One of the pricier fruits in the realm of produce, pomegranates are best known as juicy, sweet fruits with glossy foliage. When fully grown, the pomegranate tree takes a fountain shape and flowers for a long season.
If you live in a colder climate, it might take some extra effort to grow this plant without pests or diseases, but if you are from a warmer climate, this plant is easy to grow. So, if you have decided to plant these vibrantly flowering trees, they will surely be a beautiful addition to your garden, resulting in delicious produce.
Which Place is Suitable to Plant Pomegranate?
Pomegranates add a touch of whimsy to your garden with their tendency to "weep," meaning their branches cascade downwards, creating a natural fountain shape. This, along with their potential sprawl when laden with fruit, is something to consider when choosing a planting location.
Furthermore, standard pomegranate trees can reach maturity at 10-15 feet tall and wide, so provide them with ample space to grow freely. However, if you have limited space in your garden, their dwarf versions offer exciting possibilities, too. They also thrive in dense flowering shrub borders, hedges, or large patio containers!
If you have enough space, plant a dwarf version along with your chosen variety. But why, I hear you ask? While pomegranates are self-fruitful, planting two different varieties that flower simultaneously can increase fruit production.
This can be achieved by having a dwarf variety and a more enormous fruiting variety or simply two different standard types that bloom at the same time.
Pomegranates are sun-loving plants, thriving with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, ideally 10 or more hours in summer. Zones 9-11 can plant them in full sun locations. Zones 6-7, on the other hand, need to find a spot with maximum summer sun but winter protection, like an east-facing wall offering shelter.
Planting Location
Standard pomegranates need 10-15 feet on all sides for good growth. Meanwhile, dwarf varieties offer more flexibility and can be planted in containers. So, consider the tree's mature size before choosing the perfect spot that will not hinder this plant's growth.
Planting Pomegranate Tree
As discussed above, pomegranates love sunlight, so locate them in the sunniest and warmest corner of your yard, a spot that might be a little too harsh for other plants.
Also, make sure that the soil should be loose and well-draining to prevent waterlogging. In addition to finding the perfect spot, there are a few things you have to consider before planting the tree, which are as follows-
Planting Time
As you have made up your mind to plant pomegranate in your backyard, wait for the perfect season to plant it. So, wait until the spring has sprung eliminating all the danger of frost. Waiting for a warmer climate ensures the delicate roots establish themselves in warm soil without the risk of cold damage.
The spring season has arrived, and you are all set to choose the spot where pomegranates grow. For a sprawling, beautiful hedge, plant them 6-9 feet apart. But if you want to produce fruits, a 15-foot space between trees is ideal.
Dig a planting hole twice the width of the root ball or pot the tree came in and as deep as the root ball. Also, pomegranates can also be trained to grow vertically on a trellis or wall, so if you want to give your garden a unique touch, you can opt for this growing technique.
Pomegranate Tree Care
By incorporating these sections into your gardening routine, you will see how pomegranate grow and thrive with proper care and nurture.
• Sun Exposure: Pomegranates are like sunbathers! While they can tolerate some shade, they truly flourish with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. This is especially important for getting a good harvest.
• Soil: The beauty of pomegranates is their adaptability. They thrive in well-drained soil and even tolerate a slightly acidic loam to alkaline as long as drainage is good.
• Watering: Pomegranates are resilient trees! They're drought tolerant but require deep watering every 2-4 weeks, especially during dry periods and while establishing new trees. However, avoid overwatering though, as soggy soil can lead to poor fruit production and increased risk of pests and diseases.
• Temperature and Humidity: Pomegranates love warmth, ideally, they suit USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7-10. They prefer cool winters followed by hot, dry summers, thriving in temperatures above 85°F during the growing season.
While more cold-tolerant than citrus trees, most pomegranates require low or no chilling hours for flowering and fruiting. However, this depends on the variety you choose. So, do your research on the variety and its temperature requirement before buying the seeds.
