If you’re looking to enjoy fresh fruit from your garden without waiting months or years, choosing the right plants is key. Some fruit plants grow fast and start producing harvestable fruit quickly, making your gardening efforts more rewarding in less time.
These fruit plants will give you a quick harvest at home, helping you enjoy homegrown produce sooner rather than later. Whether you have a big yard or a small balcony, these options can fit your space and schedule.
Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the easiest fruits you can grow at home. You can plant them in containers, garden beds, or hanging baskets, making them perfect for small spaces.
Certain varieties, like Alpine strawberries, can start producing fruit in as little as 4-6 weeks. For a good harvest, you might want to plant at least 25 plants, depending on your family’s needs.
Keep them in full sun to get the best results and watch your berries grow quickly.
Blackberries
Blackberries are pretty easy to grow and give you a good harvest without much fuss. You just need some space and regular pruning to keep them productive.
You can choose thornless varieties for less hassle when picking. With proper care, your plants will produce sweet berries over several weeks. Growing blackberries at home is a great way to enjoy fresh fruit right from your garden.
Autumn-fruiting raspberries
If you want fruit quickly, autumn-fruiting raspberries are a solid choice. They start producing in mid-August and keep going until the first frost.
You only need to cut them back to the ground in winter to keep them healthy. They’re pretty low maintenance and don’t need much fuss to thrive.
Columnar apple trees
If you want apples fast, columnar apple trees are a great choice. They grow upright and don’t take up much space, making them perfect for small gardens or patios.
You can start harvesting fruit within a year or two. Plant them in early spring or fall for best results. They’re easy to care for and look neat in your yard.
Fig trees
Fig trees are great if you want fruit quickly. They grow fast, especially in warm climates, and can start producing within a couple of years.
You can grow figs in containers, which is perfect for small spaces or patios. With a 5-7 gallon pot, your tree can still be very productive. Look for varieties like Black Mission or Celeste for multiple harvests during the summer months.
Loquat trees
If you want a fruit tree that grows fast and looks great, loquats are a solid pick. They like full sun and well-draining soil, preferring slightly acidic to neutral conditions.
You’ll get sweet, golden-orange fruits in early spring, along with fragrant white flowers. Loquats thrive in warm climates and add some nice style to your yard.
Mango trees
If you want mangoes fast, go for a grafted tree. It usually starts fruiting within 3 to 4 years, much quicker than growing from seeds.
Keep your mango tree in full sun and well-drained soil for the best results. You can even grow a smaller tree in a pot, but expect less fruit. Pruning helps keep your tree manageable and encourages more fruit production.
Peach trees
Peach trees are a great choice if you want fresh fruit faster. You can grow dwarf peach trees that produce sweet peaches quickly, especially in sunny spots with mild climates. They’re also self-fertile, so you don’t need multiple trees to get fruit.
With the right care, your peach tree can start bearing fruit in just a couple of years. Picking ripe peaches right from your yard definitely beats the store.
Citrus trees
If you want fruit fast, citrus trees are a great pick. Varieties like Meyer lemon and Persian Bearss lime grow quickly and start producing sooner than you might expect.
They do well in containers or your backyard, especially if you live in a warmer climate. You can expect to enjoy fresh citrus in a couple of years with proper care.
Gooseberries
Gooseberries are a great choice if you want fruit quickly. You can expect your bush to start producing fruit within a year of planting.
They’re easy to grow and don’t need much space. Plus, they usually stay productive for over a decade. You’ll enjoy harvesting small, tangy berries that add a fresh twist to your dishes.
Mulberries
If you want a fruit tree that grows fast and needs little care, mulberries are a solid pick. You can start one easily from cuttings, and it will begin producing fruit as soon as new leaves sprout.
Mulberries give small, sweet berries mostly in June and July. They’re great if you want a quick harvest and a low-maintenance tree in your yard.
Blueberries
Blueberries are a great choice if you want fruit that grows relatively fast. You’ll need acidic soil with a pH between 4.0 and 5.0 for the best results.
