Not all fruit-bearing plants take a long time to grow. In fact, some start bearing fruits within a year or two of planting. Here are some fast-bearing fruit trees, vines, perennials, and shrubs you can add to your home garden.
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1. Figs
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Fig trees are very easy to grow. They’re one of the best backyard fruit trees for beginners who want to try gardening for the first time.
If you don’t have a garden, plant the tree in a soil pot and transfer indoors. Just make sure it gets enough sunlight.
Growing Time
You can grow new fig trees from existing ones through ground-layering. Roots will sprout from low-hanging branches as long as the notch touches the ground.
Fig trees generally start bearing fruits one year from planting.
2. Mulberries
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Mulberry trees grow an average of 10 to 12 feet within a six-year period. They thrive when planted in dense, nutritious soil and given large amounts of sunlight daily.
You can easily graft stock from them and transfer to different areas if needed. Mulberry trees are not sensitive.
Growing Time
If grown from grafted stock, expect mulberry trees to produce at around 6 to 10 lbs. of fruit within the first three years. Meanwhile, a mature mulberry tree over 20 years produces 600 lbs. of fruit in the same timeframe.
3. Peaches
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Peaches are one of the fastest-growing fruit trees around. Whether you choose to graft stock or sow seeds, your plant will begin bearing fruits within five years.
However, they are not resilient to the cold. Many peach trees even lose their buds when the temperature drops below -15°F.
Growing Time
If grown from a young tree, you can expect peaches to appear one year from planting. Meanwhile, gardeners who choose to plant seeds will have to wait three to five years until their tree starts bearing fruits.
Considering the fact that other fruit trees take more than a decade to produce fruit if grown from seeds, a five-year waiting time doesn’t seem so bad.
4. Nectarines
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Nectarine trees bear fruit quickly. They are on par with peaches as one of the fastest-bearing fruit trees you can plant in your backyard.
However, they are high maintenance. Expect to do a lot of trimming and pruning on a regular basis.
Growing Time
Gardeners can expect to harvest nectarines two to three years from planting. They'll produce 30 to 40 pounds of fruit consistently for two decades.
5. Mandarins
Mandarin trees are very easy to maintain. They need minimal pruning and trimming so you won’t have to worry about regular maintenance.
Plus, they’re self-pollinating. One mandarin tree is all you need to grow dozens of pounds of these citrus delights.
Growing Time
Grafted mandarin trees will begin bearing fruits after two to three years. If you plant them from seeds, however, expect fruits to appear five to seven years from planting.
They love the warm weather and need at least five to six hours of sunlight daily. Those who live in colder climates can opt to plant their mandarin trees in an indoor greenhouse where you can control the temperature.
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6. Black Cherries
Do you think cherries take too long to grow? Then opt for black cherries instead.
They grow much faster and require a lot less maintenance. In fact, black cherry trees that haven’t begun bearing fruits only need to be watered every two to three months.
Growing Time
Black cherry trees bear fruits two to three years from planting. They can also reach a staggering height of 20 feet in just a few years.
7. Apricots
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What makes apricots so cool is their extremely long lifespan. With the right care, a single tree can live up to a whopping 150 years! So there’s a good chance your future grandchildren will even get to see the apricot tree you plant today.
Growing Time
Gardeners can expect to see apricots appear within three years of planting. They require a moderate level of maintenance which includes fruit thinning and weekly irrigation once they begin bearing fruits.
8. Lemons
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Sunlight is very important when growing a lemon tree. This fruit plant needs as much as it can get.
Growing Time
Lemon trees first bear fruit within three to five years of planting. After that, you can expect it to produce a fresh batch of harvest at least once or twice a year.
For those who don’t have a garden, you can opt to plant the tree in a container. If it’s cold outside, move the pot inside. Alternatively, you can place the tree outdoors if the weather is bright and sunny.
9. Papayas
What makes papayas ideal is they're the perfect fruit tree for beginners. Firstly, they do not require much maintenance. All you need to do is ensure they get enough sunlight and water.
Secondly, you can grow them in pots. If you don’t have a garden, just plant them in a pot and position near an open window.
Lastly, they have dwarf variants. This is ideal for those who have small outdoor or indoor gardens.
Growing Time
Papayas can produce fruits within a year from planting. It will continue to produce around 80 lbs. of fruit at least once every year.
These fruit trees love warm climates. They are popular in subtropical and tropical areas such as Central America, Mexico, and Southeast Asia.
Check out this video by David the Good on how to make your plants start bearing fruits faster:
The key to growing fruit plants quickly and efficiently is regular maintenance. Whether you have trees, shrubs, or vines, they won’t start bearing fruits unless you address the hindrances to fruit bearing. Remember to fertilize them regularly, drive the pests away, and generously spread mulch.
Also, opt to plant young trees or graft stock rather than sow seeds. Even a peach tree can take three to five years to bear fruit if grown from scratch.
What other vines, shrubs, and trees do you think can start bearing fruits within a year or two from planting? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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