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Instructions for porch garden: growing vegetables on a rooftop - terumot and ma'asrot plus kilei zera'im

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Dear Rabbi,
I am grateful to be able to write to you. I live in Israel in an apartment with access to a tiled roof on the 7th floor. I wish to grow for my own consumption and to share produce, both vegetables and fruit. I will be grateful with information as to how / what I must do physically to ensure all halachic tithes are taken and removed from the produce. I imagine that harvesting will take place under these 2 scenarios: Potatoes might be harvested in a single batch -or in multiple batches Other vegetables may become available gradually (possibly every few days) throughout the season. I understand that the taking and distributing Terumah and Ma’aser Rishon physically must be performed? And that after this a tenth of what remains (Ma’aser Sheni) is removed which was then biblically given to the Levites. However, I need instructions of how and what to physically do so that my planting and harvesting complies with Halacha.

I’m not sure what additional information is required -but wish to advise the following: I plan to plant in pots on the roof with holes at the bottom -in the open -or in a plastic mesh enclosed frame area -or inside the apartment, in front of a sunny window (e.g., tomatoes) If a pot has holes at the bottom but stands in a small tray to catch excess water, does this affect the halachic status? I am also considering placing multiple pots in a larger tray to conserve water—does this have any halachic implications? I hope this is enough information to assist you to be able to advise what exactly must be physically done. 

T&M Abroad: Otzar ha'aretz and pidyon on Israeli currency for members abroad

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Shalom Aleichem! I am the rabbi of a retirement community in Monsey, New York. We often receive Israeli produce, particularly tangerines and carrots. Since the carrots come in fifty pound bags, and the tangerines are in cases of fifty or a hundred, I am not really concerned for the need of a Perutah Chamurah. Still, it would be convenient for me to avoid the need to keep track of how many times a coin is used. Is there a way that I can make use of your Perutah Chamurah? Does it matter that I am in the U.S. and making the pidyon onto Israeli currency? Thank you.

Kilei zera'im: Ethiopian khat, mustard and kale

Dr. Mordechai Shomron, agronomist
Among the vegetables I grow in my backyard raised bed garden is Ethiopian kale. I understand it is botanically related to both the kale and mustard families.
In my experience, it is very similar to regular kale in both appearance and taste and does not have a pronounced mustard flavor.
May I plant Ethiopian kale close to other kale varieties or is there a concern of kilayim and a required separation between them?

Continuing the orlah count: Mature fruit trees outside Israel transplanted into the ground and trees sitting in earthenware pots on a concrete surface

Rabbi Moshe Bloom
Rav Moshe, our shul 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?

The status of rosemary leaves this year plus terumot & ma'aserot

Rabbi Netanel Oyerbach, 5785

I picked some rosemary yesterday.  Does it count as third-year produce or second-year produce or must it be treated as a safek?  (Also, is it treated as a fruit or a vegetable?)  When taking off terumot and maasrot, do I make a beracha?

Ma'aser ani year: terumot and ma'aserot from strawberry plant on the patio

Rabbi Moshe Bloom
I have a pot of strawberry plants that sits on a patio in my garden.
Usually, in the morning, there is only one ripe strawberry ready to pick, but today, (after being away for chag) there were many fruits ready for picking.
Please can you advise me on the correct procedure / brachot for a single/ multiple pickings.

Questions on setting up a balcony garden plus terumot and maaserot

Rabbi Moshe Bloom
 I live in Israel in an apartment with access to a tiled roof on the 7 th floor. I wish to grow for my own consumption and to share produce, both vegetables and fruit. I will be grateful with information as to how / what I must do physically to ensure all halachic tithes are taken and removed from the produce. I imagine that harvesting will take place under these 2 scenarios: Potatoes might be harvested in a single batch -or in multiple batches Other vegetables may become available gradually (possibly every few days) throughout the season. I understand that the taking and distributing Terumah and Ma’aser Rishon physically must be performed? And that after this a tenth of what remains (Ma’aser Sheni) is removed which was then biblically given to the Levites. However, I need instructions of how and what to physically do so that my planting and harvesting complies with Halacha. I’m not sure what additional information is required -but wish to advise the following: I plan to plant in pots on the roof with holes at the bottom -in the open -or in a plastic mesh enclosed frame area -or inside the apartment, in front of a sunny window (e.g., tomatoes) If a pot has holes at the bottom but stands in a small tray to catch excess water, does this affect the halachic status? I am also considering placing multiple pots in a larger tray to conserve water—does this have any halachic implications? I hope this is enough information to assist you to be able to advise what exactly must be physically done. 

Kilei hakerem: Grapevine hanging onto a fruit tree

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

My grapevine has “reached out” and tied some of its tendrils (if that’s the right word) around the branch of a pomegranate tree. Any problem?

 

Kilei zera'im: Are drip pies proper barriers?

Agronomist Dr. Mordechai Shomron

Is a drip irrigation pipe considered a barrier when growing different types of vegetables on either side of the drip pipe? When it comes to seed starters do these pose a kilayim problem?

Orlah for passionfruit planted as a living fence and for fruit

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

I planted a few passionfruit vines on my railings, with the intention both to use them as a privacy hedge and to eat their fruit. Do I need to wait 3 years for orlah to eat them under Ashkenazi halachic custom? They are thick and do effectively block the view from the street, which was our goal. They're in pots and have been planted at my apartment for almost 2 years now.