The Fast-Producing Fruit Tree That Grows Well In Warm Climates

If you live in a warm climate and love growing your own fruit, no doubt you'll be looking for fast-growing fruit trees to plant in your yard. To that end, there's a variety of citrus that you might want to consider – the Dancy tangerine. This relatively compact tree can start producing its delectably sweet fruit in just two to three years, so if you purchase a more mature one, you won't have long to wait for a harvest. You'll find that this is one of the oldest varieties of tangerine, originating back to 1867, where it was grown from the seed of a Moragne tangerine in an orchard owned by Colonel F. L. Dancy, hence the cultivar name.

This fast-growing tree can reach a mature size of up to 15 feet with a spread of around 8 feet. It can be successfully grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11, but is also often grown as a container specimen to bring indoors over winter in zones 4 through 8. The fruits themselves are relatively small, averaging around 2 ½ inches in diameter, but they're sweet and juicy with just a little tang. The skin is thin and easy to peel, but there'll be quite a few seeds in the segments. The only drawback to this citrus variety is that the trees are alternate bearing which means they'll produce a prolific crop one year and then only a few fruit the next. That's why forgetting to thin out your citrus tree's fruit could result in disappointment the following year.

Planting one of these fast-producing trees in your yard couldn't be easier. Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Make sure you water your tree well when you plant it in the ground. Ideally, you want to provide it with regular deep watering until it becomes well-established, but don't subject it to constantly soggy soils. Once the tree has settled in, it should only require watering once every two weeks, depending on how much rain you get. Like most citrus varieties, you'll want to feed your tree with a citrus fertilizer once every six weeks or so during spring and summer. Dancy tangerines don't need all that much pruning, just enough to maintain their shape and to remove any diseased or dead branches. This should be done in early spring. You should also remove any suckers that grow from below the graft. 

If you want to try growing this variety in a pot, choose a large one that's at least 14 inches in diameter, and fill this with good quality potting mix. During the warmer months place your pot outdoors where it will get at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily. Make sure you water regularly when the top inch of soil is dry. When temperatures start to drop, bring the tree indoors and place it near a light-filled window to overwinter. Finally, you might want to familiarize yourself with some tips and tricks to keep your potted citrus trees thriving over the years.