Want fruit without the wait? These tropical powerhouses deliver a "fast-food" garden in record time.
🍓 The Top 3 Speed Demons
1. The Favorite: Papaya🍊 If you want speed, Papaya is king. It can go from a small seedling to heavy fruit in 6-10 months. It behaves more like a giant herb than a tree: it is fast, has shallow roots, and is incredibly responsive to water and fertilizer. In warm climates, it is a plant it and watch it go legend. More details
2. The Reliable: Guava🍉 Guava is the most forgiving fruit tree you can own. It handles heat, poor soil, and the occasional week of neglect without missing a beat. Most varieties begin producing in just 1-2 years, staying compact enough for small yards or large pots. More details
3. The Surprise: Eugenias 🍒 This family (including Surinam Cherry, Grumichama, Cherry of the Rio Grande, and Pitomba) often flies under the radar. They look like ornamental shrubs, but they establish quickly and can fruit within year two. They handle pruning beautifully, making them perfect for edible hedges. More details
🍓 The Fast-Fruit Honor Roll
🍓Ultra-Fast (Under 1 Year) Papaya and Banana: The heavyweight champions of speed. Strawberry Tree (Muntingia calabura): Non-stop cotton candy berries. Grafted Favorites: High-quality Mango, Avocado, Peach, Nectarine, and Persimmon.
Mango Plant Facts
Botanical name: Mangifera indica Also known as: Mango
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Avocado Plant Facts
Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Peach Plant Facts
Botanical name: Prunus persica, Amygdalus persica Also known as: Peach
USDA Zone: 5 - 10
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🍓Very Fast (1-2 Years) The Berries: Mulberry (especially Everbearing), Fig, and Barbados Cherry. The Exotics: Strawberry Guava, Loquat, and the curious Peanut Butter Tree (Bunchosia). The Sweet Treats: Blackberry Jam Fruit (Randia formosa).
🍓Tropical Staples (2-3 Years) Starfruit (Carambola): A heavy producer that looks stunning in the garden. Annona Family: Sweet Sugar Apples and creamy Atemoyas. Macadamia Nut: A long-term investment that starts surprisingly early.
🍓Fast Climbers and Bush Fruit Passionfruit: Will cover a fence and fruit in a single season. Berries: Mysore Raspberry and classic Blackberries for quick returns.
Q: With the rising temperatures, I'm concerned
about shipping my plants safely. Can they withstand the heat during transit? Also, is it okay to plant them in the ground now, or should I wait for
cooler Fall weather?
A: Your concern about shipping plants in hot weather is valid. For sensitive plants,
we'll delay shipping until conditions are more favorable in your area. However, there are plenty of heat-tolerant tropical plants that handle shipping well with minimal stress. These plants adapt
easily when planted during the hot summer months. Simply follow the included planting
instructions, gradually acclimate them to full sun, and they should thrive.
Feel free to check with us about the specific plant you plan to order for its suitability in
summer shipping. We're here to take care of your green babies and address your
year-round planting needs!
...The most popular garden radio show Garden America is featuring Top
Tropicals topic "5 most practical and rewarding fruit trees for subtropical areas".
1)
Jackfruit Orange Crush (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
...We recently obtained this variety and it is hands down the best Jackfruit we ever tasted. It is
crunchy, sweet, aromatic, with bright orange pulp...
2)
Dwarf Guava Hawaiian Rainbow (Psidium nana)
- A very small version of the favorite aromatic Guava.
- Grows only up to 5-6 ft tall with a short trunk and branching, bushy habit.
3)
Yellow Pitaya, Dragon Fruit (Selenicereus megalanthus)
- This particular species of Dragon fruit is the sweetest and has great
flavor unlike most pitayas
- doesn't mind regular water and rains but is also drought-tolerant
4) Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
- Can be kept as a very compact tree, and fruits in a pot.
- Flowers and fruits right away. The plants are covered with flowers now
and setting fruit.
- Very cold hardy to upper 20's, drought tolerant, fast growing
5) Macadamia Nut
(Macadamia integrifolia x tetraphylla)
- The most delicious and popular sweet nuts that are usually so expensive,
can be produced in your garden!
- Cold hardy, fast growing, and very productive.
Q: My mom had to remove a hedge for some renovations and after
being heartbroken about losing my little bird haven, I've decided to plan on a fruit bearing hedge that offers some privacy and places for the little fledgling to wait for food. Any suggestions? I was thinking blueberries or citrus but open to any ideas.
A: Below are a few suggestions for a fruit bearing hedge planted
with fast-growing, tropical species. They will contribute to a nice edible
landscape for both your family and the birds - they will be very happy!
Larger size hedge (small trees), grows full-size within 1
season:
- Loquats
- Dwarf Mulberries (very cold hardy too) such as Dwarf Everbearing
Citrus is probably not a good idea, not bird's favorite, and blueberries require a special acidic soil here in Florida, so they will need extra maintenance, special soil, and heavy mulching.
Q: Can you suggest tropical fruit that can be grown (cold hardy)
in Zone 9?
A: There are quite a few tropical/subtropical trees that will
grow well in zone 9. Our favorites are:
Figs - very cold hardy and drought tolerant. Loquats - grafted trees that start fruiting right away, reliable
producers. Tropical Mulberry - very fast growing trees that can take freeze, heavy
producers. Macadamia - these trees are of a compact nature, very easy to grow and
start producing nuts right away.
Many different varieties of Eugenias - tropical cherries - all-time favorites. Another tropical cherry - Malpighia, or Barbados cherry - starts fruiting in small size under one food tall! Great for containers.
Tropical (Low Chill) Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums. See full list of low-chill, relatively cold hardy fruit
trees.
And of course -
Bananas!
Don't forget to fertilize your
fruit trees to improve their cold hardiness!