Fresh produce is expensive, so why not take a look at these fastest-growing fruit trees and plant them in your garden?
While fruit trees aren’t usually famous for fast-growing since it may take three to seven years before they establish themselves fully to start producing fruit—some types do mature more quickly than others. The experts advise searching for “self-fruitful” trees when purchasing quickly maturing fruit trees.
These are types that bear fruit without the need for pollinators or cross-pollination, allowing you to enjoy your favorite fruits sooner, without spending a fortune to buy them from the supermarket.
Moreover, a lot of the trees on the list thrive nicely in containers as well as in the ground, so you can still enjoy them year-round even if you don’t live in one of the USDA hardiness zones where these trees flourish. Just bring them inside when the weather gets chilly. But enough with fancy introductions, let’s see what experts recommend regarding fruit trees.
Columnar apple
One of the best and easiest to take care of fruit trees on the list is the columnar apple. Being among the fastest-growing fruit trees, apples produce long branches that hang toward the ground. These trees vary from their counterparts that lack columns in that they develop fruiting spurs along the middle portion of their trunks. Crisp and juicy, columnar apples have a perfect blend of sweetness and acidity, which makes them great for baking, sauces, and raw eating.
To ensure your apple trees are growing healthy and happy, ensure they have 6 to 8 hours of full sun and water them regularly but do not overdo it. In about a year or less, depending on the climate of the area you reside, you will have your own juicy and tasty apples.
Oh, and I forgot to mention! Since they grow up to 12 feet, it’s better to be certain you have the necessary space in your garden before planting them.
Peach
Who doesn’t love a juicy peach on a hot summer day? One state, Georgia, even adopts the fruit as part of its nickname due to how popular this self-pollinating fruit is in that region! Juicy, sweet, and slightly tangy, peaches have a lovely scent and are great for canning, baking, and fresh eating.
When fully grown, this tree may reach a height of 25 feet. It needs 8 hours of direct sunlight to survive, and after 2 years, it will start to provide fruit. Experts advise against watering established trees near the trunk and lower branches to prevent root and crown disease.
Water thoroughly and sporadically (every two to three weeks) by irrigating for 12 to 24 hours, or until the soil is moist to a depth of 3 to 6 feet.
Loquat
Loquat trees, sometimes called Eriobotrya japonica, are another kind that grows well in the South. They produce orange fruit, and their leaves are frequently used to brew tea. The loquat tree is supposed to be planted during spring or late fall; just make sure you place it in a spot in your garden that will have full sun and partial shade with at least 5 or 6 hours of sunlight per day.
The tree likes loamy soil that drains well and has a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. Loquats should not be grown in soil that has been heavily compacted or that has a high acidity or salt content. To enjoy loquat’s fruits, you have to wait 1 year and a half, or probably 2 depending on the climate of the area you reside in.
For those who are not familiar, the fruits of the loquat have a taste mix that combines acidic and sweet notes with hints of plum, lemon, and apricot. It is consumed raw and added to compotes, jams, preserves, and pastries.
Asian pear
You may have access to these delectable fruits, which can be consumed in several ways, by planting Asian pear trees. Asian pears are delightful to eat raw or in salads because of their crisp texture and sweet, melon-like flavor when mature. Mmm, very tasty! Plant your Asian pear tree close to another pear type since the optimum fruit yield for Asian pear trees requires cross-pollination.
Place the tree in a sunny spot (with 8 hours of direct sunlight) in well-drained soil. Also, make sure you have enough space near it since these trees tend to grow up to 20 feet tall. You will indulge in the fruits of this fast-growing tree almost 2 years after you planted it.
Barbados cherry
This tree, also called an “acerola” cherry, grows easily and thrives in both the ground and containers. One prominent quality of Barbados cherry trees is their high vitamin C content. Same as other fastest-growing fruit trees on the list, the Barbados cherry loves sunshine (6 to 8 hours of full sun) but also shade and warm climates. They’re not fussy, so you can use any type of soil to plant them in. If it grows healthy and happy in less than 3 years, you will harvest the first cherries.
Goji
In addition to delicious red berries, goji berry plants are superfoods with several health advantages. If you want your goji berry tree to produce the most fruit, plant it in full light. Allow them lots of room to grow and enough open area so that workers may freely move about the plant while it is being harvested.
The optimal growth conditions for goji berries are hot, dry ones. This fruit tree grows up to 8 feet tall if it’s planted in the ground and 6 feet tall if it’s grown in pots. Remember to water your goji tree weekly, especially during the first growing season.
Fig
Given that the majority of these self-pollinating trees depend on insect assistance to bear fruit, their backstories are fascinating. Figs have a peculiar, sweet taste, typically described as a combination of honey and fruit, with a soft, chewy texture intermingled with crunchy seeds. A fully matured fig tree may grow to a height of thirty feet, so make sure your yard has adequate room for it. You may look forward to enjoying fruits from a tall, robust tree in a year.
Citrus
Citrus trees could be a fantastic alternative for you if you reside in California, much of the southwestern United States, Florida, or Alabama, according to the plant expert Lara Hermanson, principal and co-owner of Farmscape.
Why not cultivate your citrus fruits instead of spending a fortune on them at the supermarket? This tree just needs eight hours of direct sunlight and moderate watering. You may enjoy the fruits of dwarf kinds cultivated in pots in two years and conventional varieties in three to six years.
If you desire to have a citrus tree but for any reason you don’t have enough space for it in the garden or you don’t have a garden at all, growing indoors is possible. You just have to buy a good pot for it! Experts highly recommend this UOUZ plant pot, available on Amazon for just $23.96. Why this product in particular? It has drainage holes and a removable watering feeder. The pot is made of lightweight, durable, sturdy plastic with a matte exterior finish for a clean, modern look. It matches perfectly in any room, no matter the color of your furniture.
Avocado
Do you enjoy eating guacamole with eggs in the morning? If so, then you probably go shopping regularly for avocado fruits, and you already know how expensive they can get. Why not cultivate an avocado tree in your garden and relish picking its fresh fruits?
Fortunately, they’re not too fussy, and besides regular water and enough sun to grow, they don’t need much. If you take care of it accordingly, it might bear fruit in less than 2 years after being planted.
Looking for more helpful advice for your garden? You’re definitely in the right place! Check out a related article: Did You Know Vinegar Is GREAT for Your Garden?
