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In addition to producing excellent fruit, pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) are easy to care for in a warm area. The trees typically take three to six years to reach maturity and produce their distinctive red, leathery fruit, which is packed with delicious, edible seeds.
The pomegranate can grow from a 3-foot dwarf shrub to a 30-foot tree. Although it is mostly deciduous, it may be evergreen in warmer areas. Its glossy foliage and tube-shaped, scarlet-red flowers draw hummingbirds and other pollinators, making it visually appealing.
Pomegranates have polyphenol compounds called punicalagins or ellagitannins. These antioxidants help prevent your artery walls from thickening and reduce the buildup of cholesterol and plaque.
The pomegranate is indigenous to a region that stretches from northern India to present-day Iran. Pomegranates have been grown for thousands of years in the Mediterranean, India, and Middle East. As one of the first fruit trees domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean, pomegranates may have been cultivated as early as the fifth millennium BC.
Anar dana, a spice made from pomegranate seeds, is mostly used in Indian and Pakistani cooking. It is common to find dried entire seeds at ethnic Indian marketplaces. These seeds are used as an acidic ingredient in the making of curry and chutney after being separated from the flesh and dried for ten to fifteen days. Additionally, ground anardana is utilised, which gives food a richer flavour and keeps the seeds from being lodged in teeth. High-quality sources of this spice are thought to be the seeds of the Himalayan wild pomegranate type known as daru. Learn more!
How Pomegranates Are Grown
For their versatility, pomegranates can be cultivated as hedges, shrubs, or tiny trees. They can be displayed, housed in big pots, or made into a bonsai if you're feeling very inventive. Their primary needs are good drainage and full sun.
Despite their remarkable adaptability to various environments, including the tropics, pomegranates flourish in hot, dry summers. If you're growing in a really cold climate, select a location close to a north-facing wall. This will radiate more warmth and prolong the growing season.
They will do better with manure or compost supplied upon planting and then mulched, even if they can tolerate poor soils. For better drainage while growing on clay soils, use gypsum. Avoid excavating around the tree's base after planting because this will encourage the growth of suckers.
Once established, they can withstand dryness, but they will provide more and sweeter fruit if they receive enough moisture throughout the growing season.
Dwarf and ornamental are among the many available varieties, so read the labels before purchasing.
Growing Pomegranate Trees in Pots: A Guide
Any size pomegranate plant can be grown in a container. However, smaller pomegranate trees are simpler to grow there.
Because their roots will be more constrained, pomegranate trees in pots may yield fewer fruits, but they will flourish if given regular watering and fertilisation. Ensure the container has enough drainage holes and is at least 10 gallons. Plant the tree using a regular potting mix.
Pruning
Remove pomegranates as soon as they appear since they are prone to developing suckers. If not, it will take on a broader, spreading, shrubby shape. To promote healthy new shoot development and a more plentiful crop, branches should be regularly pruned throughout the first few years.
Once the tree is established, it might be sufficient to remove any sick, dead, crossing, or damaged branches. The fruits growing on the branches should be thinned away. This will lessen the possibility of a limb breaking and guarantee that the pomegranates can reach their full size.
Pomegranate Tree Propagation
Pomegranate trees are difficult to propagate and are better left to nurseries. However, hardwood cuttings obtained in the winter are the greatest option, provided you're up for the challenge. Follow these procedures to reproduce from cuttings:
- In the winter, cut a pencil-diameter cutting from the previous season's growth that is 8 to 10 inches long.
- Submerge the cutting in the rooting hormone, which contains the rooting component IBA.
- Place half the cutting's length in a pot with a soilless mixture that drains properly.
- Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag with holes for air circulation.
- Put the pot outside in a bright, shaded area. It should begin to root in roughly eight weeks.
- Cuttings that have taken root can be moved the next year.
Pomegranate Tree Harvesting
A pomegranate tree requires three to six years to yield a good harvest. A fruit is ready to be picked when it exhibits the following symptoms:
- They have become red.
- Their sheen is matte instead of glossy.
- Their shape shifts from spherical to more hexagonal.
When tapped, they produce a metallic sound. Rather than removing the fruit by pulling it off, use pruning shears to cut the stem above it. If stored between 32 and 40 degrees, they can last long.
Pomegranates, also known as Punica granatum, are trees that thrive in hot environments. They are Indigenous to the Middle East, and Indian conditions are favourable for their growth. The vibrant, ruby-coloured gems within the fruits provide amazing bursts of flavour in cooking and salads.