Plant a couple of different blueberry varieties to improve fruit quality and increase your harvest. You can speed up picking by shaking the bush over a blanket to catch the ripe berries.
Raspberries
Raspberries are a great fruit to grow if you want a quick and easy harvest. They do well even in less-than-perfect soil and can handle some neglect.
You can grow red, black, or purple varieties, depending on your climate. They’ll start producing fruit fairly quickly, making them a solid choice for your garden.
Pomegranate trees
If you want a fruit tree that starts giving after about three years, pomegranates are a solid choice. You can grow them in pots or in the ground, and dwarf varieties work well indoors.
For colder areas, cold-hardy red pomegranate bushes can handle lower temperatures and still produce fruit. Just make sure your tree gets plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil to thrive. Consider checking out cold-hardy options if winters get rough where you live.
Calamondin orange
You can grow Calamondin orange trees indoors or in containers. They start producing fruit quickly, usually within two years. The tree is compact and cold-hardy, making it great for home growers.
Keep in mind, young trees use a lot of energy to produce fruit. If you want fragrant flowers and small, tangy oranges, this plant is a solid choice for quick harvests.
Sudachi
If you want a citrus that gives you a quick harvest, Sudachi is a solid choice. The fruit is small, around 20-25 grams, and usually picked when green. It’s great if you like tart flavors for cooking or drinks.
Sudachi trees don’t get too big, so they fit well in home gardens. They’re mostly grown in Japan but can grow in similar climates.
Kumquat
If you want a small fruit plant that fits in a pot, kumquats are a great choice. You can start getting fruit in about 3 to 5 years, depending on the tree.
They do well in containers, especially if you use a bigger pot for more fruit. Growing them indoors is possible with the right care and sunlight.
Olive trees
If you want a fruit tree that eventually pays off, olive trees are a solid choice. They start producing olives after about 3-4 years, so you won’t be waiting forever.
Arbequina olives are a popular variety because they have a nice flavor and are great for making olive oil. Keep in mind, some olive trees need another variety nearby to pollinate and set fruit well.
Growing olives in pots is also an option if you’re short on space. You just need to make sure they get plenty of sun and good drainage.
Jujube trees
If you want a low-maintenance fruit tree, jujubes are a great pick. They thrive in full sun and well-draining soil, making them pretty easy to grow at home.
These trees are drought-tolerant, so you don’t have to worry much about watering. You can even grow them in containers for a quick harvest.
Quince trees
You can grow quince as a small tree or a multi-stemmed bush, which makes it easy to manage. These trees don’t need much pruning compared to other fruit trees, so they’re pretty low maintenance.
Expect your quince tree to start producing fruit within a few years. Just watch out for over-fruiting, as it can stress the tree and reduce future yields.
Prickly pear cactus
If you want a low-maintenance plant, prickly pear cactus is a good pick. You just need to stick a pad in the ground and give it some occasional water.
It grows fast and produces edible fruit and pads you can use in cooking. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Dwarf peach trees
Dwarf peach trees are perfect if you want fresh peaches without a huge tree. They grow quickly and don’t take up much space, making them ideal for smaller yards or containers.
You’ll need to plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. With proper care, you can enjoy sweet peaches usually within a couple of years.
Dwarf apple trees
If you want apples fast, dwarf apple trees are a great choice. They usually start producing fruit within 2 to 3 years.
These trees don’t take up much space, making them perfect for small yards or containers. Because they fruit earlier than standard trees, you get to enjoy your harvest sooner.
Persimmon trees
If you want a fruit tree that’s pretty low maintenance, persimmons might be your best bet. They don’t need a lot of water or rich soil to grow well.
Make sure to plant your persimmon tree in a spot with full sun—about 6-8 hours daily—to help it produce good fruit. You’ll see results faster if you give it a little extra care. Persimmons usually have a low chilling requirement, so they can fruit even if winters aren’t very cold.
Plum trees
Plum trees are great if you want fruit relatively quickly. They usually start producing in just a few years.
You can grow them in most gardens as long as winters aren’t too harsh. They give you sweet, juicy fruits similar to small peaches or plums you buy in stores.