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Q&A

Orlah count when transplanting trees into the ground vs. into pots sitting on concrete outside Israel

Rabbi Moshe Bloom
Our shul in Whashington D.C. has recently planted a garden with blueberry bushes and apple and fig trees. I am trying to determine if there would be orlah concerns. The bushes and trees were planted in a mature, fruit bearing stage - I assume they are several years old, but am wondering if there are additional questions I should ask. Does the "clock" go back to zero every time the trees are planted or not if the roots remain entangled in dirt?
And one follow-up question:
The fig trees are in a large earthenware pot which rests on the cement steps of the shul - they are disconnected from the ground. Would that be a reason for their orlah count to restart?

Fruit growing on branches that belong to Shimon but the trunk belongs to Reuven

Rabbi Ehud Achituv | 27 Tammuz 5785

There is a tree whose trunk is primarily located in Reuven’s garden, while its canopy extends into Shimon’s garden. Reuven transferred ownership of the canopy to Shimon. The question is: Are the fruits that grow on the canopy—which now belong to Shimon—obligated in terumot and ma'aserot mide’oraita?

Or, since the trunk is rooted in Reuven’s property, does this constitute a deficiency in the criterion of "זרעך פרט ללקוח" —excluding acquired produce—thus rendering the obligation only derabanan? This follows the view of certain Rishonim who hold that even if the final processing (gemar melachah) is performed by the buyer, there is no Torah-level obligation.

The practical implication would be whether one may separate tithes from these fruits on behalf of fruits from a tree that grows entirely in Shimon’s garden—assuming the level of obligation must be the same.

Someone else separated terumot and ma'aserot without saying the special formula of separation

Dr. Mordechai Shomron, agronomist
If someone else separated ma'aserot on my behalf, but they didn't say the formula, does it count?
I hope they actually separated from each type - I'm not sure.

Does kilei zera'im apply to unperforated pots?

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Does the kilei zera'im prohibition also apply to pots with a hole?

Does the prohibition of kilei zera'im apply to flowers?

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Does the prohibition of kilei zera'im apply to annual flowers/plants that are not eaten?

Av - Nine Days: Am I allowed to plant flowers in my garden now?

Rabbis of Torah VeHa'aretz Institute

I just bought some flower seeds, and I was wondering if I'm allowed to plant them now. I looked at the Shulchan Aruch and I wasn't quite sure I understood what it meant that you're not allowed to plant "a king's garden." 

Uprooting a fruit tree to build a storage area

Dr. Mordechai Shomron, agronomist

I want to build a storage area in my yard, but there's an avocado tree currently standing in the area where I want to build it. Am I allowed to uproot the avocado tree?

Kilei hakerem and sweet potato vine

Yehuda Heller, agronomist

You taught me that flowers and non-edible plants (and trees) can grow under a vine, but vegetables and edible herbs cannot.

What about a plant that I understood to be only ornamental, but I have discovered on the internet can also be used like spinach and other edible leaves?

 The plant in question is sweet potato vine. Its roots or tubers are not edible but the leaves can be used as food. Is it a problem even if we don’t eat them?

Our grapevine is in its second year of orlah. If we cannot let that plant grow under the vine, has it had a negative effect on the vine and future grapes already?

Me'ein shalosh on grapes from Mitzpeh Ramon

Rabbi Yoel Friedman, Emunat Itecha 141, Tishrei 5784, pp. 19–22

Near Mitzpeh Ramon, there is a vineyard with table grapes. Should one conclude me'ein shalosh by saying al haeitz ve'al peiroteha or al haeitz ve'al hapeirot?