Six fast growing fruit trees {and one vegetable}

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Aww, fruit trees! It’s been said that the best time to plant a fruit tree is yesterday – because they take so long to produce. And while it’s true that you won’t get fruit the first year you plant a fruit tree it doesn’t have to take years and years to get fruit either. There are some fast growing fruit trees for you to plant. 

image of mulberries growing on mulberry tree

Let’s start off with talking about whether you should grow fruit trees from seeds or from a grafted tree. If you plant a grafted tree (one you bought from a nursery or that someone grafted for you) you will get fruit earlier than if you grow the tree from seed. This applies to all fruit trees.

Some people will argue that fruit trees that are grown from seed won’t produce fruit that tastes like the original fruit. This isn’t always the case. Some fruit, like most citrus, will grow true to the mother plant – it just takes 8-10 years before they will produce fruit. 

If you have space, it’s great to grow some trees from seed, just know that it will take much longer to get fruit. Attainable-Sustainable some great tips on starting nectarines from seed

But if you want fruit quickly, and I’m assuming you do, you should plant grafted trees. Also, you count how old a grafted tree is by counting from the time you plant it in the ground (or into a large container), not from the time it was grafted.

You don’t need a lot of property to grow fruit trees. Here’s some tips for planning a backyard fruit garden.

children picking mulberries from mulberry tree

Mulberries

Mulberries will produce within one year of planting a grafted tree and they grow tall super fast (over 2.5′ a year). We actually have one that came up as a volunteer from our neighbor’s tree and it produced a few berries the second year.

I’ve read it takes 10 years to get mulberries from a tree that’s been started from seed but this one produced in year two. It’s in year three right now and it about 12′ tall.

Mulberries get a bad rap because they aren’t plump and juicy like other berries but they are the first berries to produce around here and we love having them. We eat them raw and add them to yogurt, pancakes and smoothies. Learn how to grow and use mulberries.

image of small peach tree with peaches on it

Peaches and nectarines

I know peaches and nectarines are not the same fruit, but they are really close and have similar growing needs. They especially don’t like soggy roots so make sure you plant them in an area that has good drainage.

It also usually takes two trees to produce fruit, although there are some self-fertile peach trees. Make sure you get two different varieties that bloom at the same time so they can cross  pollinate. 

Most peaches and nectarines will fruit in under three years – but you have to take care of them.

image of Meyer lemon tree loaded with yellow ripe lemons

Citrus

Ok, I know not everyone can grow citrus in their backyard but did you know that some citrus like Meyer lemons and Satsuma oranges can be grown indoors? They can, so I think they deserve thoughtful consideration.

Citrus trees are self pollinating so you only need one tree to produce fruit. Also, they will start producing fruit the year after they are planted.

If you need some tips for growing citrus, you’ll find them here

image of green apples growing on apple tree

Apples

Apples need some cold weather, also known as chill-hours. Like peaches, apples really need another apple tree to cross pollinate. Otherwise we’ll end up with a nice tree but no apples.

Those of you who have nice cold winters probably don’t need to know that bit of information, but those of us who live in milder climate have to make sure we plant varieties that need low chill hours. And that’s no fun, especially if we are thinking we’ll be munching on apples in under three years.

If you want to learn more about chill hours and other climate metrics and how they affect your garden and orchard, we have a short ecourse that explains just that. You can get more information on understanding your climate here.

image of fig growing on fig tree

Figs

Figs are another fruit tree that likes warm weather, so if you plant one and live where it gets cold you might want to do it in a container.

Figs only need one tree to produce and you will probably get fruit in year two. Figs are self fertile, in fact they don’t even flower; they just make fruit.

Learn how to grow figs in the ground or in containers.

Bananas 

Bananas are another “tree” that needs warm weather but if you can provide it, you can have bananas in about two years.

We have a friend who is overrun with banana trees and has offered us some. They propagate through their root system and need to be dug up and separated occasionally to keep them from taking over.

Edited to add: A reader pointed out that bananas trees are not actually trees but are the world’s largest perennial herb. That might be why they grow so fast! 

image of moringa tree

Moringa

This little known tree is a powerhouse of nutrients. It likes warm climates but can be grown in containers and brought in during the winter. It can also be grown as an annual instead of a tree.

The leaves, seed pods and beans are edible. We eat the leaves in soups and smoothies. I also make a moringa tea blend with dehydrated leaves. The pods can be cooked like green beans. 

Moringa is super fast growing, like 15-20 feet in one season. As long as the roots don’t freeze, the moringa tree will come back year after year.

Of course there are many other fruit trees that are absolutely worth planting but they take three or more years to actually produce fruit. When you’re planning your fruit plantings make sure you include some of these early producers which will help the wait go by sooner.

Also make sure you’re making notes in you’re gardening notebook while you are doing your research and making plans this winter. 

image of ripe figs on fig tree

What trees are you planting this spring? Are you planting any fast growing fruit trees?

Thanks for sharing with your friends!

