Here's my strat.
SPOILER ALERT (you shouldn't look if you're new to the game)
To "win"
[essence] Guillotine
Loop
[symbol - rare] Mrs Fruit (x3)
[symbol - common] Seed
[symbol - uncommon] Peach
[symbol - uncommon] Orange
[item - uncommon] Compost Heap
[item - common] Watering Can
Money-making
[symbol - common] Monkey (x9)
[symbol - uncommon] Coconut
[symbol - uncommon] Coconut Milk
[item - common] Oswald the Monkey
[essence] Oswald the Monkey
Compost Feed
[symbol - common] Urn
[symbol - uncommon] Big Urn
[symbol - rare] Tomb
[symbol - rare] Spirit
[item - common] Grave Robber
[item - common] Cherry
Any auto-destructible symbols
Additionnal Multipliers
[symbol - common] Banana
[symbol - common] Banana Peel
[symbol - rare] Comedian (x3)
[symbol - rare] Chef (x3)
[symbol - rare] Farmer (x3)
[symbol - very rare] Golden Arrow (x2)
[symbol - uncommon] Buffing Capsule
[item - common] Ricky the Banana
[item - uncommon] Dark Humor
[item - uncommon] Fruit Basket
[item - uncommon] Rusty Gear
[item - rare] Anthropology Degree
[essence] Grave Robber
[essence] Undertaker
[essence] Ricky the Banana
[essence] Dark Humor
[essence] Fruit Basket
[essence] Rusty Gear
[essence] Anthropology Degree
Useful
[item - common] Lunchbox
[item - common] Black Pepper
[item - uncommon] Comfy Pillow
[item - uncommon] Cardboard Box
[item - uncommon] Conveyor Belt
[item - uncommon] Shrine
[item - rare] Oil Can
[item - rare] Protractor
[item - rare] Dishwasher
[item - rare] Instant Ramen
[item - rare] Swapping Device
[item - rare] Void Portal
[item - rare] Quiver
[item - very rare] Telescope
[essence] Comfy Pillow
[essence] Conveyor Belt
[essence] Oil Can
[essence] Protractor
[essence] Telescope
[essence] Void Portal
[essence] Quiver
To avoid/disable (breaks combo/feed otherwise)
[item - uncommon] Fertilizer
[item - rare] Undertaker
[item - uncommon] Compost Heap (x2)
[essence] Compost Heap
[essence] Fertilizer
[essence] Shrine
To avoid/remove
[symbol - rare] Pear
[symbol - rare] Strawberry
[symbol - rare] General Zaroff
[symbol - very rare] Watermelon
[symbol - uncommon] Time Capsule (early)
Any other permanent symbols
Obsolete Feed
[symbol - rare] geologist
[symbol - common] Ore
[symbol - uncommon] Big Ore
[symbol - uncommon] golem
[symbol - common] oyster
[symbol - common] pearl
[symbol - uncommon] sapphire
[symbol - rare] Robin Hood
[symbol - rare] Witch
[symbol - rare] Apple
[symbol - very rare] Pirate