The most important crops in the early years of Sahuaro Ranch were fruits and nuts. These commanded high prices, which meant they could profitably be raised here and sold to buyers across the country despite the high cost of shipping from such a remote location.

The first trees to be planted on the ranch were figs and dates. They were soon followed by olives, apricots, peaches, almonds, and oranges. By 1891, according to a Phoenix newspaper, Sahuaro Ranch had the largest fig orchard in the United States.

Over time, the crops grown at Sahuaro Ranch changed, as they did on many Arizona farms. Fruits and nuts became less important as the ranch's owners began raising more citrus and cattle. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, most of Sahuaro Ranch's olive trees were removed, a pecan grove was planted, and the acreage devoted to oranges and grapefruit was greatly increased.

Some of the date palms near the Main House were planted in 1891, making this one of the oldest date groves in Arizona. Most of the citrus trees were planted starting in the late 1920s. The apricot, peach, and fig trees (located north of the Fruit Packing Shed) were planted in recent years.