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23 Fast Growing Fruit Trees to Grow in Your Backyard

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In this modernized fast-paced world, patience has become a Latin concept. With clever work, everyone demands quick results. So, it is not unusual if a DIY gardener like you wants the same. 

Typically, fruit trees take about 7 to 10 years to bear fruits. Waiting that long to taste the sweetness of homegrown fruits is a tough nut to crack. Apart from this, the risks of consuming chemically injected and pesticide-laden market fruits are increasing day by day. 

Here are healthy, safe, and fast-growing fruit trees that every gardening enthusiast should consider sowing in their backyard.

Bonus Read: Learn about how and when to plant a garden in this step-by-step guide.

23 Unique Fast-growing Fruit Trees To Grow Outdoors

Select from the below-mentioned fruit tree options and make a difference in your bare backyard now!

1. Apple

Apple

Apple trees require full sunlight and well-drained, textured soil. One of the fast-growing fruit trees, they can bear the succulent produce in just three years. With a mature height of 15 feet, apple trees need initial care to nurture a strong branch structure.

To keep the beauty of the tree long-lasting, doing regular pruning, fertilization, and proper controlling of insect infestation and disease is necessary. Remember to use fungicide applications during early spring and summer to produce high-quality apples. 

Along with being the best fruit to grow in pots, apple trees require cross-pollination with other apple trees as well. In the absence of cross-pollination, you will end up having a great tree with barely any growing apples. 

2. Avocado

Avocado

The best location to plant an avocado tree is in a vicinity with plenty of sun exposure and well-drained, sterile potting soil. If you are planning to purchase a tree to plant, you can expect the product in the first 3 to 4 years of planting. However, growing from the seed will take 5 to 13 years before you can see the first fruit. 

Planting in a 10-inch wide pot for proper sowing and germinating of the avocado seed is recommended. Additionally, encouraging pollination and fertilizing with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer in late winters and early summers will help grow tastier fruits. 

3. Moringa

Moringa

Moringa, a super fast-growing fruit tree, prefers warm climates and well-drained sandy or loamy soil. The striking feature of this tree is that it can grow as tall as 15 to 20 feet in a single growing season. To be precise, you can expect the tree to grow at least 18 feet in less than six months. Also, to grow into a strong tree, provide moringa with 6 to 7 hours of daily sunlight.

Popularly known as the ‘miraculous tree’, moringa has nutritional and pharmacological properties attached to it. It has the superpower to cure asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart problems, and other common illnesses too. 

Its leaves are also added in preparing tea, and its slender fruits called ‘drumsticks’ are consumed as food in many parts of the world. All the above-mentioned qualities make this fruit tree a right fit for almost any backyard. 

4. Coconut

Coconut

Coconut is a fast-growing fruit tree found around almost every house of coastal areas in Asian countries. Growing the tree in places of warm or tropical climates is advised. Although coconut trees take approximately six years to bear the produce, they have a life cycle of around 90 years. 

To have the best yield, select a soil type with a minimum depth of 1.2 meters and a reasonably good water retention capacity. Also, choose fertilizers that are rich in boron, manganese, and magnesium. Make sure to plant the coconut tree in areas where the temperature does not fall below 10 degrees.

Owing to its ability to produce fresh coconuts year-round, coconut trees have multiple uses in the gardening industry. Often referred to as the ‘tree of life’, this is an integral tree to sustain human life.

5. Guava

Guava

Taking up to 8 years to produce fruit, guava trees are commonly propagated through cutting and layering. These trees grow well in the presence of full sun and any soil with good drainage.

To grow the tree in a pot, take a container that is at least 18 to 24 inches wide and make sure the pot has adequate drainage holes. 

If you want to keep the guava trees small, keep pruning them continuously from the top and the ends.

6. Plum

Plum

With cross-pollination, this fast-growing fruit tree can produce fruits in four to six years of planting. On maturation, the plum reaches a height and width of 16 feet each. 

Winter chill, pruning, full sun, well-drained sandy soil, and an all-purpose fertilizer are the prerequisites of a plum tree. Additionally, watering the tree once every 10 to 14 days is sufficient. 

To protect the plum trees from damage and frost, you can use netting to drape over the tree, or even a fruit cage. 

