Fruit-bearing trees take ten straight years to produce a fresh sweet harvest. Instead of waiting too long, wouldn’t you want to grow the fastest fruit-producing trees in your backyard? 

So what makes these trees stand out? 

You’ll be glad to know that the trees we’ll discuss in this article grow significantly faster and produce fruits within 2-3 years. But let’s first understand if you should grow fruit trees from seeds or grafted ones and how it matters. 

Seed vs. Grafted Trees

Most nurseries sell grafted fruit trees. They are much smaller than the ones that grow from seeds but are a fantastic choice as they bear fruit faster than you expected. 

The downside of grafted trees is that they are expensive, but they save you time and energy you may have otherwise spent nurturing a tree to bear your fruits. So, that way, every spent on grafted trees is worth it. 

Trees grew out of seeds to take a minimum of 8-10 years to produce fruits. However, it’s a cheaper experience. If you are patient, only then sign for it. 

Top Fastest Growing Fruit Trees

Don’t forget every tree is different. There are multiple varieties of apple trees, and some grow fast. Also, factor in the USDA zone and the climatic conditions the array you are planning to expand can handle. 

What is the USDA Zone? 

The United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA) determines zones depending upon the minimum temperature recorded in a particular area throughout the year in which a plant can survive. These zones form the basis of the survival of specific plant species. USDA has defined 13 such zones for gardening and landscaping. Canada also follows these guidelines. 

Hardiness zones mean the USDA scale. For instance, if a plant is hardy to zone 10, this means nothing but the plant can bear a minimum temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit ( -1. 1 degree Celsius) to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4-degree Celsius). 

So it is highly recommended to buy the fruit trees from a nearby nursery as they will give you a variety which is suitable to grow in your area. Investing in a fruit tree that is native to your region is a great thing to do and worth your money. 

Given underneath are the fastest fruit-bearing trees that’ll tempt your taste buds:

Peach Trees

Peach trees are known for bearing quick fruits but can not withstand cold temperatures or frost. Be careful while selecting the peach variety, as it should be hard to bear with winters, especially if you are in zone 5B. Select a well-drained area to make sure that the roots don’t rot. Don’t plant the same kind of variety to ensure cross-pollination, but it should bloom almost simultaneously. A peach tree will yield you the first harvest within three years if you take proper care of it. 

Zone Hardiness: 4-9, but flourishes well and yields a good harvest if planted in zones 6-8.

Sunlight Required: Total exposure to sunlight is required, especially in the morning. 

Soil Requirements: Slightly acidic between 6-6.5, well-draining, and fertile soil.

Mulberry Trees

Mulberry trees are massive, so be sure to have enough space for them. They grow very speedily. A grafted mulberry can bear fruits in 12 years and continue to harvest for years without failure. They tend to multiply everywhere, so be very cautious of that. .They usually grow 2.5 ft tall per year. You’ll be surprised to know that a three-year-old mulberry plant can produce 12 ft. taller. These are heavy producers, and the harvest is so much that you can’t collect all of it. It yields dozens of cups of juicy berries. 

Zone Hardiness: 5-9, but some varieties grow well in zones 3-4.

Sunlight Required: Full or partial exposure to sunlight

Soil Requirements: Well-draining and fertile soil. 

Apple Tree

Apple trees thrive in cold weather, and the harvest is also good if they get some chill hours. 

If the weather around your region is mild, then you can grow some varieties of apples that need low chill hours. You may be thinking, what are chill hours? Your tree to bear fruit needs some specific days at a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less in the winter. Doing so brings the tree to come out of its dormancy state and starts to bloom. Ensure to plant more varieties of apple trees that will yield harvest simultaneously and propagate cross-pollination so that your trees can produce tons of juicy apples. 

Zone Hardiness: 3-8 

Sunlight Required: Total exposure to sunlight, especially required on the north front. 

Soil Requirements: Well-draining, textured soil with a minimum range of acidity required between 6.0 to 6.5.

