Top Fruit Trees That Yield the First Year After Transplanting

Are you a gardener who is yearning to grow some fruit trees but is afraid of the long wait? It’s especially very important to get to know that not all trees take years to bear fruit. While many traditional fruit trees can take several years to mature, certain fast-growing fruit varieties offer harvests within a much shorter time frame—sometimes in as little as 9 months. 

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These varieties provide quicker returns on investment and also a golden chance to diversify your landscape with fragrant blooms, aesthetic appeal and productive yields. If you are considering a home garden or starting a commercial fruit farm, there are several fruit trees that can thrive in a short amount of time.

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To achieve success with these trees, it's crucial to choose high-quality grafted varieties from certified nurseries. Grafted trees often have improved disease resistance, greater productivity and faster maturation compared to non-grafted varieties. Let’s dive into some of the fastest-maturing fruit trees you can grow, along with the care they require.

Passion Fruit: A Fast-Growing, High-Value Crop

Passion fruit farming has gained popularity in recent years, thanks to the rising demand from juice manufacturers and an expanding market. Grafted varieties of passion fruit can begin to bear fruit in just 7 to 11 months from transplanting, offering an incredibly rapid turnaround for farmers. The passion fruit vines start to flower around 6 months of age, with fruits taking 2-3 months to mature after transplanting. But the yellow passion fruits tend to ripen a bit sooner than their purple fellows.

Passion Fruit Farming in Kenya

The ecological conditions required for growing passion fruits include moderate rainfall, fertile and well-drained soils, and temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C. They do well in altitudes of about 1200-2000 meters above sea level. And the vines can produce fruit for 3 to 10 years if they are well cared for and protected from pests and diseases.

Passion fruit vines are an excellent choice for someone who wants a fast-growing fruit crop with long-term profitability. They can be a valuable addition to your commercial fruit farm or a fragrant, attractive to the eye plant for your garden.

Tree Tomato: A Profitable and Rapid Option

Tomarillos, another name for the tree tomato are another high-yield fruit that matures quickly. While many tree tomato varieties take 1 to 2 years to bear fruit, the Muthakwa grafted variety matures within just 8 months, offering up to 6-10 fruits per cluster. This variety grows on a single upright trunk with several branches and can produce up to 100 kg per plant in a year.

A Tree Tomato Fruit Tree

The growing conditions that they need are the same as the ones for passion fruits. They flourish in deep, well-drained soils with a pH range of 5-8.5 and require moderate rainfall, though they can be grown with irrigation in drier areas. You will however need to provide protection from strong winds an drought conditions, and give proper care to maximize yields.

With a lifespan of up to 12 years, tree tomatoes are a sustainable and profitable option for those looking to harvest within a year of planting.

Strawberries: A Quick and Easy Fruit for Beginners

Strawberries are one of the easiest and fastest fruit crops to grow and also a good for beginners, too. Depending on the variety, strawberries can bear fruit within 3 months after transplanting. Strawberries can take around four weeks from flowering to harvesting. Strawberries are a good choice for container gardening or potting, or small garden spaces. And given proper care, they can yield fruit for up to 6 years.

Straberries

Strawberries require well-drained, fertile soil and moderate temperatures to thrive. Regular watering, pest control, and fertilization will keep the plants productive. They are also an excellent choice for anyone interested in a quick and reliable source of fresh fruit.

Pepino Melon: A Sweet and Perennial Option

Another of the fast-growing fruit option is the Pepino Melonthat can be harvested within 4 to 6 months after transplanting. They are perennial fruits that have gained some admiration both locally and in export markets. Once pollinated, the fruits take about 30 to 80 days to mature and ripen. With proper care, pepino melons can continue producing for up to 3 years.

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Pepino melons do quite well in warm, sunny weather conditions, and with soils that are well-drained soils. They are best harvested when fully ripe, but timing is very important—harvesting too early results in a lack of sweetness, while harvesting too late can lead to spoilage. Pepino melons are relatively low-maintenance and offer an attractive fruit option for gardeners looking for a quicker return.

Citrus Fruits: Lemons, Limes, and Oranges

Lemons, limes and oranges also referred to as citrus trees are another popular choice for gardeners who want fast fruiting. While these trees may take a bit longer to bear fruit in comparison to the varieties mentioned above, certain types like Meyer lemons and Key limes can produce fruit in as little as one year when grown in optimal conditions. For those living in warmer climates, citrus trees can be grown outdoors year-round. For those in colder regions, consider growing them in containers to bring them indoors during the extreme weather conditions.

A Potted Meyer Lemon Fruit Tree

Dwarf or columnar citrus varieties tend to bear fruit sooner than their larger counterparts. Meyer lemons, for example, are small enough or better yet a dwarf variety to grow in pots inside the house, making them an excellent option for city dwellers who love gardening but with limited space.

Citrus trees generally prefer sunny, well-drained locations. They however need consistent watering and care to prevent root rot. When grown indoors, they need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. With proper attention, citrus trees can provide fruit in their first year and continue producing for many years.

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Fig Trees: A Reliable and Quick-Bearing Fruit

They are quite a loved popular fruit tree for gardeners who want to grow something that produces quickly but also thrives in varying climates. Fig trees can bear fruit within 1 to 2 years, with some varieties, like the Brown Turkey and Chicago Hardy, capable of fruiting within the first year. Figs are self-pollinating, so you only need one tree to get a good crop. They are well-suited for container gardening, allowing you to bring them indoors during colder months.

A Fig Fruit Tree

Figs prefer sunny locations and well-drained soil. They are quite adaptable and can be grown in cold areas depending on the variety. Figs can be grown as bushes in the cooler climates. They die back to the ground in winter and growing again in the spring.  To protect them you can prune to help ensure a bountiful harvest each year.

Choosing the Right Fruit Tree for Your Space

When selecting fruit trees for quick harvests, consider factors such as climate, soil type, and the tree's size at maturity. Varieties like the dwarf and columnar varieties tend to bear fruit sooner than standard-sized trees. For gardeners eager for a fast return, planting a combination of dwarf and semi-dwarf trees can offer both quick gratification and long-term yields.

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Additionally, some trees, like apples, apricots, and peaches, are ideal for short-term homeowners who want to add value to their property and enjoy fresh fruit in just a few years. These trees provide an attractive landscape feature while also providing fruit for family enjoyment.

Final Thoughts

While many people believe that growing fruit trees requires years of patience, several varieties offer rapid maturation, yielding fruit in as little as 9 months. If you go for the grafted varieties, of course with proper care and management you can start harvesting fresh fruit quickly if you’re growing for personal enjoyment or commercial gain.

Apart from passion fruits and tree tomatoes or tomarillos, to the strawberries and citrus, there are quite a number of fast-maturing options for the different climates and gardening choices. Plan well and give proper attention to your trees’ needs, and you can enjoy a fruitful harvest in no time.

So why wait? Start planting today, and place your first order for your preferred fruit tree seedling. Grab our on-going offer and get more for less!

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