45 thoughts on “Six fast growing fruit trees {and one vegetable}”

  1. Angie, We have property in the Phoenix area. Actually Queen Creek, The property is an old citrus orchard that grows the original variety known as Arizona Sweets. But, I am happy to report that citrus is not the only fruit that we can grow in this arid climate. As long as you know the correct varieties, you can plant most any fruit tree. From cherries, to avocado. Moringa also grows very well here. It has been fun starting this farm in the desert and though I remain busy’; I look forward to your inspiring posts. Thank you for the lovely read.

    Reply
    • Donna, I love that you are growing food in the desert. I bet a lot of people are surprised at that you are doing that. It’s super inspiring to me. What variety of cherries are you growing? I’d love to find a low chill variety to plant here.

      Reply
      • You are right about that Angi, I have built my gardens on the side of my house that faces a road. There is only a chain link fence on that side. It is common for people to stop their car and approach the fence when I am out in my gardens. I invite them to come and look. I now have a once a month gathering in my gardens for people to come and share from their gardens or kitchens.
        The trees that I am familiar with doing well here are Royal dwarf and acerola. Since I am doing the best that I can with what I have, I am intrigued by the acerola for its high vitamin C content.
        I wish you well in all that you do

        Reply
        • do u get fruit on your acerola? If yes, what’s the trick? I have a bush with tons of flowers but no fruit. thanks

          Reply
          • I grew my moringa from seed. the seed that you get from the grocery store shelf in the mexican seasonings. A year and a half later and one bad hurricane, 2 of them are over 12feet tall and the other 3 are about 8 feet tall.

          • I didn’t realize you could buy moringa in the grocery store. How cool is that? Ours went through a hurricane a last year and not only survived but grew a lot the next few months after having all their leaves stripped off.

  2. I have a blackberries tree, every year for the past 3 years is been growing the fruit but at first I thought the squirrels were getting to them before they get ripe, but this last season, it was full of green fruit, but started to fall before it got ripe,, leaving noting in a matter of weeks all the fruit ended up on the floor,, what is wrong with it, is there something I can do to help keep the fruit till its fullest,, is not I am looking to knocking the tree down

    Reply
    • Hi Leticia, I’m guessing that what you are calling a blackberry tree is actually a mulberry tree as blackberries grow on vines and brambles, not trees. I’m not sure why your blackberry tree is dropping fruit but I can help you troubleshoot. Are you sure the tree is a purple mulberry tree? There is a white variety and those mulberries won’t get purple. If that’s not the problem, a young tree will often drop it’s fruit the first few years so it can put all it’s energy into growing larger and growing a good root system. Too much water or too little water can also cause fruit drop. High winds or any other kind of trauma can cause the fruit to drop. Before calling it quits for this tree, I would suggest that you make notes next spring about everything that cold affect the tree. Keep track of when you first see fruit, how often and how much it rains, etc. maybe that will shed some light onto the situation. Hope that helps.

      Reply
  3. I’m just going to pint out that bananas are NOT in fact trees! They are a type of grass actually. Please get your facts right before posting something.

    Reply
  4. Paula asks,

    I live in the northeast region and would like to grow some fruit trees. However, I am quite green in what and how to grow them. Does any one have ideas for me. We have no spring to speak of, usually the ground is covered with snow until May. Then we have a mud season that goes into summer. The summer months are nice temps range from 70- 90 and the nights start getting cool in mid August low 50 – upper 40. Our growing season is very short. Blueberries grow very well. Blackberries do also, bug if they have enough moisture and sun they will yield wonderfully. However, if we get a lot of hot sun and no rain they will shrivel before they rippen. Now that is frustrating.

    Reply
    • Hi Paula, that is frustrating! We are constantly watering our fruit during the heat of the summer to keep the fruit from drying out. I reached out to some northern friends and Chris from Joybilee Farms lives in Canada with a similar climate as the one you described. She has written a wonderful post on growing fruit in that climate, https://joybileefarm.com/fruit-trees-zone-3/. Hope that helps

      Reply
      • Angie I am wondering if anyone can help me with my two lovely apple trees. They are grafted with 5 types and they have been loaded with apples each year. Now this year was the worst with apple maggots I believe they are! All my delicious apples went to the chickens and other critters. The first year I wasn’t expecting fruit and didn’t treat them. second year I went to the store and bought organic spray that they said would even work better the second year. Sprayed the ground around the trees and the trees before fruit set. I also put brown paper bags on as many apples as I could but the tree was loaded so lots didn’t get bags. All the bagged apples were beautiful and delicious but the others were once again attacked with maggots. This year I was away when the fruit was the right size to bag but I did spray like it said. ALL the apples were not even eatable at all. Couldn’t even find a spot to cut out and eat. Got any help for us poor gardeners who don’t want to use poison??? and bagging that many apples is likely out of the question. thanks Marion

        Reply
        • Caribbean tip on worms in fruits, you might think it is gross but it actually works. Pee… I said it. Do your number ones as often as you can before and during fruiting by the root for a 30-50 foot tree. Small trees use diluted 5 water to one part at least, occasionally. PS it is a good fertilizer also.
          Cheers!