• Fertilization: Young trees benefit from fertilization in November and March for the first two years. Once mature, they require minimal additional fertilizer, but too much fertilizer can also hinder fruit production. So, be mindful of the quantity.
Types of Pomegranates
With over 700 varieties, there's a pomegranate perfect for every garden and taste bud! Yes, pomegranates share the same botanical name, but they have different features.
Some maintain their evergreen status in consistently warm environments, while others are deciduous, which lose their leaves in fall and enter dormancy regardless of climate.
1. Haku-Botan
While the arils are extra tart, this 10-foot-tall wonder thrives in Zones 7-11. Also, this unique variety boasts a trifecta of features such as,
elaborate double cream-colored flowers
large cream-colored fruit
unusual cream-colored seeds with a hint of pineapple flavor.
If you crave nonstop blooms, look no further than Madame Legrelle. This 15-foot-tall showstopper in Zones 8-11 dazzles with fully double, variegated coral and cream blooms with striking stripes. While it doesn't produce fruit, its floral extravaganza is a sight to behold.
3. Nana Black
Standing out with its elegant purple-to-black fruit, Nana Black is one of the few evergreen pomegranates, especially in warm climates or when grown indoors. While the tiny berries are perfect for decorative accents, their tart flavor may not be ideal for eating.
This 4-foot-tall beauty flourishes in Zones 7-11.
4. Pepe Le Pom
This high-performance recent addition to the pomegranate world is perfect for landscapes or containers. A compact shrub, it boasts year-round blooms and small, festive fruit that resemble holiday ornaments. However, it might lose its glossy leaves in fall in cooler climates, creating a unique winter display.
But, if potted indoors, it has the potential to remain evergreen and reach 4 feet tall in Zones 7-11.
5. Red Silk
Dwarf pomegranate enthusiasts will love Red Silk because it offers both beauty and delicious fruit. This 6-foot-tall wonder in Zones 7b-11 produces large, delectable fruits with hints of red berries and almonds in their flavor profile. It is perfect for container gardening, even for those in northern regions.
6. Salavatski
Cold-hardy down to -6°F, 'Salavatski' is a dream come true for northern gardeners from Zones 6 or 7. When mature, it delivers a heavy harvest of large, high-quality fruits that rival store-bought pomegranates. The pressed juice boasts a delightful flavor profile, combining the refreshing tartness of lemonade with the richness and sweetness of grape juice.
While it can grow in Zones 6-11, Zone 6 gardeners should provide a protected spot near a wall for optimal winter survival.
7. Wonderful
This household name is the standard grocery store pomegranate that launched the California industry. While the fresh arils are undeniably delicious, the store-bought juice from Wonderful Pomegranates takes on a surprising twist.
Often described as reminiscent of liqueur or vermouth, it offers a unique flavor experience quite different from the fresh fruit. Regarding its growth, this majestic variety can reach up to 15 feet tall, making it a true statement piece in your garden.
It thrives in Zones 7-11 and might require some winter protection in Zone 7 to ensure its continued success.
Pruning
Pomegranate trees are vigorous growers and may send up suckers from their roots. These suckers divert energy from the main tree, so it's essential to remove them promptly whenever they appear.
Indeed, pruning a pomegranate tree isn't mandatory, but it offers several benefits, including keeping the tree looking its best and producing delicious fruit for years to come.
Regular pruning during the first few years helps shape the tree, encouraging a solid framework and promoting healthy new shoot development. By strategically pruning some branches, you can encourage better airflow and light penetration within the tree. As a result, this can lead to a more abundant harvest.
Thinning out developing fruits helps ensure they have enough space and resources to reach their full size and sweetness. This also reduces the risk of branches breaking under the weight of too many fruits.
However, once these trees are mature and fully established, pruning needs become less frequent. Thus, you can focus on only removing diseased, dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain good air circulation.
