Fruit Tree Yield Calculator
Expected harvest from fruit trees by species, rootstock size and age — kilograms per tree and per acre, years to first crop, and how much to plant for a family or a market stall.
How it works
Yield = mature yield (species × rootstock) × age factor × care factor; age factor ramps from the first crop year to maturity as ((age − first + 1) ÷ (mature − first + 1))^1.5
Fruit yield depends first on how big the tree is allowed to grow — a full-size apple on seedling rootstock can carry 150–200 kg but takes a decade to get there, while a dwarf on M9 gives 20–30 kg from its third year — and then on age, care and the species’ habits. Trees crop little in their first years, ramp up over several seasons and plateau at maturity; commercial growers with irrigation, fruit thinning and pest control get 30% more than a good home orchard, and neglected trees give far less and smaller fruit. Many species alternate heavy and light years unless the crop is thinned. These figures are typical averages; climate, variety, pollination partners and pruning move them a long way in either direction.
Worked example
Four semi-dwarf apple trees at six years with good care: about 30 kg each, 120 kg in total, rising to around 280 kg a year once mature at eight years.
Frequently asked questions
How many apple trees for a family?
Two or three semi-dwarf trees of different varieties (for pollination and a spread of seasons) give 150–200 kg — more than most families eat fresh, so plan for storage or juice.
Why is my mature tree cropping poorly?
Common causes: no pollination partner, frost at blossom, over-vigorous growth from too much nitrogen or pruning, shade, biennial bearing after a heavy year, or pests such as codling moth.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.