The 9 Easiest Fruit Trees to Grow From Pits and Seeds, According to Experts

Cherry

Cherries belong to the Prunus genus—fortunately, anything in this genus is relatively easy to grow from seed, according to Jacob Mentlik, a fruit tree expert at Fedco Seeds.

In the case of cherries, simply use the pit from a ripe fruit to grow a new tree. Compared to apples or pears, which require extracting and cleaning multiple seeds from the core, these single pits make seed-saving far more straightforward.

After cleaning the pit, store it in a bag of damp sand in the fridge over winter. By spring, look for small white sprouts (roots), and plant them immediately.

• Zones: 4 to 8 
• Size: 25 to 40 feet tall (dwarf: 8 to 12 feet)
• Care Requirements: Full sun; well-draining loamy soil; warm temperatures; regular watering; annual pruning in late summer
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 3 to 6 years

Guava

For a quick win, start with guava (Psidium guajava). These seeds are hardy, forgiving of missed waterings, and genetically stable—meaning the fruit will actually taste like the parent. In warm soil, sprouts appear in just two to four weeks.

Guavas also transition beautifully to indoor life; even if your tree never produces fruit inside, it makes for a lush, resilient tropical houseplant.

• Zones: 9 to 11 (can also be planted in a container for indoor growth)
• Size: 10 to 20 feet tall outdoors, 3 to 6 feet in pots
• Care Requirements: Full sun; warm temperatures; regular watering; monthly fertilization in growing season
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 3 to 5 years

Apple

While apple seeds aren’t the most reliable when it comes to fruit quality, they remain a classic entry point for beginners, especially for understanding dormancy and seasonal growth cycles. They’re easy to source from any fresh apple, and germination is typically very dependable.

The process mirrors nature. “Seeds of cold-hardy fruits such as apple and peach will not sprout until they feel that winter is over,” says horticulturalist Lee Reich. Place them in a moist bag in the fridge for six to eight weeks before planting.

• Zones: 3 to 9 
• Size: 15 to 30 feet (dwarf: 6 to 10 feet)
• Care Requirements: Full sun; warm temperatures; one inch of water a week; well-draining soil; fertilization in early spring; winter pruning
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 5 to 10 years

Papaya

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a go-to first tree, often fruiting in just two years.

“That fast growth makes them especially rewarding for beginners or children, as the plant can quickly outgrow them,” says Alex Fritz of Green Thumbs Garden. Varieties like Sunrise Solo and Waimanalo are ideal because they generally produce fruit similar to the parent plant.

To successfully grow, mimic the tropics: they thrive in heat (around 70 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit) and need at least eight hours of direct sun.

Because their roots are notoriously sensitive to transplanting, Fritz suggests planting them directly in their permanent spot. If starting in pots, expect germination within three weeks. 

• Zones: 9 to 11 
• Size: 10 to 15 feet tall
• Care Requirements: Maximum sun exposure; occasional watering; good soil drainage; high nitrogen fertilizer
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 7 to 15 years

Pomegranate

If you can handle the minor effort of extracting the seeds, then pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a nearly foolproof choice.

“They are incredibly tough, drought-tolerant trees,” says Fritz. He recalls finding pomegranates fruiting in the wild in Almería, the driest region in Europe, proving their resilience in harsh conditions.

While pomegranates don’t grow true to seed, Fritz insists the genetic gamble is worth it. “The plants themselves are beautiful, compact, and productive,” he says.

They tolerate diverse soils but require excellent drainage to avoid rot. For the best start, keep seeds warm; they typically sprout within one to three weeks, though dried seeds benefit from a quick pre-soak.

• Zones: 7 to 11 (can also be planted in a container for indoor growth)
• Size: 10 to 15 feet tall (often kept as a shrub)
• Care Requirements: Full sun; warm temperatures; regular deep watering; light fertilization; annual pruning
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 3 to 5 years

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Peach

“If you want fruit you can actually eat within a reasonable timeframe, go with a peach,” says Reich.

Peach seeds (Prunus persica) are fast-growing, produce delicious fruit, adapt well to containers, and, once established, the trees are generous producers, he says. They’re one of the rare cases where growing from seed doesn’t feel like such an uncertain gamble.

Simply crack the pit to extract the inner seed, refrigerate it in a moist towel for eight to 12 weeks, and plant. 

• Zones: 5 to 8
• Size: 15 to 25 feet tall (dwarf: 4 to 6 feet)
• Care Requirements: Full sun; regular watering; Sandy loam soil; high nitrogen fertilizer in early spring; annual pruning
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 3 to 4 years

Lemon

Citrus is a smart bet because many varieties are polyembryonic. “That means the seeds are coming from mother plant tissue, making the seed a clone of its parent,” Reich says. Lemon (Citrus limon) germinates easily without cold treatment—just plant fresh seeds an inch deep in warm, moist soil.

Even without fruit, the leaves bring a fragrant, citrus scent for your home.

• Zones: 9 to 11 (can also be planted in a container for indoor growth)
• Size: 10 to 20 feet tall (container: 3 to 6 feet)
• Care Requirements: Full sun; bright light; warm temperatures; regular watering; well-draining soil; citrus-specific fertilizer in the spring and fall; pruning to remove suckers
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 3 to 6 years

Avocado

Avocado trees (Persea americana) are a go-to first project for a reason: the process is quick and nearly foolproof. Whether you suspend the pit in water with toothpicks or plant it directly in soil, the roots emerge quickly without stratification.

The only catch is patience. While they make stunning houseplants, be patient for fruit—it can take over a decade, and some may never produce.

• Zones: 9 to 11 (can also be planted in a container for indoor growth)
• Size: 20 to 40 feet tall (dwarf: 8 to 10 feet)
• Care Requirements: Full sun; deep and infrequent watering; good soil drainage; high nitrogen fertilizer in spring/summer; tip-prune to encourage branching
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 7 to 15 years

Persimmon

The American persimmon is built for North American backyards, so it's very low-maintenance. Once established, it asks for very little: it has strong resistance to pests and diseases and can tolerate everything from drought to occasional flooding.

To get started, cold stratify the seeds for two to three months before spring planting. With a bit of patience, you could see fruit in as little as four years.

• Zones: 4 to 9 (American) and 7 to 10 (Asian)
• Size: 20 to 60 feet tall (American) and 15 to 25 feet tall (Asian)
• Care Requirements: Full sun to part shade; minimal fertilizer; structural pruning when young
• Time to Harvest: Fruit in 4 to 7 years