Pomegranate shrubs are one of the easiest fruits to keep since they are generally not affected by many pests or diseases. The Pomegranate fruits are full of antioxidants and thought to have many health benefits. Pomegranate trees are fairly small and can be grown as either a tree or a shrub depending on how you choose to prune and train it. Pomegranate trees are an ideal choice of tree to create a vibrant flowering hedge, as they can become quite dense when grown alongside each other. In this article we also discuss below topics;
How long does a Pomegranate tree take to grow
Growing a Pomegranate plant from cuttings
Pomegranate plant propagation
Pomegranate plant care
Growing a Pomegranate plant from seed
Pomegranate tree growing tips
A step by step guide to growing Pomegranate plant
Pomegranates can be grown from seed; though the tree from seed may not be very reliable the seed may grow into a hardy plant or one with barely edible fruits. To ensure that the pomegranate tree bears flowers and good fruits, get the right cultivar from a local nursery. Pomegranates can survive cold winters or harsh summers and you just need the right plant for the kind of weather you live in. Common pomegranate cultivars that you can select from the local nursery consist of Wonderful, Sweet Pomegranate, Kashmir Blend, Pink Satin, Sharp Velvet, Ambrosia, and Angel Red.
Soil and sun requirement for growing a Pomegranate plant
Pomegranates do well in most soils as long as the soil is well-watered and drained soggy soils will lead to increased Pomegranate flower and fruit drop. While the plant can survive in partially shaded areas, particularly when being pot grown, the plant thrives in regular sunlight plant pomegranates just about anywhere in your garden that gets about 2 to 4 hours of direct sunlight per day.
The best soils for the Pomegranate trees are heavy loams, but they can tolerate a wide array of soil conditions and can even grow in clay or sandy soils. The optimal soil pH level for pomegranate trees is 5.5 to 7. Alkaline soils can limit and restrict plant growth.
Obtain the pomegranate cutting or seedling
You can purchase a pomegranate seedling at a local nursery. Be sure to buy a variety that produces edible pomegranate fruit if you are hoping to be able to eat a homegrown pomegranate. First, cut a branch that is at least 10 inches long. Cover the cut end of the branch with rooting hormone to help it grow and take the cutting in February or March when the plant is still dormant.
Choosing a pot for growing a pomegranate plant
The pot should be appropriate to the size of the pomegranate plant, increase the pot size by repotting as your plant grows. Also, care about having sufficient holes in the base of the pot you are using for proper drainage.
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For indoor pomegranate trees grown in containers, you will want around a 10-gallon container one-quarter full of potting soil. Then, set the root ball into the container and begin to fill in around the roots with the soil to the top of the container but not covering the trunk.
Pomegranate plant propagation
Pomegranate plants can be propagated by cuttings or by seeds in spring to summer when the temperature range of 20°C, but it is better to buy 2 to 3 years old plant from nursery or online. This way you don’t have to wait long for Pomegranate fruits.
Propagation by seeds
First, buy a ripe pomegranate as possible. Separate and clean seeds from the pulp by rubbing them from paper towel, let them dry up for a few days before sowing the seed.
Plant the seeds no more than about ¼ inches deep in light seed-starting mix. Put the pots in a bright location, optionally inside a plastic bag or greenhouse that maintains a temperature around 20°C. And always keep the soil moist. Seeds will germinate within 1 to 6 weeks depending more on the variety and climate.
Propagation by cuttings
First, take several 8 to 10 inch-long cuttings. Then, plant the cutting in a well-drained potting mix. It roots easily and quickly at the ambient temperature of 20°C and high humidity.
The spacing of Pomegranate plants
Container-grown trees must be planted at the same depth they were originally grown. If you are planting pomegranate trees for hedges, and space them at least 6 feet to 9 feet apart. For orchards, plant individual trees about 15 to 18 feet apart.
Planting Pomegranate saplings
Pomegranate trees are self fruiting, so you’ll only need one.
Find a large, 10-gallon container.
Fill the container one-quarter full of potting soil.
Set the root ball in the container and begin to fill around the roots with soil.
Be sure not to cover the trunk.
Water the new tree well and tamp down.