Citrus Fruit Trees

Citrus trees can’t handle frost, which is why a lot of people don’t consider these. So the region’s temperature should be high enough through the year to grow these in your backyard. These are some of the fastest-growing trees. You can even grow them indoors if the weather outside is cold. Satsuma oranges or Meyer lemons grow well indoors. These trees go dormant in winters so that you can bring them inside. These are dwarf trees. Citrus fruits are self-pollinating, so you don’t need to plant more varieties alongside. An entire harvest comes after three years, but the first fruit shows up within one plantation year. 

Zone Hardiness: 8-10 

Sunlight Required: Total exposure to sunlight, but protection against wind required.

Soil Requirements: Rich in humus and well-draining. 

Apricot Trees

The fast-growing varieties of apricots are “Earlygolden” and ” Moorepark,” which take about 3-4 years to produce sweet apricots. Like citrus fruit trees, apricots are also self-pollinating. These flourish well in cold weather and require 700-1000 chilling hours to bear fruits.

Zone Hardiness: 5-8

Sunlight Required: Total exposure to sunlight

Soil Requirements: Rich in humus and well-draining. 

Mandarin Fruit Trees

Though the mandarins are citrus fruits, they are significantly easier to grow than lemons and oranges. If you are an amateur gardener or a farmer, mandarins are good and low in maintenance. You can check for dwarf mandarine plants that will quickly adapt to the climatic conditions of your area. If you grow mandarins from seeds, then it’ll take them seven years to produce fruits, while if you grow them from a grafted plant, you can expect faster results in a minimum time of 2-3 years. It’s super easy to grow mandarins; you do not need to take extra care or require tips and a trick manual to nurture them. These don’t require pruning as well. 

Zone Hardiness: 8-10 

Sunlight Required: Exposure to 5-6 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements: Slightly acidic

Cherry Trees

Cherry trees are enormous, but unlike apricots, not all cherry trees produce fruits faster. The blackberries usually grow 50 ft tall, so think through the space constraints if you have any. Even if you plant dwarf trees, try to maintain 10 feet distance between them. Sweet cherry trees do not need other varieties to grow near them, as they self propagate. These take about four years to yield fruits. Sour cherries produce fruits faster than sweet ones, which are about three years old. 

Zone Hardiness: 8-10 

Sunlight Required: Exposure to 5-6 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements: Slightly acidic

Fig Trees

Fig trees can not withstand cold weather. However, they produce fruits fast. Figs love hot weather, so plant your tree in a container, which you can bring indoors when the temperature outside dips. Unlike other fruit-bearing trees, fig trees don’t flower and don’t need other fig trees around them to partner with in order to cross-pollinate. You’ll notice fruits blooming in about two years in the fig branches. 

Fig trees thrive if you plant them directly in the ground than in containers. So, if your region provides climatic conditions for a fig to grow well, you should consider planting it outdoors, and it will grow 30 ft tall. It grows rapidly in the first five years and produces fruits all through its lifespan. 

Zone Hardiness: 8-11

Sunlight Required: Full Sunlight

Soil Requirements: Slightly acidic, well-draining 

Moringa Trees

Moringa is loaded with nutrients, so if you are health conscious, it’ll be good for you to grow this tree in your backyard. Moringa prefers warm weather, just like citrus fruit trees. You might want to plant it in a container and bring it inside if the outdoor temperature is cold. 

The beans, leaves, and seed pods of moringa are edible parts. You can add moringa leaves to your soup to make it more nutritious or blend it into your tea. The pods are more or less like green beans. The trees grow speedily and reach about 15-20 feet in the first season. It is better to produce them directly in the ground to promote healthy growth. 

Zone Hardiness: 8-10

Sunlight Required: Full Sunlight

Soil Requirements: Sandy or loamy, well-draining, neutral ph level.

Bottom Line

Fruit-bearing trees generally yield a fresh harvest in about ten years of span if you grow them from seeds. However, consider growing them from grafted plants for faster produce which is typically 3-4 years. 

Do consider the USDA zone you fall in and your climatic conditions to provide a pleasant environment to the fruit tree you plan to grow. Some of the fastest-growing fruit trees are:

• Peach Trees
• Mulberry Trees
• Apples
• Apricot Trees
• Citrus Fruit Trees
• Fig Trees
• Cherries
• Mandarines
• Moringas

I hope this guide helped you in your quest for fast-growing fruit trees. Happy farming!