Key Takeaways
Home gardeners can enjoy fresh fruit sooner by selecting fast-growing varieties that produce harvests in as little as a few months.
Many of these quick-yielding fruits, such as strawberries and raspberries, are well-suited to small spaces and container gardening, making them accessible to a wide range of growers.
Choosing fast-growing fruit plants not only accelerates the time to harvest but also enhances sustainability and self-sufficiency in home gardening.
Who wouldn’t want to go out into the garden and pick fresh fruits off a tree, vine, or bush? As idyllic as it sounds, growing fruit at home can be intimidating, and it can take five years or longer for many varieties to yield a worthwhile harvest. But you shouldn’t give up this dream just yet—certain varieties can produce fruit in as little as a few months. Ahead, gardening experts share their favorite fast-growing fruits that will give you delicious produce without a long wait.
Meet the Expert
Ankit K Singh, assistant professor of sustainable agriculture at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Sally McCabe, associate director of community education for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Related: When to Plant Apple Trees for a Faster, Bigger Harvest
01 of 09
Strawberries
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Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) are an easy plant to grow in your garden or in pots and containers. These low-growing, leafy plants produce fruit two to three months after planting. Everbearing strawberries can even fruit twice in one year, says Ankit K Singh, assistant professor of sustainable agriculture at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Size: 6 to 8 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining, loamy soil
02 of 09
Grapes
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Imagine going out to your garden and plucking fresh grapes off the vine? This dream can quickly become a reality when growing Concord or Himrod varieties, which can produce fruit as soon as two years after planting, says Singh. Grapes are vining plants that can grow very long, depending on the type you grow, so plan space in your garden accordingly.
Size: 6 to 30 feet tall x 4 to 10 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining, sandy loam or clay soils
03 of 09
Dwarf Peach Trees
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Dwarf varieties of peach trees (Prunus persica) stay relatively compact and can yield fruit two years after planting, with bare-root trees often producing fruit even sooner, says Singh. In the meantime, you can enjoy this charming tree’s cheerful pink spring blossoms while you wait for the juicy, fuzzy fruits to come in.
Size: 8 to 10 feet tall x 8 to 10 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil rich in organic matter
04 of 09
Raspberries
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Raspberry bushes (Rubus idaeus) often fruit one to two years after they are planted, and everbearing varieties fruit twice annually, says Singh. While raspberries are known for being easy to grow, they spread quickly, so gardeners often recommend planting them in pots and containers instead of in the ground. Singh recommends growing Heritage or Fall Gold varieties for quick results.
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
05 of 09
Melons
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Melons (Cucumis melo), including watermelons and cantaloupes, are fast growers that are ready to be harvested 75 to 100 days after planting, says Sally McCabe, associate director of community education for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. These vining plants need room to grow, so make sure to give them enough space when planting.
Size: Varies depending on variety
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
06 of 09
Meyer Lemon Trees
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Meyer lemon trees (Citrus × meyeri) produce fruit faster than full size types. They can yield lemons in just one to two years when grown outside in climates that are warm year-round, says Singh. You can also grow Meyer lemon trees in containers and move them inside when temperatures fall.
Zones: 9 to 11 (all zones when grown indoors)
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining, slightly acidic soil, rich in organic matter
07 of 09
Hardy Kiwi
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Hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta), like the Issai variety, can produce fruit in one to three years, which is faster than tropical kiwi. “This fast-growing vining plant produces heart-shaped leaves and small, fuzz-free kiwi fruits,” says Singh.
Zones: 9 to 11 (all zones when grown indoors)
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining, slightly acidic soil, rich in organic matter
08 of 09
Dwarf Banana Trees
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Growing a banana tree (Musa acuminata Colla) in your backyard is an exciting endeavor, and some varieties, like dwarf cavendish, fruit in just 12 to 18 months, says Singh. These tropical-looking plants have large green leaves and a short trunk, so they’ll add interest to your garden even when they’re not fruiting.
Zones: 9 to 11 (all zones when grown indoors)
Size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 3 to 6 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; rich, well-draining soil
09 of 09
Dwarf Fig Trees
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If figs (Ficus carica) are always on your grocery list, you’ll be happy to know that some varieties produce fruit in 120 to 150 days, says McCabe. She recommends growing the Chicago Hardy fig, which produces smaller fruit but bears on new wood, meaning a quicker harvest.
Size: 10 to 15 feet tall x 9 to 12 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil
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