Peaches are so delicious that it takes a lot of patience to wait for them to start bearing fruit!
If you want to enjoy homegrown peaches in the least time possible, choosing a quick-fruiting, grafted variety may be the shortcut you need.
I have planted several grafted peach tree varieties, and many did bear fruit in their first year after planting.
Here are the peach trees that will yield fruit in less time – as little as one year!
Delicious Peach Trees That Produce Fruit Quickly
1. Harvester – Prunus persica ‘Harvester’
Harvester peach trees can bear fruit in their first year after planting, according to Fast-Growing-Trees.
The Harvester peach tree stands out as a high-yielding, dwarf variety that offers an abundance of sweet, succulent peaches even in its first year of growth after planting.
Perfect for small spaces due to its compact size, this self-fertile tree eliminates the need for a second tree to produce fruit.
It is adaptable to most soil types, thrives in partial to full sun, and can withstand heat and humidity, making it an ideal choice for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance fruit tree.
With proper care, including watering, fertilization, and pruning, the quick fruiting Harvester peach tree will continue to provide bushels of fresh peaches for many years, enhancing both your garden’s beauty and your fruit bowl.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6-9
- Mature Tree Size: 10-15 ft tall, 5-10 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: Can Fruit 1st Year
- Avg Growth Rate: Fast
- Chill Hours: 700-800
- Self Fertile: Yes. While a single Harvester peach tree can produce fruit on its own, planting an additional tree can significantly increase the crop size.
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2. Frost – Prunus Persica ‘frost’
Frost peach trees can bear fruit in their first year after planting, according to Fast-Growing-Trees.
The Frost peach tree (Prunus persica ‘Frost’) is a robust, disease-resistant variety ideal for regions with unpredictable late spring frosts.
Boasting a bounty of juicy, sweet, golden-yellow fleshed freestone peaches with a blush over greenish-yellow skin, this tree is a gardener’s delight.
It ripens mid-season and features stunning nearly double pink flowers that attract pollinators and brighten any garden space.
Beyond its ornamental value, the Frost peach is enjoyed for its versatility in fresh eating, canning, desserts, and preserves.
Its self-fertility and resistance to peach leaf curl make it a low-maintenance choice for both experienced and novice gardeners.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
- Mature Tree Size: 15-25 ft tall, 15-25 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: Can Fruit 1st Year
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Chill Hours: 700
- Self Fertile: Yes. Adding an additional Frost peach tree will increase the size of your crop
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Fast-Growing-Trees or Nature Hills
3. Early Elberta – Prunus persica ‘Early Elberta’
Early Elberta peach trees can bear fruit in their first year after planting, according to Fast-Growing-Trees.
The Early Elberta peach tree, a variant of the renowned Elberta Peach, ripens earlier in the season, offering an abundant harvest of large, firm, freestone peaches with a sweet and juicy taste.
The peaches feature an appealing yellow and red blush skin over white flesh, ready for picking in early August, ahead of many other varieties.
This tree not only provides delicious fruit but also beautifies the landscape with its bright pink spring flowers and dark green foliage.
Ideal for backyard orchards, as a specimen tree, or in containers, the Early Elberta Peach is perfect for a range of culinary uses, from cobblers and pies to preserves.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Tree Size: 12-15 ft tall, 8-10 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: Can Fruit 1st Year
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Chill Hours: 600-850
- Self Fertile: Yes. While self-fertile, planting alongside other peach trees can enhance cross-pollination and improve fruit quality.
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Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills, My Perfect Plants or Starkbro’s
4. Contender – Prunus persica ‘Contender’
Contender peach trees can bear fruit in their first year after planting, according to Fast-Growing-Trees.
The Contender peach tree is planted for its sweet and tangy freestone peaches, making it a favorite among home gardeners for both its delicious fruit and stunning early spring blossoms.
This tree not only enhances the landscape with its beauty but also promises a generous yield of medium to large peaches, ideal for fresh eating and preserves.
Adaptable to a variety of settings, it serves as a beautiful focal point or a functional addition to any edible garden.
With a mature size of 12-15 feet in both height and width, the Contender thrives in USDA zones 4-8, requiring full sun and regular watering to flourish and produce fruit.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
- Mature Tree Size: 12-15 ft tall, 12-15 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: Can Fruit 1st Year
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate
- Chill Hours: 1000
- Self Fertile: Yes. While a single tree is sufficient for fruit production, having more than one tree can increase the fruit load, enhancing your harvest.
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Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills, My Perfect Plants or Starkbro’s
5. FlordaCrest – Prunus persica ‘FlordaCrest’
Flordacrest peach trees can bear fruit in their first 1-3 years after planting, according to My Perfect Plants.
The FlordaCrest peach tree, developed by the University of Florida, is an exceptional choice for North Florida and beyond, praised for its adaptability and minimal care requirements.
This variety yields red-skinned, yellow-fleshed peaches that are deliciously ripe by mid-May, with a modest chill hour requirement of 350.
