How Many Years Does the Carob Tree Bear Fruit? Yield and Lifespan
Carob is a long-term tree that requires patience. In gardens established with grafted saplings, the first product usually begins to be obtained a few years after planting; commercially significant yields usually come after the sixth or seventh year. The tree reaches full yield in its 20s and can last more than a hundred years in good conditions.
In this article, we discuss the fruiting age of carob, the full yield period, the yields per tree and per area measured in research, yield fluctuations from year to year and the life of the tree based on sources. While interpreting yield figures, we especially emphasize how much variety, climate, soil and care conditions can change the result.
Fruiting: How Many Years Does Carob Yield?
The age at which carob bears fruit varies according to whether the sapling is grafted or not, the variety and growing conditions. The values given in the sources are close to each other:
| Source | Fruit laying information |
|---|---|
| Tous and Ferguson (1996) | Most grafted varieties begin to produce crops in the 5th or 6th year after planting |
| Martins-Loução et al. (2024) | Most varieties begin commercial production 6–7 years after planting |
| Feedipedia | Trees begin to bear fruit after 6–7 years |
| Erbaş (2024) | 3–4 years in favorable conditions; 6–8 years in regions bordering cultivation |
| Barceló et al. (2023) | In the trial in the Balearic Islands, the best hermaphroditic varieties entered production in the 5th year |
The difference between these values can be explained by not confusing the concepts of "first fruit" and "commercial yield". A young grafted tree may produce its first pods in a few years; however, the product that will cover the expenses of the garden is taken when the crown of the tree reaches a certain size.
Grafted and Ungrafted Tree Difference
One of the factors that most affect the time to bear fruit is grafting. In the review by Martins-Loução et al. (2024), it is stated that the use of grafted seedlings can provide earlier fruiting, but grafted seedlings are expensive and there is a risk of not keeping grafts in the nursery. For this reason, many producers prefer to plant seedlings, which are grown from seeds and graft them later; this delays fruiting.
There is an additional uncertainty in ungrafted, seed-to-seed trees: Carob is mostly a separate sexual tree, and it is only through flowering that you can tell whether a seedling will be male, female or heroper. Male trees do not bear fruit. A grafted sapling gives assurance that a known female or hermit variety has been planted and facilitates both early yield and garden planning.
In Spanish trials comparing Mediterranean varieties, differences were also found between the varieties in terms of early fruiting. In a trial of ten varieties in northeastern Spain, Aida, Rojal and A-19 were the earliest varieties (Tous et al., 2008). In another trial comparing four Spanish varieties, Rojal stood out as the earliest yielding variety (Tous et al., 2009).
Full Yield Period
Erbaş (2024) states that full yield in carob is reached at the age of 20–25 years. This indicates that carob is a long-term crop for garden investment: yield increases slowly in the first years, the tree reaches its peak in its 20s, and remains in production for a long time with proper care.
We can summarize this process as follows:
- Establishment period: After planting and grafting, the first years when the tree develops roots and crowns
- Fruiting: First pods in a few years under favorable conditions, 6–7 years for commercial production in most sources
- Increased yield period: Increase in the amount of product as the crown grows
- Full yield: 20–25 years according to Erbaş (2024)
- Long production period: Decades of yield, depending on maintenance and health
Yield Per Tree and Per Area
Carob yield figures are one of the issues that differ the most between sources. This is because measurements are made at different ages, in different climates, in irrigated or dry conditions, and with different varieties. The following data should therefore not be read as a "standard", but as an example of the ranges observed in research.
Yield per area
The carob data sheet on Feedipedia states that the world average yield is 1.7 tons per hectare, while modern production can reach 5–7 tons per hectare. This difference summarizes well the gap between traditional and scattered gardens and modern gardens with variety, spacing and planned maintenance.
