The Zen update is about to leave, and a brand-new Cooking and Trading update is launching soon in Grow a Garden. As is tradition, we’ve gathered 15 essential tips to help you get a major head start before the trading and cooking update drops in Grow a Garden.

How To Prepare for Trading and Cooking Update in Grow a Garden

1. Buy Out the Seed Shop Before the Update

Even just five minutes before the update, go to the seed shop and purchase everything, especially seeds related to the cooking pot event. You’ll need a wide range of seeds, from basic carrot seeds to the top-tier elder strawberry.

Right before major updates, admins (especially Jandelle) tend to restock everything, sometimes even giving away rare seeds like giant pine cones and elder strawberries.

Read More: Top Mistakes to Avoid When Trading Pets in Grow a Garden


2. Check the Gear Shop Constantly

Use your recall wrench to quickly teleport to the gear shop. Buy out everything you can:

  • Watering cans
  • Sprinklers (especially godly ones)
  • Medium trees
  • Harvest tools
  • Medium toys
  • Recall wrench (helps with navigation)

With trading tickets likely coming in the next update, the gear shop might be where they’re available. Keep checking even after the update hits.


3. Optimize Your Garden Layout

Reorganize your garden for the upcoming update. For example, put high-yield or frequently used plants in easily accessible areas. I like to separate my garden by event themes (e.g. Fourth of July, Fossil Light, Tropical Summer) across different save slots.

Also, remember: moon melons are amazing for feeding pets, often restoring full hunger with just one or two mutations.


4. Always Check the Daily Forever Pack

The Forever Pack contains Super Seeds, a.k.a. rainbow seeds, that guarantee pets hatch with at least gold rarity, often with a mutation. Everyone has the same Forever Pack, so join communities like Discord to get real-time updates if rare seeds are available.

Wait until the update drops before opening them so you may get something even better.


5. Collect High Shuckle Plants (But Don’t Redeem Yet)

Some Zen channeler quests estimate based on your shekels held, so keeping them unredeemed in your inventory keeps quest costs lower. When the update drops, you can quickly redeem and spend them as needed.


6. Level Up and Feed Your Pets

Make sure your pets are:

  • Well-fed
  • Leveled up to unlock pet equip slots

Use pets like the 50% starfish from the Summer common egg as it gains XP fast and can unlock slots quickly. Also, use gear shop items like the medium tree to boost XP gain.


7. Stack Up on Zen Seed Packs

Zen seed packs may become tradable and even if not, they contain limited-time seeds like maple. Trade value aside, they’re great for collecting and essential for crafting.

Buy out the Trade Chi Zen Packs, Zen Eggs, and anything else in the Zen shop.


8. Farm Kitsune Chests

Try to build a stockpile of Kitsune Chests. These contain Corrupt Kitsunes, which are top-tier pets, especially when combined with a regular Kitsune to create a Harmonized mutation. The combined multiplier is one of the best in the game.


9. Make Room for Heavier Plants

As with past updates, cooking might require planting heavier plants. Remove smaller, lightweight plants to make room. You can check weight by hovering over the plant.


10. Craft Reclaimers and Treats

Reclaimers let you reset pets or fruits without losing them. To craft one, you’ll need:

  • A Harvest Tool
  • A Common Egg
  • 500K shekels

Also consider crafting Small Treats and Small Toys if you have access to dragon fruit, coconuts, and blueberry seeds.


11. Use the Mutation Machine on High-Level Pets

If you have level 50 pets with bad mutations, use the mutation machine to reroll for better ones like Rainbow, Tranquil, or Corrupted. Rainbow is the most valuable long-term.


12. Buy Limited Cosmetics Before the Zen Shop Leaves

Some cosmetics and structures, like Hot Springs, might go limited once the Zen update ends. If you want them for collection or aesthetics, now’s your chance. Also consider getting Corrupted Zen Crates from the Channeler (13% drop rate).


13. Craft Grand Volcanos for Easy Money

If you have access to Dino Eggs and Ancient Seed Packs, craft as many Grand Volcanos as you can. They grow massive and have high value. Mine with five mutations go for 5+ billion shekels each.


14. Get the Maple Seed Before It’s Gone

Available from Zen Seed Packs, the Maple Seed is excellent for collectors. I had 400 just a few days ago and already used most of them so don’t miss out.


15. AFK or Join One Hour Before Update

Admin events usually start about an hour before the update. Tons of free seeds, restocks, and mutations drop during this time. Therefore, either AFK overnight or log in early to grab them.

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