Yes, DTM is from the time you transplant into the garden - a 3 to 6wk old plant.
Transplants absolutely will yield fruit sooner than direct sown seed, depending on the weather and other factors. Weather is going to dictate things like how long it takes for seeds to germinate, and growth rate but if you put out a transplant, and plant seeds of the same variety right next to it, the transplant wins every time.
My 1 month old Dwarf Johnson's Cherry (the only dwarf I had this year) transplants went out exactly 3 weeks ago today. Lil short, stocky 2in. transplants.
Here they are today with flowers on them already. The larger one is 18in. tall.
