Ultimate Guide to Buying, Selling, and Storing Turnips in Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a complex economic system that goes beyond simply paying off Tom Nook’s mortgages without interest. While selling fruit, bugs, fish, and other items can help you earn some quick bells, you’ll need to explore more lucrative income sources as your house payments increase and you invest in town improvements. One of the key ways to boost your earnings is by diving into the game’s stock market, humorously dubbed the “stalk market.” With regular content updates, it’s essential to keep an eye on your finances and utilize resources to master the economy.

The stalk market revolves around buying and selling turnips, and while it can be tricky, it has the potential for significant profits if you monitor Timmy and Tommy’s prices closely. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about the turnip trade, from purchasing to recognizing stalk market patterns, along with our top strategies. While turnips aren’t the only way to rake in bells, they are one of the most reliable methods if you engage with them weekly. With some luck, you might just hit the jackpot!

Turnips operate on a weekly cycle in the game. Each Sunday, after unlocking Nook’s Cranny, Daisy Mae, a charming boar, visits your island to sell turnips from 5 AM to 12 PM. She offers them in bundles of 10 at varying prices, typically between 90 and 110 bells per turnip. There’s no cap on how many you can buy, so long as you have the bells, and it’s wise to purchase regardless of her price, although lower prices are obviously better. Remember, turnips spoil the following Sunday, so you’ll need to sell them before Saturday evening to make a profit. You can’t store them in your home storage, but you can drop them on the ground either inside or outside. Just be cautious, as other players can pick them up if left outside, so consider fencing them in if space is tight!

A word of caution: be careful with time traveling while playing the stalk market, as turnips may spoil if you manipulate the game’s clock. In our experience, they spoil only if you travel forward beyond the week you bought them. However, traveling backward resets your turnip pattern, which can throw off your price predictions.

When it comes to selling turnips, Timmy and Tommy start buying from you every Monday, except Sundays. A price above 200 bells per turnip is generally good, but in a favorable week, you might see prices soar into the 300s, 400s, or even 600s. Conversely, a bad week could force you to sell at a loss or just above your purchase price. Timmy and Tommy update their prices twice daily, once in the morning and again at noon. Understanding the price patterns is crucial, so check in with them twice a day to gauge the market.

**Spike Patterns** are the most desirable. The “large spike” pattern, in particular, can yield prices in the high 300s and beyond. This pattern typically features a price spike during the week, flanked by periods of decreasing prices. For instance, if you see prices drop early in the week but then spike later, it’s a good sign. Just remember not to sell on the first increase, as prices usually rise at least one more time.

You might also encounter a **small spike pattern**, where prices hover around 200 bells but follow a similar trend of decreases followed by multiple increases. Occasionally, you may see a dip between two increases, which can be confusing but still indicates a potential for profit.

If you notice no price increases by Thursday, you may be stuck in a **decreasing pattern**, where prices continue to drop, making it hard to sell at a profit unless you visit another island. The **fluctuating pattern** is unpredictable, with prices rising and falling seemingly at random. If your prices start high and don’t drop on Monday, you’re likely in this pattern. While it’s harder to predict, you can still make a profit during upward trends.

If you find yourself with a bad price pattern or miss the right selling window, don’t despair! You can sell your turnips on friends’ islands. Communicating with fellow players about prices can lead to better deals and is a great way to maximize your earnings.

As for spoiled turnips, they can still serve a purpose! After a week, they become worthless, but you can use them to attract ants and flies, which are needed for your Critterpedia and museum. Just drop a few rotten turnips and wait for the critters to appear. Once you’ve caught them, you can dispose of the spoiled turnips in any garbage bin furniture item.