Yield per tree: Trial results
| Operation | Condition | Reported result |
|---|---|---|
| Tous et al. (2008), Spain | Dry condition, precipitation about 500mm, 10 kinds | Cumulative kernel yield in Albarcara and Aida over 33 kg per tree |
| Tous et al. (2009), Spain | Dry condition, 18 years after grafting | Cumulative seed yield in Duraio 95 kg per tree |
| Barceló et al. (2023), Balearic Islands | Marginal land, low rainfall, no input | In the three best varieties, in 2021, about 26, 15 and 11 kg per tree; in 2022, about 8, 7 and 11 kg |
Here, it is necessary to pay attention to the expression "bean yield". In the Spanish trials, the measured value is not the total weight of the pod, but the cumulative weight of the beans in the pod. Since the kernel makes up only a small part of the pod by weight, the total pod yield is several times these figures. In the same experiment, it was reported that the kernel ratio varies from about 10% to over 20% according to the varieties (Tous et al., 2008).
The trial in the Balearic Islands, on the other hand, shows the effect of marginal conditions. The best of the 13 local varieties grown in a land with low rainfall and limiting soil conditions, without the use of any additional inputs, entered production in the fifth year; however, in 2022, yields decreased in most of the varieties due to adverse weather conditions (Barceló et al., 2023).
A similar timeline is seen in the feasibility reports published in Turkey. In the investor guide of the General Directorate of Forestry, the first income from the garden is calculated from the 6th year, and the transition of the investment to surplus income is foreseen from the 7th year (OGM, 2020). These reports also include yield projections per decare. However, these projections are directly dependent on the assumed planting frequency and should not be interpreted as the actual garden yield alone. Investment decisions should be based on the actual yields of similar gardens in the region and expert opinion.
Factors Affecting Yield
The yield of carob does not depend on a single factor. The main factors that stand out in the sources are as follows:
| Kinds | Earliness, pod size, and core ratio vary markedly between cultivars (Tous et al., 2008; 2009). |
| Pollination | There must be enough male or male trees in the garden for female trees to bear fruit; one pollinator tree has been proposed for every eight female trees in new gardens (Tous and Ferguson, 1996). |
| Water | It is stated that approximately 500–550 mm of rainfall is required annually for commercial yield (Tous and Ferguson, 1996); Erbaş (2024) recommends supplementary irrigation where rainfall falls below 400 mm. |
| Nutrients | Nitrogen, along with water, is the main factor limiting production; soils with low organic matter have lower yields (Martins-Loução et al., 2024). |
| Climatic events | In a 30-year data set in Portugal, it is reported that yield is not related to temperature, but is negatively affected by rainfall throughout the hydrological year, especially in autumn (Martins-Loução et al., 2024). Autumn is the flowering and pollination period of carob. |
| Care | Pruning, harvesting technique and plant health determine the continuity of yield in the long term. |
Year-over-Year Fluctuation: Year of Var and Year of None
Carob is one of the trees that may tend to produce a bountiful crop one year and less the next. Tous and Ferguson (1996) state that the species yields markedly every other year, especially in poor growing conditions. Martins-Loução et al. (2024) also highlight that yields vary between years, making garden income uneven. The sharp decline between 2021 and 2022 in the Balearic trial is a concrete example of this fluctuation (Barceló et al., 2023).
For this reason, the yield assessment of carob should not be based on a single year, but on the average of several years. The causes and management of periodicity are comprehensive enough to be the subject of a separate article.
How Many Years Does the Carob Tree Live?
Carob is a long-lived tree. In Feedipedia, it is stated that trees can live for more than a hundred years. Castello et al. (2023), who compiled pathogens in Italy, also report that carob is relatively resistant to sap rot and that century-old trees with hollowed-out trunks can remain healthy. The fact that very old carob trees are found on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts of Turkey, in village squares, on the edges of fields and in old gardens is an indication of this longevity.
