Reading time: approx. 9 min.
Author: Wolfgang Gerstenhauer
11.06.2025
AgrarMonitor
Today: Fruit growing in Germany
Here you will find facts and figures on fruit growing in Germany – on the development of the areas under cultivation for different types of fruit, on the effects of climate change and on irrigation, which is therefore becoming increasingly important.
Apples dominate with over 70 % of the area
In 2023, German farmers used a total area of 69,899 ha for fruit cultivation, the majority of which (49,203 ha) was used for tree fruit. The number of tree fruit farms in Germany in 2022 (= result of the tree fruit farming survey) was 6,500. Looking at the federal states in terms of their share of fruit cultivation, Baden-Württemberg is the federal state with the largest yield share with 394,931 tons (2023), followed by Lower Saxony with 341,802 tons and North Rhine-Westphalia with 117,566 tons.
Among the types of fruit grown, apples dominate with 33,015 ha (2023), followed by sweet cherries with 5,686 ha and plums/plums with 4,121 ha. The main apple variety in German apple cultivation is Elstar with 24.1 % of the dessert apple cultivation area (as of 2022), followed by Gala with 9.6 %, Braeburn with 9.3 %, Jonagold with 5.8 % and Jonagored with 4.2 %.
Cultivation volume of individual fruit species in Germany (2020-2024) – almost unchanged in recent years
| Year | Apples | Pears | Sweetkir. | Sauerkir. | Plum / Zwetsch. | Mirab. / Renekl. |
| 2020 | 33,900 ha | 2,100 ha | 6,000 ha | 1,900 ha | 4,200 ha | 600 ha |
| 2021 | 33,600 ha | 2,100 ha | 6,000 ha | 1,800 ha | 4,200 ha | 600 ha |
| 2022 | 33,100 ha | 2,100 ha | 5,700 ha | 1,600 ha | 4,100 ha | 700 ha |
| 2023 | 33,000 ha | 2,100 ha | 5,700 ha | 1,500 ha | 4,100 ha | 700 ha |
| 2024 | 33,000 ha | 2,100 ha | 5,700 ha | 1,500 ha | 4,100 ha | 700 ha |
Focal points of fruit growing in Germany
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“Altes Land” (Hamburg and Lower Saxony) – the largest largest contiguous fruit-growing region in Europe
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Lake Constance, Rhine plain and Neckar-Tauber region (Baden-Württemberg)
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Mansfelder Land, Salzatal, Querfurt, Jessen, Stendal, Plößnitz, Allstedt, Eisleben, Naumburg and Langenweddignen (Saxony-Anhalt)
- Potsdam-Mittelmark, Märkisch-Oderland and Frankfurt a. d. Oder (Brandenburg)
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Cologne-Meckenheim, Bergisches Land and Lower Rhine (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Irrigation also indispensable in fruit growing
Irrigation is becoming increasingly important in agriculture due to the effects of climate change. While only 2.2 % of agricultural land (equivalent to 370,000 ha) was regularly irrigated in 2012, this figure had already risen to 3.3 % (equivalent to 550,000 ha) by 2022. In the area of special crops and fruit growing, the number of unreported irrigation measures that are not statistically recorded is certainly high.
2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 were difficult dry years for agriculture, with the east and north-east of Germany in particular affected by low rainfall. But other regions are also coming under increasing pressure. Irrigation is therefore becoming a matter of survival – and not just during periods of drought. Irrigation also protects against dangerous late frosts in spring, which, along with hail, represent an increasing risk factor for fruit growing due to the growing season being brought forward.
Nutrient uptake, root growth and photosynthesis
Water is essential for plant survival – not only for growth, but also for nutrient uptake, as plants can only absorb nutrients in dissolved form. Too little water therefore always means too few nutrients. Drought stress also inhibits root formation and CO₂ uptake via stomata in the leaves, which is of central importance for photosynthesis. Prolonged drought therefore leads to growth stagnation and considerable yield losses.
Irrigation protects against spring frost and drought stress
In many regions of Germany, global warming is resulting in increasingly mild winters and springs. This results in ever earlier budding and ever earlier blossoming. Compared to 60 years ago, apple blossom now occurs 14 days earlier. This means that spring frosts in April and May pose a considerable risk for fruit growers.
Over- and under-crown irrigation has therefore long been established in fruit growing to protect flowers and young fruit from frost. Over-canopy frost protection means watering the plants from above with sprinklers at temperatures just above freezing. If temperatures then drop below freezing, the water freezes on the plants. This releases heat, which protects the flowers or fruit . Under-canopy irrigation works on the same principle. The soil under the trees is soaked. The heat that rises as the soil freezes then protects flowers or young fruit.
Sub-crown irrigation is usually technically realized as drip irrigation. It is therefore also the first choice for periods of drought, as it minimizes evaporation and is very water-efficient. Another advantage: fruit and foliage are not watered, which prevents the formation of mold or fungal diseases.
Irrigation methods in fruit growing
Surface irrigation, e.g. in the form of flood or furrow irrigation, applies water directly through the soil. With flood irrigation, the entire ground surface between the trees is covered with water, while with furrow irrigation, the water flows specifically through furrows between the rows of trees. Both methods are simple but water-intensive. The high evaporation loss and low controllability result in low efficiency. Flood irrigation is mainly used for young plantations, but is of little importance in modern fruit growing systems.
Sprinkler irrigation: Sprinkler systems work according to the principle of uniform artificial irrigation. They moisten both soil and foliage, which leads to high water loss through evaporation and increases the risk of mold and fungal diseases. Water consumption is high and efficiency is low. On the positive side, this form of irrigation can also be used for frost protection irrigation.
Micro-sprinkler irrigation: Micro-sprinklers deliver water in a more targeted manner – to the base of the tree. This significantly reduces evaporation compared to conventional sprinklers, but still uses more water than drip systems. Advantage: They are also suitable for frost protection irrigation.
Drip irrigation: This form of irrigation is considered the most efficient method. The water reaches the root zone directly without wetting the leaves. This can save up to 50 % water compared to sprinkler systems – with the same or even better yield performance.