Pomegranates are warm-weather fruits, so you’ll want to keep it outdoors in the summer in a sunny area.
In the winter, bring the tree indoors and put it in a south-facing window.
The water requirement for growing a Pomegranate plant
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The pomegranate plant is drought resistant but will fruit better if you water it in dry conditions every 5 to 7 days. Soggy soil or too much water is its enemy and will cause Pomegranate flower and fruit drop.
Caring for Pomegranate plants
The pomegranate does best in well-drained soil, while it can thrive in a wide variety of soils from acid loam to alkaline soil.
Pomegranate plants need full sun. Keep an eye on the weather report and if temps threaten to drop below 4°C, move the plant indoors to a sunny window. Water the Pomegranate tree deeply about once a week; possibly more often during peak summer months. Fertilize the tree with a half-cup (118 ml.) of about 10-10-10. Spread the fertilizer atop the soil and 2 inches (5 cm.) away from the trunk.
Prune out any crossing branches or shoots to 3 to 5 per branch after the tree’s first year. And prune out any dead or damaged limbs in the late winter. Prune out suckers to make a more tree-like appearance.
You no need to add fertilizers regularly to trees. If the plant performance is poor or not producing pomegranate fruits then there is a necessity of adding fertilizers. Before adding you need to test the soil pH level by taking a sample of it and plant thrives if the soil pH is acidic.
Fertilizers that are sulfur, iron compounds, or aluminum sulfate are added to the soil to boost plant growth. You add fertilizers rich in nitrogen, compost, or mulch that break down the soil continuously and supply nutrients to the plants.
Tips to plant pomegranate seeds
For best results, start pomegranate seeds indoors in mid-winter, so they can have a couple of months to grow before spring planting season.
Simply scoop out seeds and rinse them in cool water, then rub them with a paper towel to remove the pulp.
Allow the pomegranate seeds to dry for a few days to keep them from rotting.
Plant the seeds no more than ¼ inches deep in lightweight, seed-starting potting soil.
Put the pot in a sunny, warm window, and keep the soil moist as seeds germinate and grow.
For added humidity and warmth during winter, you can find it helpful to cover the pot loosely with a clear plastic bag until the seeds have sprouted.
When the weather warms in spring, you can begin gradually hardening off the pomegranate plants before moving them permanently outdoors. Even though mature plants can handle some cold, wait until freezing weather has passed before planting seedlings.
Process of growing Pomegranate plants from seed
Start pomegranate seeds once the fruit ripens to a solid and dark-red color. Score around the skin by knife and break the fruit in half. Scoop out the pomegranate seeds with a spoon.
Place the seeds in a bucket or bowl and crush the liquid-filled outer flesh of each seed. Rinse away the liquid and lay the seeds on a sheet of paper towel to dry as you prepare the planting containers.
Fill about 3-inch starter pots with standard, fertilizer-free potting soil. Then, leave the top 1/2 inch of each pot empty. Put one seed on the potting soil and press it lightly onto the surface. Do not cover the seed.
Mist the pomegranate seeds to hydrate them and settle them into the soil. Cover each pot with a small piece of plastic wrap and set the pots on a germination mat set to 21°C near a large window. Then, provide additional light with a fluorescent lamp, if needed.
Water the pomegranate seeds whenever the surface of the potting soil feels almost dry. Use a spray bottle to water, as the mist is less likely to disturb the seeds or oversaturated the soil.
Watch for germination 1 to 3 weeks after sowing. Keep the seedlings on the germination mat for another 2 weeks, or until the seedlings are tall enough to touch the plastic wrap.
Transplant the pomegranate seedlings into terra-cotta planters filled with a potting mix of about 2 parts coarse sand, 1 part loam, and 1 part milled peat, or use a commercially prepared potting mix enhanced with dolomitic lime. Put the pots near a large, south- or west-facing window with at least 6 hours of bright sunlight each day. Then, rotate the pots by a half revolution each week to ensure even light exposure.
Provide water whenever the soil feels completely dry in the top about 2 inches. Increase water slightly when the shrub is blooming so the top inch dries out between watering. And discard any water that pools in the drainage saucer.
