How To Calculate When Orla Is Over
You may eat tree fruit if the tree's buds appeared after Tu B'Shvat of the fourth year. This may be a span of only 2.5 years if the tree was planted on or before Tu B'Av (at least 45 days before Rosh Hashana):
1st Year Tu B'Av to Rosh Hashana #1
2nd Year Rosh Hashana #1 to Rosh Hashana #2
3rd Year Rosh Hashana #2 to Rosh Hashana #3
4th Year Rosh Hashana #3 to Tu B'Shvat
Example A fruit tree planted on Tu B'Av, Aug. 15, 2011, will be one year old 6 weeks later, on Rosh Hashana, Sept. 29, 2011. By Rosh Hashana, Sept. 5, 2013, the tree will have completed three years and it enters its fourth year. Buds that appear on or after Tu B'Shvat, Jan. 15, 2014, and turn into fruit will be neta revai and may be redeemed and eaten.
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