Its semi-clingstone nature ensures the flesh remains attached to the pit, extending its shelf life and offering disease resistance.
Ideal for cross-pollination with other peach, plum, and nectarine trees, the FlordaCrest is a versatile addition to any garden, thriving in well-drained, sandy loam soils and full sun.
Suitable for small spaces, the FlordaCrest reaches maturity at 12-15 feet in both height and width.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6-10
- Mature Tree Size: 12-15 ft tall, 12-15 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: 1-3 years
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Chill Hours: 350
- Self Fertile: Yes. While self-fertile, its excellent cross-pollination characteristics enhance diversity in your garden, benefiting nearby peach, plum, and nectarine trees.
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6. Flordaking – Prunus persica ‘FlordaKing’
Flordaking peach trees can bear fruit in their first 1-3 years after planting, according to My Perfect Plants.
The FlordaKing peach tree, a standout variety from the University of Florida, is renowned for its adaptability and prolific fruit production, making it a top pick for North Florida.
This tree yields red-skinned, yellow-fleshed peaches that mature in May, with a chill requirement of 500 hours.
Its semi-clingstone peaches are not only delicious and long-lasting but also show resistance to diseases like black bacterial spots.
While self-fertile, FlordaKing benefits from cross-pollination with other peach, plum, and nectarine trees, enhancing fruit production.
It’s a low-maintenance tree that thrives in well-drained, sandy loam soils and full sun, reaching 15-25 feet in height and width.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6-9
- Mature Tree Size: 15-20 ft tall, 15-25 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: 1-3 years
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Chill Hours: 500
- Self Fertile: Yes. Although it can produce fruit on its own, having other peach trees nearby can increase the yield, providing more delicious peaches to enjoy.
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7. Elberta – Prunus persica ‘Elberta’
Elberta peach trees can bear fruit in 2-4 years after planting, according to Starkbro’s.
The Elberta peach tree, originating in Marshallville, Georgia, remains the one of the top choices for home gardeners across the United States, cherished for its abundant production of excellent fruit.
With juicy, yellow, freestone flesh, the Elberta peach is ideal for fresh eating, canning, and freezing.
This variety has stunning pink spring blossoms and is self-pollinating, although the presence of another peach tree can enhance yield.
The Elberta peach tree requires full sun and well-drained soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Tree Size: 12-15 ft tall, 12-15 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: 2-4 years
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Chill Hours: 800
- Self Fertile: Yes. While it is self-pollinating, planting another peach variety nearby may boost crop size.
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8. Reliance – Prunus persica ‘Reliance’
Reliance peach trees can bear fruit in 2-4 years after planting, according to Starkbro’s.
The Reliance peach tree is celebrated for its resilience, bountiful harvests, and the exceptional taste of its freestone fruits.
Known for its juicy, sweet, and aromatic peaches with vibrant orange skin and a hint of red blush, this variety is perfect for fresh eating, desserts, and preserves.
Its spring bloom brings a spectacle of pink blossoms, making it not only a fruit-bearing tree but also an ornamental treasure.
Thriving in USDA zones 4-8 and reaching a manageable size of 8-15 feet, the Reliance peach tree is an ideal addition to any garden or orchard.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
- Mature Tree Size: 8-15 ft tall, 8-15 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: 2-4 years
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Chill Hours: 1000
- Self Fertile: Yes. You may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops.
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Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills, My Perfect Plants or Starkbro’s
9. Belle of Georgia – Prunus persica ‘Belle of Georgia’
Belle of Georgia peach trees can bear fruit in 2-4 years after planting, according to Starkbro’s.
The Belle of Georgia peach tree, known for its spring display of bright pink, fragrant flowers and fall bounty of large, blush-colored, freestone peaches, is a prized variety among home gardeners.
This tree produces sweet, juicy peaches with creamy white flesh, perfect for fresh eating, canning, or baking into delicious desserts.
Thriving in USDA zones 5-8, the Belle of Georgia enjoys full sun and well-draining, slightly acidic soil.
Its self-fertility means it can produce fruit on its own, although cross-pollination can increase yield.
This variety, reaching 12-15 feet in height and width, combines ornamental beauty with practical fruit production, making it a delightful addition to any home orchard.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Tree Size: 12-15 ft tall, 12-15 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: 2-4 years
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Chill Hours: 800
- Self Fertile: Yes. You will get enhanced yields through cross-pollination with another peach variety.
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Nature Hills, My Perfect Plants or Starkbro’s
10. Hale Haven – Prunus persica ‘Hale Haven’
Hale Haven peach trees can bear fruit in 2-4 years after planting, according to Starkbro’s.
The Hale Haven peach tree (Prunus persica ‘Hale Haven’) is a standout choice for those seeking a high-yield, self-pollinating peach variety.
The large, sweet, yellow freestone peaches have a deep red blush on golden-yellow skin, it offers an excellent flavor profile and firm flesh that holds up well to freezing.
