We're about to explore 10 varieties of fruit trees that take the longest time to mature to the point where their fruits can be harvested and eaten.
Did you know that certain fruits can take several years to ripen or reach the right condition before they become fit for consumption?
More so, the fruit trees themselves can also consume many years before they even begin to show blossom signs.
If you happen to be someone who doesn't relish the idea of waiting many years to grow these sorts of fruit trees and then a further period until the fruit ripens or becomes edible, you should perhaps steer clear of planting these particular fruit tree types.
Those most likely to cultivate these fruit trees typically have abundant land space, farmable land, or possess permanent residency.
Therefore, if you are pondering growing any of these 5 types of fruit trees that take the longest to mature in your backyard, garden, or even business premises, it's important to factor in the extensive time period it will take for them to grow and bear fruits.
Here are some of the fruit trees that take the longest to grow:.
Find the list provided below.
The Pineapple Tree (2-3 Years to Mature)
It can take a pineapple plant 2–3 years to fully grow and mature enough to start producing young pineapples.
However, depending on the conditions, for example, solid nutrients and climate,. Some pineapple plants can take one year and a half to mature and produce pineapples.
You might see a lot of pineapples at your local grocery store and assume that they are easy-to-grow fruits.
However, that is not the case. It takes two (2) full years to get to the flowering stage while waiting for another six (6) months for the pineapple fruit to actually mature and be edible.
Pineapple plant pollination is carried out mostly by bees and hummingbirds in the wild. These two pollinators are huge fans of fruit and flowers.
Nevertheless, when the fruit on the plant gets pollinated, the fruit rapidly diminishes its quality and texture.
Pineapple plants only grow one pineapple every 6 months before they grow more pineapples again.
However, different varieties grow one pineapple and then die, but most tropical pineapple plants regrow every 6 months until the plant dies.
This makes pineapple one of the five fruits that take the longest to grow.
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Coco De Mer Tree (20–40 Years)
The Coco de Mer plant is native to a small island called Seychelles at the eastern edge of the Somali Sea and can only be found on two islands in Seychelles, known as Praslin and Curieuse.
Unlike strawberries, Ackee, and passion fruit, which start flowering within a year after being planted, the Coco de Mer palm needs to grow (20–40 years) to start its flowering process.
The time it takes the Coco de Mer plant fruit to mature is six (6–10 years), making it one of the longest fruits in the world to ripen and fully mature.
So, if you have a lot of patience and love Coco de Mer, it can take up to a decade for this fruit to become ripe and eatable.
Also, the Coco de Mer fruit is known to be very costly, at exactly $300. Facts about Coco de Mer: It’s the largest and heaviest fruit in the world.
Coco de Mer is by far one of the five fruits that take the longest to grow on our list.
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Pawpaw Tree (7–9 Years)
The Pawpaw Fruit is native to Mexico and Central America and takes 7–9 years to grow and flower.
Pawpaw plants are available for growing only in specific parts of the United States and Canada.
However, pawpaws are only considered endangered or at risk in two parts of the USA.
These states are New Jersey and New York. Why? Because the weather conditions are not favorable there.
However, in Ontario, Canada, the plant is deemed vulnerable and is currently being monitored. Pawpaw fruit trees are tropical fruit trees.
This plant originated way back hundreds of years ago but was mainly distributed by humans during the mid-16th century.
Persimmon Trees (3–4 years)
The persimmon tree is native to China, but it is also widely cultivated in other temperate regions of the world.
After a whopping 3–4 years before the tree gets to flower, it only takes 7 days for the persimmon tree fruit to rip. However, once this fruit ripens, it must be eaten immediately.
Although the fruit itself does not take very long to ripen, the tree will take several years to grow before you see any sign of flowering.
Apricot Trees (2–5 years)
The apricot tree is native to Asia and some parts of Europe, and it takes 2–5 years for this tree to fully mature and produce fruits.
It will take at least 4 years before the apricot tree blooms young fruits and 4 months before the fruit is ripened and ready to eat.
This tree is a summer fruit tree that is usually available in June or July, but it can vary depending on your location.
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Apple Trees (2–5 years)
Apple trees are cultivated across the world but are native to Asia, and it will take two to five years before they start to bloom.
There are different types of apple trees and fruits in many countries around the world.
They are loved by many people and can take five weeks to fully ripen for harvest.
Apple trees are normally planted on large farmland where there are many of them, so you should take into consideration how long you will have to wait to eat apples.
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Sour Cherry Trees (3–5 years)
Sour cherry trees are native to Europe and Southern Asia and will normally take five (3-5) years to flower before they start to produce fruits.
When it comes to sour cherry harvesting, it takes the fruit three (3) months to ripen before it can be eaten.
However, the harvesting time for different varieties of Sour cherries can differ based on 1) the type of fruit 2) the variety of the fruit tree.
Sour cherries will not ripen if you pick or harvest them before they are mature enough, so be patient.
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Sweet Cherry Trees (4–7 years)
Sweet Cherry just Sour cherries are native to Asia and Europe; although they are worldwide cultivated, it can take 4–7 years before they start to flower and produce baby sweet cherries.
As for harvesting, once the sweet cherry reaches maturity and starts to flower, the time it takes to ripen is 3–4 months. Sweet cherries are often tested on the tree to see if they are fit and ready to be eaten.
Sweet cherries are loved and favored by many people across the world, so it is worth the wait.
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Pear Trees (4–6 years)
Pear trees are native to temperate regions such as North Africa Central America, and Asia, and it takes 4-6 years before the tree starts to produce pears.
From the flowering stage to the harvesting stage, it takes six months for a pear fruit to fully mature before it can be eaten.
The pear fruit can be harvested on paper towels once they are hard and mature enough and will ripen over 2–3 days later.
Pear fruits, along with sweet cherries, are beloved by many people across the world; they are some of the fruit trees that take the longest to grow. It’s worth the wait.
Plum Trees (3–6 years)
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Plums are native to North America and to places like New Mexico, Idaho, and Florida. They are also cultivated across the world in places such as Mexico. Plum trees take years to produce, approximately (3-6 years).
After a pump tree is fully matured over 6 years, from the flowering stage to the ripening stage, it can take five months (5 months) before it is eatable and for harvesting.
So, if you love fruits and fruit trees as a whole, it may take years before you can reap the yields of your labor.
Nevertheless, once you start to reap and harvest the fruits, it will be worth the wait.
Once again, if you are someone who doesn’t have the patience to wait for some of these fruit trees to ripen, do not plant them.
These are for people who have lost farmland or business land. Anyway, these are 10 fruit trees that take the longest to grow before you can harvest them.
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