Feed the pomegranate monthly from spring until late summer and use balanced 12-12-12 fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer at half the recommended strength and water carefully afterward to distribute it throughout the potting soil.
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Growing Pomegranate trees in containers
Pomegranate plants thrive in areas of warm, arid conditions. While not all of us reside in such climactic regions, the good news is that growing pomegranate plants in a pot is entirely possible. Trees in containers can either be grown indoors given sufficient arid provisions or outdoors during part of the year or moved indoors if cold snaps are imminent. Pomegranates are self-pollinating, so you need one to set fruit. They are hardy and will bear fruit within the second year. For outdoor or indoor pomegranate trees grown in containers, you will want around a 10-gallon container one-quarter full of potting soil. Set the root ball into the container and begin to fill in around the plant roots with the soil to the top of the container but not covering the trunk. Water the new pomegranate tree in well and lightly tamps the soil down to eliminate any air pockets.
Remove dead or damaged parts of the pomegranate plant
You don’t want to prune your pomegranate tree to maintain it, but it is a good idea to cut away dead or dying branches in the spring to help the tree grow well. You can thin the plant as you see necessary.
If you are growing the pomegranate in a container, you will need to prune and train a bit more heavily, to keep the pomegranate the size and shape you want it to be.
Pests and diseases affected by pomegranate plants
Pomegranate shrubs are one of the easier fruits to work with as they are not usually affected by many pests or diseases.
Possible pests include pomegranate butterfly, thrips, scale, mealy bugs, and whiteflies. Deer will sometimes eat the leaves, and occasionally gophers will chew on the plant roots. Diseases contain leaf spot, fruit spot, twig dieback, dry rot, and soft rot.
Pruning Pomegranate trees
Pruning is necessary to give and maintain the desired shape of the pomegranate tree and encourage flowering and fruiting. It is best done after all danger of frost has passed when the pomegranate tree is about to start growing.
Prune off weak, dead, and undesirable branches to direct shrub’s energy to the right parts and shorten long branches to encourage pomegranate flowering.
Picking Pomegranates
Harvest pomegranate fruit when the crust of the fruit is intense red. Simply cut the fruit’s stem using a sharp knife. When harvesting pomegranate fruit, pick when the pomegranate fruit is fully ripe and a deep red since it does not continue to ripe post-harvest. Begin picking pomegranate fruits when the fruit makes a metallic sound when you tap it with your finger.
Picking pomegranate fruits is not the correct wording to use because the fruit should not be pulled off the plant.
Commonly asked questions about growing pomegranate plants
Is the Pomegranate tree a self-pollinating?
Most pomegranate trees are self-fruiting as they do not need any other pomegranate tree variety for pollination purposes. The pomegranate tree produces flowers that attract insects for pollination. It is said that planting another pomegranate tree nearby can increase the fruit production in both the trees.
Why do Pomegranates split on the tree?
One of them may be caused by a pomegranate tree getting a little too much care. Fungal pathogens are notoriously frustrating causes of the split pomegranate fruit. They strike just as the fruit is ripening. The other main cause of splitting pomegranate fruit is the same as with many other fruits that are irregular watering.
Why are my Pomegranates turning black?
Alternaria is called black rot and causes damage to the pomegranate fruit in the form of wounds and rot on the interior of the fruit. It occurs after heavy rains just when pomegranate fruit is beginning to form.
Why is my Pomegranate not flowering?
Inadequate light levels are a central reason pomegranate trees fail to produce any flowers. A garden exposure that provides at least 8 to 10 hours of direct sun rays daily, particularly from spring to fall is a necessity. The more sun and the warmer the growing season’s temperature ranges, the better.
How do you increase the Pomegranate fruit size?
Increasing the size of pomegranate fruits is more about pruning, watering, and fertilizing than anything else. Larger fruit will be formed on older wood so pruning a pomegranate to be more like a tree than a shrub will help.
Conclusion of growing a pomegranate plant
Well, growing a pomegranate plant is easy and commercially viable as there is an excellent demand for this wonderful fruit. You may also like the Coconut Seed Germination, Time Period, Process.
