The Tanning Mirror is a powerful Mythical gear introduced in the Summer Update of Grow a Garden. It plays a crucial role during the Heatwave Event, enabling players to significantly increase their chances of getting the Sundried Mutation, which boosts fruit value by an impressive 85x.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to obtain the Tanning Mirror, how it works, and how to use it effectively for maximum profit.
What is the Tanning Mirror?
Item Name: Tanning Mirror
Category: Gear
Rarity: Mythical
Uses: Reflects sunlight 10 times, then disappears from your garden
Main Function: Triggers Sundried Mutation during the Heatwave Event
Mutation Effect: Transforms fruits to a scorched appearance and increases their sell price by 85x
This tool is the only direct method in the game to consistently apply Sundried Mutation, making it a must-have for high-level farmers.
How to Get Tanning Mirror
You can purchase the Tanning Mirror from the Gear Shop using Sheckles.
Where to Buy: Gear Shop stand
NPC Vendor: Eloise
How to Access:
Use the Recall Wrench to teleport directly to the Gear Shop
Or walk to the Gear Shop manually from the central hub
Availability:
Despite being Mythical rarity, Tanning Mirror appears fairly often in the shop
If not available, check again every 5 minutes
Alternatively, ask other players in chat to notify you when it restocks
How to Use Tanning Mirror
Once you purchase the mirror, using it is simple:
1. Prepare
Open your Backpack
Locate the Tanning Mirror item
Click the item once, then close the Backpack UI
2. Place in Garden
Walk to a clear space in your garden—ideally near high-value or mutation-friendly crops like Loquat, Feijoa, or Elephant Ears
Left-click (or tap on mobile) to place the mirror on the ground
3. During Heatwave Event
The mirror activates automatically when the Heatwave Event is active
It will reflect sunlight beams up to 10 times toward random fruits nearby
Each beam has a chance to apply the Sundried Mutation
You can hover your cursor over the mirror to see how many reflections remain
4. After Use
Once 10 reflections are used, the mirror disappears
You’ll need to buy a new one for future events
Tips for Maximizing Sundried Mutation
Use on Multi-Harvest Crops: Crops like Prickly Pear, Avocado, or Loquat yield many fruits, increasing the chances of multiple mutations
Clear Existing Fruits: Before the Heatwave starts, use the Harvest Tool to clear old fruits so that new ones grow during the event
Watch for Heatwave Events: These are random, so keep your garden ready and your mirror placed in advance
Coordinate with Other Players: Let others know in chat when the item appears in the shop—they might return the favor
Final Thoughts
The Tanning Mirror in Grow a Garden is one of the most effective tools for increasing profits during summer gameplay. By automating Sundried Mutation application, it allows players to turn ordinary fruit into ultra-high-value crops with minimal effort. With its 10 reflections per use and automatic activation during Heatwave, it’s a powerful gear for any player aiming to optimize their harvest.
While it can’t be crafted or summoned manually, the mirror’s frequent availability in the Gear Shop and its ease of use make it one of the most strategic items in seasonal farming.