The continuation of yield in old trees largely depends on the health of the tree. The same review states that old trees are more vulnerable to wood rot because they carry more dead wood and wounds. Improper pruning, large cuts and wounds at harvest are the main factors that can shorten the productive life of the tree.
In Erbaş's (2024) report, it is assumed that the yield projection per decare reaches its highest level in the 21st-25th years and gradually decreases in the following periods. This does not mean that the tree will die; it only indicates that within an investment model, the yield may slowly decline after the peak. In real gardens, this curve may differ based on the level of maintenance and rejuvenation practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the carob tree grown from seed bear fruit? It can; however, it is not known in advance whether the tree that comes out of the seed will be male, female or hermaphroditic, and fruiting occurs later. For this reason, grafted saplings are preferred in commercial gardens.
At what age does the carob tree reach full yield? According to Erbaş (2024), full yield is obtained at the age of 20-25 years.
How much does a carob tree produce? This varies a lot according to variety, age, climate and care. The values measured in studies are widely distributed; it is not correct to give a single fixed figure.
Does the carob tree produce the same amount of crop every year? Carob may fluctuate in yield from year to year; especially in poor conditions, the tendency to yield crops every other year becomes evident.
A Long-Term Product with Carob Türkiye
Carob is a tree that takes several years to bear fruit, but with the right care, it can remain in production for decades. This long-term structure makes carob valuable for both the rural economy and sustainable raw material supply. At Carob Türkiye, we supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder, seeds, and extracts.
For general information about the carob tree and its fruit What is Carob? Our article for our products Carob Fruit and Carob Seed You can review the pages. For your wholesale and export requests Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
Domestic resources
General Directorate of Forestry, "Carob Garden Facility Project: Feasibility Report and Investor Guide", Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2020. I'll take it to Konya.
gov. en/ assets/ upload/ files/ Carob- … Erbaş, S., "Carob Agriculture and Industry Feasibility Report", Western Mediterranean Development Agency, Publication No: 153, 2024. DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY.
gov. en/ assets/ upload/ files/ Keciboy... Foreign sources
Tous, J., Ferguson, L., "Mediterranean Fruits", Progress in New Crops (ed. J. Janick), pp. 416–430, 1996. Growables.
org/ information/ TropicalFruit/ CarobProgNewCrop. htm Martins-Loução, M. A., Correia, P. J., Romano, A., "Carob: A Mediterranean Resource for the Future", Plants, 13(9), 1188, 2024. doi.
org/ 10. 3390/ plants13091188 Feedipedia – Animal Feed Resources Information System, "Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)". feedipedia.
org/ node/ 320 Tous, J., Romero, A., Hermoso, J. F., Ninot, A., Plana, J., "Fruiting and Kernel Production Characteristics of Ten Mediterranean Carob Cultivars Grown in Northeastern Spain", Journal of the American Pomological Society, 62(4), 144–150, 2008. doi.
org/ 10. 71318/ apom. 2008. 62. 4. 144 Tous, J., Romero, A., Hermoso, J. F., Ninot, A., Plana, J., Batlle, I., "Agronomic and Commercial Performance of Four Spanish Carob Cultivars", HortTechnology, 19(2), 465–470, 2009. agris.
FAO. org/ search/ es/ records/ 65dfd0fa4c5aef494fe5a2cf Barceló, M., Pou, J., Llompart, M., Luna, J. M., Garau, C., "El garrover (Ceratonia siliqua L.): un cultiu alternatiu adaptat a condicions marginals", VIII Jornades de Medi Ambient de les Illes Balears, Societat d'Història Natural de Balears, pp. 522–525, 2023. portalinvestigacio.
UIB. es/ documentos/ 686c0c4126b2021a4349... Castello, I., Polizzi, G., Vitale, A., "Major Pathogens Affecting Carob in the Mediterranean Basin: Current Knowledge and Outlook in Italy", Pathogens, 12(11), 1357, 2023. doi.
Scientific Resourcesorg/ 10. 3390/ pathogens12111357
