If you've been playing Grow A Garden, you've likely discovered just how crucial pet XP (and aging) is—for unlocking mutations, stronger traits, and more active garden helpers. Here's a rundown of the most effective items and pets to help you level up your furry (and scaly) friends fast.

1. Feed Smart: Large Fruits like Burning Bud or Sugar Apple

Your pet's growth depends on keeping its hunger bar full. When hunger hits zero, XP gain plummets, and your pet stops roaming—slowing everything down. Feeding them large fruits such as Burning Bud or Sugar Apple fills that bar quickly and keeps XP flowing steadily.

2. Equip XP-Boosting Pets

Certain pets provide passive XP boosts, both to themselves and to others around them. Prioritize equipping these:

1. Night Owl, Owl, Blood Owl, Cooked Owl – All add passive XP per second.
2. Capybara – Prevents hunger loss and generates XP nearby.
3. Sea Turtle – Occasionally grants bonus XP to a random active pet.
4. Ostrich – Pets hatched from eggs start at a higher age (i.e., more initial XP).
5. Iguanodon – Dinosaur-type pets get extra XP when active.

Stacking these can create an impressive XP acceleration effect.

3. Use Treats and Toys for Temporary Boosts

The Pet Mutations update added gear items that can significantly enhance XP gain:

1. Small Treat: A crafted item (common egg + dragon fruit seed + blueberry + 1M sheckles) that grants a small XP boost over time.
2. Medium Treat: Found in the Gear Shop. It delivers a medium XP boost over time—especially helpful in leveling high-priority pets.
3. Medium Toy: Also from the Gear Shop. Instead of direct XP, it powers up your pet's passive abilities—meaning XP-boosting pets get even stronger.
4. Levelup Lollipop: A rare prismatic gear that instantly ages a pet by 1 level—use sparingly, but powerful in a pinch.

Additionally, the Medium Treat is described as “legendary gear” that triples XP per second for 24 hours.

If you’re aiming to maximize pet XP without spending weeks grinding, combining XP-boosting gear with well-timed treats is the smartest route. Keep an eye out for special in-game or community offers—sometimes you can snag discounted grow a garden pets to add to your lineup, making the leveling process even faster and more enjoyable.

4. Strategy in Action: Putting It All Together

1. Keep pets fed—especially with large fruits—to maintain constant XP gain.
2. Fill your garden with XP-boosting pets (Night Owl, Blood Owl, Capybara, etc.).
3. Activate treats/toys before a leveling session, especially before going offline so the boost counts while you're away.
4. Hatch pets using Ostrich if possible, or feed high-boost treats to help them age faster.
5. Save rare items like Levelup Lollipop for pets nearing level-50 to unlock mutations efficiently.

Cheat Sheet