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How long before a young fruit tree starts producing fruit? This depends on many things. The type of tree, its age, its health, the local weather conditions and climate, and the quality of the soil—these all have a part to play. But sometimes a young tree can be given a bit of encouragement to speed up its fruit production. 

Stress

Pruning any kind of tree inflicts stress on the tree. You're removing components that the tree uses to obtain nutrients that spur its overall growth. This is why horticulture generally dictates that a fruit-producing tree should be pruned in late summer—after it has flowered and fruited for the season. The tree is pruned before it enters its dormant phase during the colder months, and it uses this phase to recover from the trauma of pruning.

Late Summer

This late summer pruning schedule won't do a fruit tree any harm. But when the tree is young and has yet to produce its first major crop, you can take advantage of the tree's youthful energy. A young, healthy fruit tree can cope with intensive pruning during winter—or late winter, to be precise.

Late Winter

Late winter pruning for a young fruit tree has a number of benefits. The tree keeps some energy in reserve for its anticipated flurry of growth when spring arrives. Remove extraneous branches—those that appear weak and generally low quality. This pruning is considerably easier during the colder months when the tree has minimal (or no) foliage to get in the way. If you don't know much about pruning trees or have a number of trees that need attention, a professional tree service is the way to go.

Recovery

Removing redundant branches during late winter spares the tree from needing to recover during the coldest months when its growth is dormant. But pruning in later winter with spring just around the corner? This is the best time. The tree will emerge from its dormancy and won't expend any energy in maintaining these (now removed) redundant branches. This process allows the tree to enter the warmer part of the year with as much energy as possible in reserve, which it will put into reproduction—or fruiting.

Again, you need to consider the type of tree, its age, its health, the local weather conditions and climate, and the quality of the soil—but late winter pruning paves the way for the tree to produce fruit much sooner than it otherwise would.

Contact a local tree service to learn more.