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There’s no question that planting fruit trees and cultivating a homegrown orchard to maturity is a time-consuming, long-term project in which the reward comes years down the road. But it’s also true that you can select fruit tree varieties that are fast-growing and able to produce fruit sooner—sometimes yielding a worthy harvest years before the trees reach full maturity. If you’d like to experiment with some easy, fast-growing fruit trees, we reached out to our experts for advice on which ones to try.
Papaya
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One way to obtain early fruit quickly is to try growing papaya (Carica papaya), a shrub that rapidly develops into a tree-like plant. “Papaya is hard to beat if you want speed,” says tropical plant expert Tatiana Anderson. “It can grow from a small plant to fruiting in the same year—often within six to 10 months.”
Papayas can reach an impressive height of 30 feet and thrive in zones 9 to 11. “It’s easy because it doesn’t behave like a typical tree,”. The notes that it has shallow roots and is very responsive to warm weather, adequate water, and regular feeding. In South Florida conditions, it’s mostly a plant-it-and-forget-it shrub.
Dwarf Apple
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Cultivating delicious apples in your backyard is possible, and it doesn’t have to take a long time. Dwarf rootstock trees are bred to grow to a smaller size, meaning they take up less space in your yard. But there’s another advantage to growing these varieties—dwarf apple trees (Malus domestica) generally start producing usable fruit within three years of planting (give or take), which is several years faster than standard-sized apple trees.
Pear
Pears (Pyrus spp.) are a beloved fruit thanks to their soft, pleasant texture, and growing your own is often an attainable goal. “Pear trees also fit the bill for being low maintenance,” says consulting arborist Douglas Still. “Some cultivars grow faster and fruit earlier than previously thought. The old adage, ‘plant pears for your heirs,’ is still true due to their longevity; however, we no longer need to wait decades to start eating them (more like three to six years).” Summer Crisp that grow 1 to 3 feet per year and will reach maturity in fewer than 10 years.
Guava
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Guava (Psidium guajava) is one of the most forgiving fruit trees you can grow. “It handles heat, occasional neglect, and even less-than-perfect soil,”. Not only is it easy to care for, but the guava tree growth is quick, with many varieties fruiting within one to two years of planting. “It adapts well, stays relatively compact, and keeps producing with minimal fuss,”.
Montmorency Cherry
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America’s favorite sour cherry is, conveniently, also a fast-growing one. “As a former city forester, my knowledge of fruit trees comes from planting urban pocket orchards in abandoned spaces, city parks, and next to community gardens,”. “Our selections needed to be fast-growing, produce delicious fruit, and thrive with low maintenance and no spraying. My favorite tree by far is Montmorency cherry, a ‘tart’ cherry with bright red fruit perfect for pies and preserves.” Montmorency cherries (Prunus cerasus ‘Montmorency’) should thrive in zones 4 through 7. “Once established, they are tough and prolific, growing to 15 to 20 feet in 10 years,”.