This mid-season variety is cold-hardy, disease-resistant, and requires around 800 chill hours, blooming with pink flowers that resist late spring frosts.
With its rounded canopy and robust productivity, the Hale Haven Peach Tree is a delightful addition to any landscape.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
- Mature Tree Size: 8-15 ft tall, 8-15 ft wide
- Time to Bear First Fruit: 2-4 years
- Avg Growth Rate: Moderate-Fast
- Chill Hours: 800
- Self Fertile: Yes. Adding another Hale Haven or a different peach variety can significantly boost production.
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Comparing the Fastest Bearing Peach Trees
| Variety | USDA Growing Zones | Mature Tree Size | Time to Bear First Fruit | Avg Growth Rate | Chill Hours | Self Fertile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvester | 6-9 | 10-15 ft tall, 5-10 ft wide | Can Fruit 1st Year | Fast | 700-800 | Yes |
| Frost | 5-9 | 15-25 ft tall, 15-25 ft wide | Can Fruit 1st Year | Moderate-Fast | 700 | Yes |
| Early Elberta | 5-8 | 12-15 ft tall, 8-10 ft wide | Can Fruit 1st Year | Moderate-Fast | 600-850 | Yes |
| Contender | 4-8 | 12-15 ft tall, 12-15 ft wide | Can Fruit 1st Year | Moderate | 1000 | Yes |
| Flordacrest | 6-10 | 12-15 ft tall, 12-15 ft wide | 1-3 years | Moderate-Fast | 350 | Yes |
| Flordaking | 6-9 | 15-20 ft tall, 15-25 ft wide | 1-3 years | Moderate-Fast | 500 | Yes |
| Elberta | 5-8 | 12-15 ft tall, 12-15 ft wide | 2-4 years | Moderate-Fast | 800 | Yes |
| Reliance | 4-8 | 8-15 ft tall, 8-15 ft wide | 2-4 years | Moderate-Fast | 1000 | Yes |
| Belle of Georgia | 5-8 | 12-15 ft tall, 12-15 ft wide | 2-4 years | Moderate-Fast | 800 | Yes |
| Hale Haven | 5-8 | 8-15 ft tall, 8-15 ft wide | 2-4 years | Moderate-Fast | 800 | Yes |
A Note About Peach Growth Rates
We have done our best to provide accurate information about each peach variety, including its growth rate and the expected timeline for bearing fruit.
Please keep in mind, these are general guidelines and the actual growth rate and fruiting period can vary greatly, influenced by factors such as climate, soil quality, and the level of care provided.
Peach trees can be propagated through a variety of methods, such as seeds, grafting, budding, cuttings, layering, or air layering.
Grafting is often preferred for reliably producing specific peach varieties and has the benefit of yielding fruit sooner. On the other hand, growing peaches from seeds is simpler but takes longer to start fruit production.
Purchasing a grafted peach tree from a nursery is often the quickest and most straightforward approach for many prospective peach growers.
Peach Tree Size
Nurseries offer an variety of peach tree sizes for purchase.
Generally, smaller trees are more affordable, while larger ones are more advanced in growth and nearer to the age of producing fruit, therefore they are priced higher.
For those looking to achieve peach production quickly, choosing a grafted or older tree could be the best choice.
For example, Fast-Growing-Trees offers the Contender peach tree in several heights: 3-4 ft, 4-5 ft, 5-6 ft, and 6-7 ft tall.
For individuals desiring peaches as soon as possible, opting for the 6-7 ft tall variant may prove most beneficial.
Some nurseries, such as Starkbros, sort their trees based on mature size, presenting Dwarf, Semi-Dwarf, and Standard varieties, each attaining a specific height.
It is essential to check the tree’s size at the nursery to ensure it will work well in your garden or orchard’s space.
Chill Hours
Selecting a tree that is compatible with your area’s climate requires attention to its chill hour requirements, which are critical for its growth and fruit-bearing capabilities.
Typically, peach trees need to undergo hundreds of hours of cold exposure, with temperatures ranging from 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit each year, to flower and yield fruit effectively.
Insufficient chill hours can lead to subpar flowering and fruiting.
Peach Tree Pollination
Most peach varieties are self-fertile, which means they can pollinate themselves or other trees of the same variety.
However, growing multiple peach trees can significantly enhance pollination and fruit yield through cross-pollination.
This involves the movement of pollen from the flowers of one peach tree to another.
Cross-pollination not only increases the quantity of fruits but also improves their size and quality.
Therefore, placing two or more compatible peach varieties close to each other can result in a more reliable and abundant harvest.
Other Fast Growing & Bearing Fruit Trees
Interested in expanding your home orchard beyond the usual peach trees?
Explore our comprehensive guides on a range of fruit trees that grow quickly and start producing fruit in no time, adding both aesthetic appeal and culinary delights to your garden.
Discover the potential of pear, apple, cherry, lemon, and fig trees to see which ones grow fast and bear fruit early.
Happy planting!
