What Does "New Year for Trees" Mean?

The Mishna (Rosh HaShana 1:1) relates that Tu B’Shevat (the fifteenth day of the month of Shevat) is the Rosh Hashanah (new year) for trees. What does this mean?

There is a seven year cycle of terumos and ma’aseros (various tithes) for produce that grows in the land of Israel. In order to determine which tithes must be separated, one must know in which year the produce grew. The calendar year for fruit that grow on trees begins on Tu B’Shevat. If a fruit reached a certain stage of development called onas ha’maaser before Tu B’Shevat, then this fruit still belongs to last year’s crop and should be tithed accordingly. Fruits that reach the stage of onas ha’maaser only after Tu B’Shevat belong to the new year and must be tithed accordingly. One exception to this rule is the esrog, which is tithed according to the year in which it is picked, regardless of when it reaches onas ha’maaser (Shulchan Aruch YD 331:125-126).

Tu B’Shevat is relevant outside of Israel as well. Tu B’Shevat plays a role in the counting of years regarding the laws of orlah (prohibition of eating fruit from a tree during its first three years). This will be discussed more in the next Halacha Yomis.

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.