fruit tree space

[Lonely Frost King]

I planted a fruit tree at the edge of my farm just above and to the left of the farm house right next to the fence that marks the edge of the area. have i stunted the trees growth?

[Woudo]

Most likely.

Might as well leave it there and pray i'm wrong.

[Chloe]

Yes, fruit trees need 2 empty spaces, I believe, in each direction.

[PetalLeshy]

Fruit trees will grow if the 8 spaces around them are empty(for the purpose of neighboring fruit trees, these empty spaces are not allowed to overlap either). The empty spaces need not be viable farm land, meaning you can plant them next to a body of water. I'm not sure if the perimeter of the farm is different, but you can plant them in the greenhouse, and there the edges of the greenhouse count as empty spaces.

[Silky Rough]

Originally posted by Zephyr:

Yes, fruit trees need 2 empty spaces, I believe, in each direction.

That's partially correct but only where 2 fruit trees are near each other. As Apparition states, 1 space all round is all that's needed making a total of 8. However they don't share the space so any second tree needs to have it's "own" space.

This is invalid.
xxxxx
x0x0x
xxxxx

This is valid.
xxxxxx
x0xx0x
xxxxxx

[vandaman]

Well, the first one is valid, as long as one of the trees is already fully grown as it no longer checks to make sure the tiles are empty.

Edit: at least, as far as I know.

[Sander]

objects that are already placed on the farm by default that cannot be removed, like bushes or water, do not impact the growth rate of the fruit trees. If any wood, rock or grass appears next to it, remove it to not impact the growth speed of the tree.

[NotThatHarkness]

Originally posted by vandaman:

Well, the first one is valid, as long as one of the trees is already fully grown as it no longer checks to make sure the tiles are empty.

Edit: at least, as far as I know.

If you have paths on those tiles then the fruit won't increase in quality in subsequent years. That was my experience (and the most likely explanation). So, I wouldn't be surprised if having another tree in that 8 space zone has the same effect.

[Silky Rough]

Originally posted by vandaman:

Well, the first one is valid, as long as one of the trees is already fully grown as it no longer checks to make sure the tiles are empty.

Edit: at least, as far as I know.

I think you're right insofar as after they're mature but it's making sure they reach maturity that's the problem. You can't shift them so you'd have to wait for each tree to reach maturity first to be able to plant 1 space apart.