          Reply
          • oh, yes. Urine is an effective fertilizer. I had no idea it would help with worms on fruit trees. I bet I can convince my grandson to help…lol

    • Hi Ramesh. Plano is in gardening zone 8a which means it can get into the low teens during the winter. If you are familiar with with gardening zones (both cold hardy and heat zones), chill hours, etc for understanding your climate, you should consider this mini ecourse, https://creativesimpleliving.com/gardening-simplified-understanding-climate/, it will help you pick plants that are good for your area.

      Mulberries would grow well in Plano, we used to live in Ft Worth and had a beautiful mulberry tree. Also, peaches and nectarine, apples, citrus if you grew it in a pot and brought it in when the temperatures reach freezing, You can also grow moringa as an annual and just harvest the leaves throughout the summer. A great place to start is by talking to your local county extension office, they are a wealth of information.

      Reply
  5. Hi Angie, I’m so glad that I discovered your post on Facebook. I live in Idaho but my sister lives in Arizona and would be interested in knowing that avocado trees are grown there.

    Reply
    • Hi Debbie, I don’t live in Arizona but I know their climate is pretty diverse. I would suggest that your sister visit with her county extension agent about growing avocados in her area. Thanks!

      Reply
  6. Banana you get in one year, especially in tropical climate. My home is surrounded by them , and even in hot summer they provide lot of shade and lowers the atmospheric temperature. Tried to google the reason to find out how they cool the surroundings, but found nothing. Amazing plant, gift of God..

    Reply
  7. Hi Angie, Thank you for your helpful article. We’re living in LA Co near the coastline, zone 10. We planted a Santa Rosa plum 20 years ago that outdid itself til it died 2 years ago. We also planted a Hollywood apple that has done okay, not great. Now that I’m retired I have more time to water and prune, so it’s doing much better.
    I’d like to plant some more fruit trees that would be fast growers, fruitful and attractive to bees, birds and butterflies. I’m not familiar with mulberry, but if it grows in our zone, I’m willing to try it out. Can you please tell me more about the moringa tree and what kind of fruit it bears? Does these trees respond well to topping and pruning to keep them from growing too big?
    Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    • Hi Shelley. Yes, mulberry and morninga will grow in zone 10 and both can be topped and pruned to keep them from growing too big. You’ll want to be careful where you plant the mulberry so that the berries don’t drop on your car or in a heavy foot traffic area. Some people plant them by a sidewalk or driveway and regret that later. The moringa produces a bean pod – like large green beans – that can be eaten when they are immature. The main part that is eaten from a morninga is the leaves. It responds well to frequent harvesting. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  8. Thanks for your reply, Angi. Planning on planting them both on the back yard and topping them so we’ll be able to control their height.
    Do you know if either one is nitrogen fixing?
    Thanks again for your help.

    Reply
  9. Angie:
    I now live in Phoenix with 4 citrus trees. So glad to hear of the Satsuma orange for indoor growing. My main desires are seed swaps and a gardening club or group.. Oh, I believe I’d like to plant a nectarine. Would you recommend a really delicious one.

    Thanks you,
    Edna

    Reply
  10. Anyone growing dwarf June plum(Spondias dulcis) either indoors or outdoors(at least 10a-it’s frost tender).
    The dwarf form is suppose to fruit earlier than the typical. A foot tall potted plant under grow lights or southern exposure has fruited in my experience, but my plants got scale so gave up on it.
    Might try again by placing it in cool garage or spaying with mint oil or making a mini gas chamber of essential oil to rid of any bugs.
    Flavor is. Suppose to taste like mango combined with pineapple.Leaves are suppose to be edible like mango leaves.

    Reply
  11. More on June plum(Spondias dulcis) dwarf form and myself. I live in Vancouver,WA USDA 8b. The only citrus I grow are kaffir lime,grafted Sour orange, mixed citrus rootstock seedlidlings. Actually no longer grow the June plum ,but sometimes if you can get the fruit from Asian grocery stores and let it ripen then the pip should germinate. The dwarf form comes true to type according to Logees. They don’t seem to have it in stock at the time.
    I did see a regular June Plum offered by Sow Exotics in WinTer, Haven ,FL.
    I did purchase their star anise tree instead. Hopefully it will bear in a container and produce seeds.
    They never got back to me on were they obtained their source material.?
    Other edibles in my little oasis include zingiber moiga ‘Cruz Zing’ And hopefully perennial broccoli from Oikos tree crops.
    Always willing to trade

    Reply
  12. Hello Angie, I have 2 Mulberry trees that have been in the ground for a year now here in southern Virginia, zone 7b-8a. I was wondering when would be a good time to top them off so that they would grow open in the center, vase style. I plan to keep them pruned yearly for easy picking. I do not want them to get tall and out of hand. As of right now they are very healthy, around 9 ft. tall, with one single leader. I have done much research but cannot find when to top off the leader. Thank you for any advise you can give me. HAPPY GROWING!!!

    Reply
    • They should loose all their leaves and go dormant in the winter, that’s when you’ll want to prune them. I usually prune in late January.

      Reply

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