Pomegranate Care

Background: With its origin in Asia the pomegranate grows best in warmer climates, but needs a cool dormant period to produce fruit in abundance.

Features: Opposite leaves appear red turning green as they mature. Pomegranate produce beautiful bright red/orange red flowers and fruit. Older specimens have wonderful movement through twists and gnarls in the trunks. Punica granatum has large red flowers and large fruit. Punica granatum 'Nana' the Dwarf Pomegranate is a miniature version of the granatum. The Dwarf produces small blossoms and smaller fruit making it appear more balanced. Punica granatum 'Nochi Shibari" produces deep red blooms resembling carnations however this variety does not produce fruit!

 

Styles / Pruning / Training: The informal upright Pomegranate boasting a large canopy seems to be the best style to display flowers and fruits, however a variety of styles have been used successfully. Do not root prune heavily at one time, it is concidered best to remove smaller amounts over time. The foliage may be heavily pruned. Wire branches with caution, they are slightly brittle. Clip and grow is best on foliage, clip to avoid bloom shoots. Clipping should be done (after blooming) and clipped back down to 2 leaves. Pomegranate will often bloom again after the first pruning. When multiple fruits and flowers are produced on a single branch they can weight it down, bending and weakening the branch. Choosing fruits and flowers for removal will help maintain the trees energy and strength. Some growers practice allowing a branch to fruit only once every two years.

Soil Requirements : Many soil types will work appropriately as long as they are well draining, adding organic material is commonly practiced, however it you choose a non-organic you should increase watering and fertilization.

Light / Water requirements: The pomegranates prefer full sun for maximum fruiting and flowering. When blooming and fruiting give them plenty of water. Keep them slightly moist in winter never allowing them to dry out if you want flowers and fruits. Do not water from the top when in bloom, water to the base of the tree. It is believed by some that getting the blooms wet will hinder the fruit production.