There are a variety of ways that the Smurfs can grow crops in the game. One crop plot can be added for each normal working Smurf in your village (eg. 5 Smurfs = max. 5 gardens or 3 gardens and 2 flower boxes). Crop plots are located under Smurfs/Farming section of the Build Menu. In the Grove area of the game the Smurfs harvest and crop flowers instead of fruits and veggies.
Gardens:
These are the Smurfs' main method of farming. Tapping a empty garden will bring up the crops menu, which will display all garden crops in the game. Some of these will not be available at first, as they require a higher level. Crops cost gold to plant, and earn gold and XP when they are harvested. As with buildings, each crop / each garden will occupy a single Smurf until it is fully grown. Tap a garden to plant a crop, or to harvest one that is fully grown. Don't leave finished crops too long, or they will wilt. To cancel a crop that has already been planted, tap it once and then tap the red, circular icon.
Flower Boxes:
Flower boxes are like gardens. Flowers cost gold to plant, and they require a Smurf to tend them while they're growing. Flowers will give XP (but no gold) when they bloom. When a flower is finished blooming it can either be removed (like harvesting a crop) or watered by a friend. Each Flower Box counts towards your garden limit.
Watering: Watering a friend's Flower Box will help it to re-bloom. You can water a friend's Flower Box by tapping the watering can icon when it appears over their flowers. If a friend has watered your flowers, you'll see a watering can. Tap it to ask a Smurf to tend to it, so it can bloom again. Watered flowers do not need to be replanted.
Seeds: Starting at level 14, you can plant one type of flower. As you level up, you'll unlock more colors of that flower, and tulips at level 20. Other types of seeds can be unlocked by receiving them as gifts from your friends.
Nat Smurfling: Purchasing Nat's Village Hut unlocks ALL of the flowers and seeds, including Nat's special Lilies. Nat also gives an XP bonus to all nearby flowers whenever they bloom.
Magic Shrubs:
Like gardens, Magic Shrubs cost gold to plant and require a Smurf to tend them while they're growing. They take longer to grow than regular crops, but do not wilt and can be harvested for both XP and gold when they're done. Magic Shrubs become available at level 21 and each Magic Shrub counts towards your garden limit.
Palm Tree Crops:
Palm tree crops are like gardens. Palm crops cost gold to plant, and they require a Smurf to tend them while they're growing. Palm tree crops will give gold and XP when they are completed. You can also harvest from a palm tree at any time, but you'll get less coins and xp than if you wait the full time.
Watering: Watering a friend's palm crop will increase the rewards given to your friend when they collect the crop. You can water a friend's palms by tapping the watering can icon when it appears over their palms.
Seeds: When starting out, you can only plant one type of crop on your palms. Other types of seeds can be unlocked by receiving them as gifts from your friends.
Wild Smurf: Purchasing Wild Smurf unlocks ALL of the palm crops, including Wild's special Bananas. Wild also gives an XP bonus to all palm crops on the island.