Fruit Yield Estimator
Pick a fruit, rootstock size, tree age, and tree count to see a rough expected harvest.
Estimated yield
How the estimate is built
Each fruit-and-rootstock combination has a published first-bearing year, a maturity year, and a typical mature yield in pounds, drawn from common extension-service guidelines. Before the first-bearing year, the estimate is zero. Between first bearing and maturity, yield scales up in a straight line. From the maturity year onward, it holds at the mature figure.
The orchard total simply multiplies the per-tree estimate by how many same-age, same-variety trees you have — it doesn't account for different varieties, ages, or growing conditions across an orchard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the estimate ramp up gradually instead of jumping straight to a number?
A young fruit tree doesn't go from zero to full production overnight. It typically sets its first light crop a few years after planting, then increases year over year as its root system and canopy develop, until it reaches a fairly stable mature yield. This tool models that as a straight-line ramp between the first-bearing year and the maturity year, which is a simplification of a curve that's rarely perfectly linear in practice.
Why does rootstock size change the yield so much?
A dwarf tree bears its first (smaller) crop earlier than a standard tree of the same variety, but its mature yield per tree is much lower simply because the tree itself is smaller. A standard tree takes longer to reach maturity but eventually produces far more fruit per tree — which is why orchards on dwarfing rootstock plant far more trees per acre to make up the difference.
My tree is producing much less than the estimate — what's going on?
Yield is heavily affected by factors this tool doesn't model: a late frost during bloom, poor pollination (many varieties need a compatible pollinator tree nearby), inconsistent watering, competition from nearby trees or weeds, and pruning that removes too much or too little fruiting wood. A one-off low year is common and not necessarily a sign of a problem.
Should I thin the fruit if the estimate looks high?
Often, yes. A heavy natural fruit set can be more than a young tree's branches or root system can properly support, leading to smaller fruit, biennial bearing (a heavy year followed by a light one), or broken limbs. Many growers deliberately thin excess young fruit to balance crop size against tree health.
Educational tool only. Real yields vary widely with pollination, weather, pruning, and pest and disease pressure — treat this as a planning ballpark, not a promised harvest.