Onion (洋葱)

Onion is a Common-tier plant that serves as an alternative to Carrots for beginners with slightly more starting capital. While it has a lower ROI (10% vs Carrot's 50%), it offers higher per-plant value and can be useful for specific strategic situations.

Basic Information

Attribute Value
Rarity Common (普通)
Buy Price $200
Average Weight 0.28kg
Base Sell Price $220
Harvest Type Single-harvest (单次收获)
Growth Time Fast
ROI 10% (when harvested at Lush)

Where to Buy

Available at Bill's Seed Shop in the central hub. Common spawn with good availability.

Value Calculations

Without Mutations

Base Sell: $220
Unripe (1.0x): $220
Ripened (2.0x): $440
Lush (3.0x): $660 ⭐ Best value

With Starstruck Mutation (6.5×)

$220 (Base) × 3.0 (Lush) × 6.5 (Starstruck) = $4,290
Profit: $4,090
ROI: 2,045%

With Multiple Mutations

$220 × 3.0 (Lush) × 6.5 (Starstruck) × 2.0 (Wet) = $8,580
Profit: $8,380
ROI: 4,190%

Planting Strategy

✅ Advantages

  • Higher per-plant value - $660 at Lush vs Carrot's $90
  • Common seed - Consistent availability
  • Fast growth - Quick harvest cycles
  • Single harvest - Optimal for mutation stacking
  • Good transition plant - Bridge between Carrots and Beetroots
  • Less competition - Fewer players plant Onions

❌ Disadvantages

  • Poor ROI - Only 10% vs Carrot's 50%
  • More expensive - $200 vs Carrot's $20
  • Inefficient for capital building - Carrots grow capital faster
  • Not beginner-friendly - Higher cost for lower returns
  • Outclassed by alternatives - Carrots or Beetroots are better
  • Niche use cases - Limited strategic value

Optimal Use Cases

1. Capital Transition (When You Can't Afford Beetroots Yet)

Phase: When you have $2,000-$4,000 capital

Scenario: Too much capital for efficient Carrot farming, not enough for Beetroots

Strategy: Plant Onions → Higher per-plant value → Maintain capital efficiency
Example: 10 Onions ($2,000) vs 100 Carrots ($2,000)
Onion Return: $6,600
Carrot Return: $9,000
Verdict: Still worse than Carrots, but different playstyle

2. Garden Space Optimization

Phase: When garden space is limited

Strategy: Plant fewer Onions instead of many Carrots
Benefit: Less management, similar total value
Use Case: If you only have space for 20 plants, Onions = $13,200 vs Carrots = $1,800
Trade-off: Efficiency vs. convenience

3. Mutation Value Maximization

Phase: During weather events

Strategy: Plant Onions during Starstruck events
Benefit: Higher base value means higher absolute mutation profit
Example: Starstruck Onion = $4,290 vs Starstruck Carrot = $585
Verdict: Better mutation profits, but worse ROI

Growth Tips

How to Maximize Profit

  1. Consider Carrots instead - 50% ROI beats 10% ROI
  2. Wait for Lush - 3.0x multiplier is critical
  3. Use for transitions only - Move to Beetroots ASAP
  4. Weather awareness - Higher base value = higher mutation profits
  5. Garden space consideration - Only if limited space
  6. Don't mass plant - Inefficient vs Carrots

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Choosing Onions over Carrots - Carrots have 5x better ROI ❌ Long-term Onion farming - Transition to Beetroots quickly ❌ Ignoring ROI math - 10% returns are poor ❌ Mass planting - Inefficient capital use ❌ Not upgrading to Beetroots - Missing better opportunities

Comparison with Other Starter Plants

Plant Price Base Sell Lush Value ROI Efficiency
Carrot $20 $30 $90 50% ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best
Onion $200 $220 $660 10% ⭐⭐ Poor
Corn $100 $15 $45 -55% → 35% ⭐⭐⭐ Niche
Beetroot $2,500 $3,750 $11,250 50% ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mid-game

Verdict: Onions are outclassed by Carrots in almost every scenario. Only use for specific strategic situations or personal preference.

Advanced Strategies

Capital Efficiency Analysis

Scenario: $2,000 capital to invest

Option A: Carrots
- Buy 100 Carrots ($2,000)
- Harvest at Lush: 100 × $90 = $9,000
- Profit: $7,000
- ROI: 350%

Option B: Onions
- Buy 10 Onions ($2,000)
- Harvest at Lush: 10 × $660 = $6,600
- Profit: $4,600
- ROI: 230%

Winner: Carrots by $2,400 profit

Garden Space Optimization

Scenario: Limited garden space (20 plots)

Option A: Carrots
- 20 Carrots × $90 = $1,800
- Investment: $400
- ROI: 350%

Option B: Onions
- 20 Onions × $660 = $13,200
- Investment: $4,000
- ROI: 230%

Winner: Onions for total value, Carrots for ROI
Choose based on: Capital availability vs. space constraints

Mutation Profit Comparison

Starstruck Event (6.5x multiplier):

Carrot: $30 × 3.0 × 6.5 = $585
Onion: $220 × 3.0 × 6.5 = $4,290

Per $1,000 invested:
- 50 Carrots = $29,250
- 5 Onions = $21,450

Winner: Carrots still better, but Onions close gap in mutations

Transition Strategy

Phase 1: Carrot farming → $2,000 capital
Phase 2: Decision point
  - Option A: Continue Carrots → Save $2,500 more → Buy Beetroots (RECOMMENDED)
  - Option B: Plant Onions → Different experience → Slower growth
Phase 3: Beetroot investment → Accelerated wealth building

When to Use Onions (Rare Cases)

Legitimate Use Cases

✅ Limited garden space - When you can't plant 100+ Carrots ✅ Weather mutation hunting - Higher base value for mutations ✅ Personal preference - If you enjoy the playstyle ✅ Role-playing - For variety in gameplay ✅ Learning mechanics - Practice on mid-tier plant

When to Avoid Onions

❌ Building first $5,000 - Carrots are strictly better ❌ Maximizing profit - Onions have poor ROI ❌ Long-term strategy - Transition to Beetroots immediately ❌ Limited capital - Onions tie up capital inefficiently ❌ Efficiency-focused - Carrots outperform in every metric

Community Tips

"I honestly can't recommend Onions for any serious player. Carrots give you 50% ROI, Onions give 10%. There's no scenario where Onions make sense unless you're bored with Carrots and can't afford Beetroots yet." - Pro Player

"Onions are a trap for new players who see the higher price tag and assume they're better. Do the math: $200 investment for $220 base value is terrible compared to Carrots." - Veteran Gardener

"The only time I plant Onions is during Meteor Showers when I want higher absolute mutation profits but don't have enough for Beetroots. Even then, I'd rather just plant more Carrots." - Mutation Hunter

"If you want to plant Onions for fun, go ahead. But if you're trying to optimize your way to your first million, stick to Carrots until Beetroots." - Efficient Farmer

Data Accuracy: ✅ Verified from official sources Last Updated: February 23, 2026 Plant Number: 4 of 27 Previous Plant: Corn → Next Plant: Strawberry →

Bottom Line: Onions are mathematically inferior to Carrots in almost every scenario. Only use for specific strategic situations or personal preference. For optimal progression: Carrots → Beetroots → Cabbages → Cherries.