7. Lemon

Lemon

Preferring warm climates, lemon trees are the easiest trees to grow and need daily sunlight with humus-rich soil. This tree takes anywhere between four months to a year to fully develop. Choosing a nitrogen-rich fertilizer not having any number in the formula higher than 8 (8-8-8) is the right pick. 

With once-a-week watering, ensure that the soil is not in poor condition. Otherwise, it may lead to excess water intake and, as a result, destroy the tree.

8. Passion Fruit

Passion Fruit

Derived from the passionflower vine, this fast-growing fruit tree comes in different colours. In 12 to 16 months, you will be surprised to see a full harvest of passion fruit. In subtropical regions, you can expect fruiting in 6 to 12 months of planting the tree. 

To grow passion fruit, plant the tree in a partially shaded area. Use organic matter like compost and sheep pellets to prepare the soil. Not to forget, pay special attention to regular watering and use a potassium-rich fertilizer to feed the plant. 

9. Raspberry

Raspberry

Raspberries bear an impressive harvest and take about 13 to 15 months to grow. These trees require well-drained, rich in organic matter soil. Before planting, choosing a suitable variety is essential. Keep in mind, differentiated as summer bearing and fall-bearing varieties, each type has different weather requirements. 

These trees can get huge and spread out. This mainly happens because raspberries feed heavily on water. And to get water access, they can grow in any direction. Thus, arranging for enough room for the tree to spread out is advised. 

Remember: Raspberry trees need pruning annually. 

10. Blueberry

Blueberry

Bestow the tree with acidic soil and a sunny spot, and watch it thrive in any garden. The berries from this fast-growing fruit tree are ready to pick in two to four months after flowering. Whereas, for the complete fruit, you will have to wait for a year or two after the plantation date. 

Do not make the mistake of planting the trees too close to each other as that will block out the much-needed sunlight and suck up moisture from the soil. At the same time, be careful not to expose the tree to harsh, fast-blowing winds. 

11. Mulberry

Mulberry

Coming in shade variations from red to dark purple, mulberries are born with delicate white blooms. They prefer rich organic matter soil and are partially tolerant to shade. Surprisingly, starting to bear fruit in three years, mature mulberries can get as giant as 70 to 80 feet. 

With a rapid growth of six feet every ten years, this fast-growing fruit tree ripens throughout the summer season. You need to realize that the mulberry tree is massive, and providing a considerable space to escalate the growth is mandatory. 

Being a heavy-producing tree, once planted, it guarantees scores of berries every year. 

12. Peach

Peach

Growing to a height of 15 feet within a year, harvesting the peaches in cold winter can be troublesome. Nonetheless, with proper care, an average peach tree takes about three years to bear fruits. 

Since the tree produces the yield through cross-pollination, growing two different varieties at the same flowering time is advised. 

Peach trees grow best in daily sunlight of six hours and a significant airflow. 

Tip: If you want to grow the tree in containers, select a dwarf variety of the peach tree. 

13. Strawberry

Strawberry

If you are an amateur at gardening, this is a perfect pick to boost your gardening skills.

For DIY gardening enthusiasts planting strawberries in pots, keeping them at a distance of 18 to 24 inches and daily watering is vital. Even more helpful, to help foliage dry well before nightfall, water the trees early in the day. 

Ideally sown at the end of winter or spring, strawberries take about a year for the first harvest. You will get the highest yield from the youngest plants. Additionally, it is recommended to fertilize the soil twice a year and prune it once a year. 

Keep in mind, while growing strawberries, take precautions to keep deer and rabbits at bay.

Bonus read: To know the best time to plant strawberries, click here

14. Cherry 

Cherry

Maturing within three to four years of planting, cherry trees demand full sunlight and well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. This fast-growing fruit tree can reach a height of 45 to 50 feet. Thus, make sure that you have ample space for its growth. 

Albeit sour cherries produce sooner than sweet cherries, sweet cherry trees are self-sterile, and you need not undertake extra labour to have other varieties of cherries in the same area. 

If you are planning to plant dwarf trees, keep in mind to plant them at least 10 feet apart. 

15. Apricot

Apricot

This self-fruiting fast-growing fruit tree does well in cooler temperatures. At the same time, it also needs to be planted in a full sun area.

