When planning your orchard, it pays to consider the size of the trees you’re working with, their expected yields, and the time it will take for the tree to reach that seasonly yield and how long it will produce.
Apple trees tend to put out A LOT of fruit! Yeah apples!
Did you know, nearly all grafted apple trees really start to set fruit the first year! However, baby first year trees just don’t have the strength to develop the fruit fully.
At the second year, it’s not uncommon to have a couple of apples. Though, for the small tree, they are usually smaller than normal and are often lost to bugs, bad weather, etc. Most folks like to pull any apples that begin to develop, so the tree can focus all its energy in growing… not producing fruit. The fact is, this doesn’t really matter. A small tree pushing energy into growing a couple of apples ain’t gonna set the tree back much.
At the third year, the tree has enough energy to devote substantial resources into fruiting. Here is where you begin to see multiple apples on the tree.
From year 3 and on the tree races to maturity and continually develops more apples every season.
Full Size Tree 30′
35-50 year lifespan typical. Possibly over 100!
10 years to Max Harvest – 500-900 lbs – 10-20 Bushels – 1500-2700 apples!
6 years to Abundant Harvest – 100 apples
Establishes best root system and arguably the healthiest trees. However, they can take longer to bear fruit. Combine this with a slower bearing variety in general and you’re in for a long wait. Of course, demand the most space.
Semi-dwarf Tree 20′
20-45 year lifespan typical.
6-7 years to Max Harvest – 250-450 lbs – 10-20 Bushels – 750-1350 apples!
4 years to Abundant Harvest – 80 apples
Dwarf Tree 10′
12-15 year lifespan typical.
4-5 years to Max Harvest – 125-225 lbs – 3-5 Bushels – 375-675 apples.
3 years to Abundant Harvest – 60 apples.
Keep in mind that the above yields reflect optimum conditions…
which… in all honesty,
you likely won’t have 🙂
Bushel of Apples = 8 gallons or 42-48 pounds.
Peck of Apples = 2 gallons or 10 pounds.
It takes about 7 or 8 medium apples to make a standard sized pie. 10-12 for a deep dish or large pie.
Approximately 6 large apples yielding 6 cups of fruit are needed to make 4 servings of applesauce.