Over the last couple of years as I’ve moved into this hobby I’ve heard a pretty wide range of yield expectations from drawfing rootstocks. Clearly there are a large number of factors that come into this discussion. Things such as rootstock variety, vigor and precociousness of the scion wood, tall spindle vs open vase, thinning and etc will all change the output of the tree.
I’m really into this as a hobby and to provide some fruit for my family and friends. I’m planting north of 20 dwarf trees and will likely not stop there as I experiment. I’m not looking to go into a side business, but I’ve heard talk of 3-4 bushels off a tree of that size. I don’t see how that is possible from various pictures I’ve seen, but if it were possible I have no way to store in excess of 60 bushels of apples. Last year off our old standard tree we pulled in just a large wicker laundry basket of apples. So I’m really curious as to what is a reasonable expectation.
My question is this: Given some general parameters, what is a reasonable expectation of yield from dwarf trees? I’m not just asking for my own knowledge but for the general information of the group. Lets not get too far off in the weeds on one-off scenarios. Presume just average growing conditions and traditional practices for each style.
On behalf of everyone who will benefit, Thank you for your input!
Parameters:
High Vigor (Example varieties)
Tall Spindle - Dwarf:
Tall Spindle - Semi-Dwarf:
Open Vase - Dwarf:
Open Vase - Semi-Dwarf:
Medium Vigor (Example varieties)
Tall Spindle - Dwarf:
Tall Spindle - Semi-Dwarf:
Open Vase - Dwarf:
Open Vase - Semi-Dwarf:
Low Vigor (Honey Crisp)
Tall Spindle - Dwarf:
Tall Spindle - Semi-Dwarf:
Open Vase - Dwarf:
Open Vase - Semi-Dwarf:
Depends a lot on variety, rootstock and growing conditions.
On a full dwarf apple tree 1 bushel per tree would be an excellent yield. The yield target for a commercial east coast grower on tall spindle trees on dwarf rootstock is around 1000 Bu/acre. If trees are spaced 4X11 feet the density is 1000 trees/acre, so 1000 trees produce 1000 bushels, hence the 1 Bu/tree goal.
The yield per tree for B9 should be less than M9 (all flavors) with yield of G11, G16 and G41 more than M9. I read that the Washington State growers are looking for 100 bins (2000 Bu/acre) from their orchards, but their density is normally a lot more than 1000 tree/acre and they have almost perfect growing conditions.
I’m not familiar with any research that compared the yield of open vase apple trees with central leader (tall spindle) trees.
The yield/acre is similar between dwarf and semi dwarf trees, but it takes the semi drarf trees a lot longer to reach their max production. I don’t know the estimated yield per tree for a semi dwarf tree, but if you multiply the expected row spacing by the tree spacing and divide that number into 44000 you can determine the number of trees per acre. Assuming the 1000 Bu/acre yield you should be able to determine the expected yield per tree for the semi dwarf trees
I have a Royal Empire on B9-337, 11 yrs, very good soils, 3-4 bu./yr.
Arlet on the same root, age, and soils. 2 bu/yr.
Spur RD same as above 1.5 bu/yr.
Tenroy gala, same as above(chickens sit under it, high fertility) 4-5 bu/yr.
Vigor of the scion has a lot to do with yield but I think soil quality is important also. My gala takes advantage of tremendous fertility and water as it’s planted next to the chickens, while the very slow growing spur rd is half the size of the gala and only produces a fraction of the fruit. The size of the rd could be compensated for by planting these small trees closer together. A large number of factors go into yield and quality. I don’t yet have enough experience to comment on growth and productivity except what I grow.
I was unsure whether B or M. The tree that does this,yearly, is about 10 x 10’. They soil it’s growing in is about 8’ of a black silt loam, pH 6.8, optimal levels of P & K. no perennial weeds, always full sun, 15-20 colonies of bees 200’ away, good winter protection, etc., I guess as good as it gets for trees in Iowa. I’m sure good pollination is a factor too. All in all, a very happy tree.
The galas are even bigger trees than the empire. Got to have roots into the chicken coop.
Half my reason for keeping chickens is their other product besides eggs
My 19 year old Liberty/frankentree gave us about 200 pounds of apples last year, maybe more (I didn’t weigh the entire harvest and that’s a minimum ballpark figure), but I don’t know the rootstock. It was sold to me as a “semidwarf”. The tree is perhaps7-8 inches at the base, is 12 feet tall, and probably 16 feet “long” and 12 feet “wide” (if you were to look at it from above).
So that translates to about five bushels. But a true dwarf or most semidwarfs wouldn’t be that big, I imagine.
I did some basic math using the information provided by Marknmt and Chikn after adding some “working space” between the size of their trees. The per acre yield in both cases is in the 1000 Bu range more or less.
I would love to hit the 1000 Bu/acre number.
40,000 pounds of apples at $1 a pound would improve my mental and my financial health a lot!
I really don’t have much to add to Blueberry comments, which I would more or less agree with, along w/ Ckikn. Nowadays, generally 1000 bu. acre for apples is the high end target (although one reads accounts more than that.)
My only contribution to this discussion is that generally speaking, current commercially accepted varieties produce significantly more than antique ones.
That is an important point and one I was not sure about. My orchard is about 75% commercial variety and about 25% heritage, but it too soon to draw any conclusions about how the yield of the various variety compare.