Apricot trees do not produce fruits in the first year. However, planting ‘Early Golden’ and ‘Moorpark’ varieties of apricot trees is a feasible choice for fast growth. Even better, being self-fertile, apricots do not need cross-pollination. 

Note: Apricot trees need 700 to 1000 hours of chilling to give fruits. Hence, plant them accordingly.

16. Mandarin

Mandarin

Mandarins belong to the citrus family. If you are a novice at gardening, planting mandarins is a smart idea. They not only have trouble-free requirements but also need less maintenance as a whole.  

Growing the tree from seeds may take you about seven years to see the harvest. Thus, start with grafted trees and enjoy the fruiting in two to three years. Moreover, plant the tree in such a location where there is a daily presence of five to six hours of sunlight. 

Mandarins are pruning-free. So, if pruning seems terrifying to you, go ahead and plant mandarins!

17. Pear

Pear

An added advantage of planting pear trees is that they have fewer disease and pest problems. The early pear varieties bear fruits in three to four years. Hence, picking up the right plant variety from the abundant options is crucial. 

The best time to plant this fast-growing fruit tree is either in late winters or early spring. The planting requisites are:

  • Good air circulation
  • Deep, fertile, well-drained soil
  • Area of full sun rays
  • At least 1 inch of water every week.  

18. Papaya

Papaya

Taking six to nine months to mature, papaya is one of the best fast-growing fruit trees. Growing papaya from its seed is the most successful way to begin with. Remember, planting the source in the southern position of the backyard is preferred. Do not forget that papayas love full sunlight and regular fertilizing. 

To ensure safety from being split open by birds and flies, harvest the fruit only when it is half yellow and not wholly yellow. 

19. Fig

Fig

Figs need warm temperatures. So, planting the tree in a pot and bringing it indoors when the temperature dips is beneficial

They like to be root-bound and adapt well to constraining conditions. If you are still thinking to plant in-ground trees, be prepared for a mature height of 30 feet or so.

Being a fruit-only tree, figs take two years to be ready for harvesting. To add to that, these trees grow swiftly over the first five years in long, dry, hot summers. 

Bonus Read: Picking up the figs when fully ripened is recommended. 

20. Custard Apple

Custard Apple

A creamy-textured, sweet pulp fruit with inedible black seeds is an excellent fast-growing fruit tree choice. By providing the tree with adequate watering, light soil, and indirect light, you can expect the seeds to germinate as soon as three weeks. 

Bearing fruits between August and November, the tree takes three to four years for a complete harvest. 

Apart from health benefits, custard apples are rich in vitamin A content and work like magic for skin and hair. If you are looking out for a plant that can supplement your diet, the custard apple tree is a worthy pick. 

21. Banana

Banana

Well-suited for humid, tropical areas, banana trees are loaded with sweet, starchy flesh, fibre, and vitamins. Apart from plenty of sunlight, banana plants need humus-rich, well-drained soil. 

The dwarf varieties of this plant take 8 to 10 months after planting to bear the fresh produce. 

Banana trees live for around six years, but each stem lives only till the time the fruit has been produced. Once the yield is picked up, the stem dies, and a new stem takes its place for the next year’s produce of bananas. 

22. Indian Jujube

Commonly known as ‘ber’ in India, opt for the I or T (shield) budding propagation method to grow this tree from seeds. These tree seeds germinate in about a week, and the fruits are ready for consumption in four months. 

The best pruning time for this fast-growing fruit tree is when it sheds its leaves during the hot and dry season. 

Wondering how to know if the fruits are ripe? Look whether the green colour has changed into a reddish one.

23. Lime

Lime

You can plant lemon by putting the seeds in a plastic bag with some moist soil. Ensure that the seeds are not soggy and place them in a warm area.

Growing at a rate of 16 to 18 inches each year, this seed produces fruits in three to six years. For better yield, harvest the plant during May-June and November-December each year.

Conclusion

Fruits are an investment for the future. Thus, take a wise decision by weighing the available growing conditions and space requirements. And speaking of fast-growing fruit trees, well, which gardener wouldn’t want that?

Bonus Read: If you plan to redecorate your backyard, glance through these 15 vibrant DIY backyard lighting ideas.

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