Propagating pomegranate trees can be immensely rewarding, but it's important to be aware of the challenges and legalities involved. First things first, propagating trademarked or patented cultivars from seed is illegal. So, check your specific pomegranate tree to ensure you can reproduce it before proceeding.
Secondly, this process, especially from seeds and hardwood cuttings, is a tough job requiring experience and skill. But if you are a seasoned and experienced gardener, hardwood cuttings taken in winter offer the most viable option.
If you are a newbie looking to learn, here's a step-by-step guide to propagating pomegranate-
1. In winter, select firm, pencil-diameter branches measuring 8-10 inches long from the previous season's growth. Avoid softwood cuttings, as they tend to dry out quickly.
2. Then, dip the cut end of the stem in the rooting hormone, a product containing IBA that promotes root development. This increases your chances of successful propagation.
3. Thirdly, fill a pot with well-draining soil and soilless mix and insert half the length of the cutting.
4. Create a mini greenhouse by encasing the pot with a clear plastic bag. Also, make sure to poke some holes for proper air circulation.
5. As this process requires sunlight, locate the pot outdoors in a shady yet bright area.
6. Rooting can take up to eight weeks, so be patient and keep waiting.
7. Finally, once the cuttings have established roots, you can transplant them into a larger pot or the ground the following year.
The wait for delicious pomegranates can take 3-6 years, but there are signs to identify ripe fruit. So, look for a color change from green to deep red/purple with a matte finish and a boxy shape. Also, a gentle squeeze should reveal slight softness, and a tap should produce a metallic sound.
Once you are sure they are ripe, use pruners to clip the stem with a small stalk for storage. With fresh produce from your own garden, you can enjoy these fruits for months as these beauties will keep fresh in the refrigerator for a long time!
Growing a pomegranate tree from seed can be fun and rewarding, but it might not produce fruit identical to the parent tree. Here's what you'll need to do:
1. First, remove the fleshy part from the seed by rolling it in a paper towel to absorb the fluid.
2. Rinse and dry the seeds for a couple of hours.
3. Then, refrigerate those seeds wrapped in a paper towel and bag for a few weeks.
4. Put seeds about 1/2 inch deep in a moistened potting medium.
5. To aid germination, keep the soil temperature warm (75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit). You can do this by either putting the pot under a plastic baggie tent, surrounding it with foil, or putting it in direct sunlight.
6. Lastly, transplant the seedlings to a pot or outdoors in a protected area when they reach 4 to 6 inches in height. Now, you can establish the baby plant in your desired location.
How to Grow Pomegranate Trees in Pots
Pomegranates can flourish in containers, but they require a bit more attention than those planted in the ground. But, the bright side is that any type of pomegranate, dwarf or otherwise, can technically be grown in a pot. However, keep in mind that limited root space may affect fruit production.
To create a happy potted pomegranate, choose a pot with at least 10 gallons of volume and excellent drainage. Fill it with standard potting mix and remember, consistent watering and fertilization are key to a thriving container plant.
Also, repotting every 2-3 years is recommended, and this can be a great opportunity to propagate a new plant by dividing the crown if your pomegranate has become too bushy.
Unlike some fruit trees, pomegranates are generally resistant to pests and diseases. Some occasional problems can arise, but they're usually manageable.
Pests
Some potential pests include insects like pomegranate butterflies, thrips, scales, mealybugs, and whiteflies. If you notice any of these visitors on your plant, various organic and non-organic solutions are available to keep them at bay.
Solution: For an organic approach, introduce natural predators like ladybugs or lacewings or use insecticidal soap sprays. But you can also apply horticultural oil sprays or insecticidal sprays according to label instructions.
Diseases
Diseases are even rarer in healthy pomegranate trees that receive proper care. However, some potential issues to watch for include leaf spot, fruit spot, twig dieback, dry rot, and soft rot.
Solution: To get rid of the fungus or bacterial disease, avoid over-watering and maintain good air circulation. Plus, prune away the affected part. For severe cases, fungicide sprays may be necessary. So, choose organic or non-organic options based on your preference.
