics or Skip
No mutations. Plant cheap, fast crops to keep your plot active and income flowing. Don't waste premium seeds like Beetroot on Sunny weather. Use this time to prepare for the next weather event.
Rain — Reliable Mid-Tier Planting
Rain gives both Flooded and Soaked for a combined +3× bonus. Plant your best available crop. Onion and Beetroot are excellent Rain plants — the extra multiplier is well worth it even without Starfall or Thunderstorm.
Snow — Best Regular Mutation Event
Snow gives Chilled + Snowy (+3.5× combined) and is a strong reason to have premium seeds ready. Snow is more common than Starfall and Thunderstorm, making it the most consistent high-value weather event for regular farmers.
Thunderstorm — Drop Everything and Plant
Shocked (4.5×) is the second-best mutation in the game. When Thunderstorm begins, immediately plant your most valuable seeds. Have Beetroot seeds in your inventory ready to deploy at any moment during a session.
Starfall — Maximum Priority Event
Starstruck (6.5×) is the highest mutation multiplier available. Starfall is the rarest weather event. When it occurs, plant your highest-value seeds without hesitation. Beetroot during Starfall is the gold standard.
Session Timing Strategy
The most efficient farmers structure their sessions around the weather cycle:
Join and check the current weather
Keep premium seeds in inventory at all times
Track the cycle
Harvest at the end of a session
Stay for Starfall — it changes everything
Expected Value by Session Strategy
| Strategy | Weather Targeted | Est. Shillings/session |
|---|---|---|
| Passive (no weather planning) | Random | 5,000–15,000 💰 |
| Rain farming — Lush Onion | Rain | 10,000–25,000 💰 |
| Snow farming — Lush Beetroot | Snow | 20,000–50,000 💰 |
| Shocked hunting — Lush Beetroot | Thunderstorm | 40,000–100,000 💰 |
| Starstruck hunting — Lush Beetroot | Starfall | 60,000–150,000 💰 |
| Full cycle alert farming | All events | 100,000+ 💰 |
💡 Combine strategies for maximum output
Offline Safety
Plants do not grow or change variant while you are offline, so there is no "missing a mutation window" when you are not playing. However, be aware: your plants remain on your plot while you are offline, so they are safe. Log in when you have a meaningful session planned — short 2-minute check-ins are rarely productive.
ℹ️ Read the full mutations reference