Planting Pomegranate Trees

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Planting Pomegranate Trees

The Pomegranate (Punicagranatum) makes an unusually attractiveshrub or small tree for the yard, seldom growingbeyond 10-12 ft. high. It is free of pests anddiseases in the arid regions where it is bestadapted, but the shiny green foliage is likely tobe attacked by fungus diseases in the morehumid regions of the South and Southeast.Although these diseases have not been studied,neutral copper sprays should effectively protectagainst most of them.

The Pomegranate is a deciduous plant, andeven in the warmer areas of the Southeast whereaverage winter temperatures are reasonably highit will drop its leaves through the winter period,although new growth may start before all otherleaves are off. In areas with a marked winterperiod, leaf fall occurs in the fall and the treesremain dormant until spring. The speciesappears to have very little chilling requirementand is therefore vigorous growing even in warmareas. The dormant tree withstands tempera-tures of to° to 15° F., and, with protection, canbe grown in areas with even lower minimums.

Pomegranates are easily grown from seed,which are pressed out of the surrounding fleshytissue, and planted shallowly in a prepared seedbed or flat. Seedling plants are almost invariablyvery inferior in quality, some being extremelyacid. Named varieties are recommended. The

Pomegranate is so easily propagated by dormantwoody cuttings that any other method ofpropagation seems unnecessary. Budding, graft-ing and layering of the simpler kinds can beused if desired. Because they are so universallygrown on their own roots from cuttings, noinformation on rootstocks is available.

The plants may be grown close together in ahedgerow, or as free-standing trees. Standardtrees need be no more than 12-16 ft. apart.

Pomegranates tend to sucker very freely, andif the suckers are not removed the plant soonbecomes a shrub, usually a dense spiny thicketunless thinned out annually. Except for theremoval of suckers and strong watersprouts,pruning consists mostly of thinning outexcessively dense growth. A multiple trunksystem is easily developed by using z or moresuckers to develop the top. Two-year or olderwood is fruitful and should be retained. Heavythinning back may be used to keep the plantsmall.

Pomegranates respond to normal wateringpractices for yard shrubs; they are somewhatdrought-resistant, but best production andappearance results when they do not suffer longdrought periods.

Fertilizer requirements are less than formany. other fruit plants; if the bright greenfoliage starts to yellow, light applications ofnitrogenous fertilizers are indicated. If theplants become chlorotic, especially in theSoutheast, applications of a complete fertilizerwith added micronutrients as for citrus (seeORANGE) may prove beneficial.

This plant is adapted to a variety of soils,from heavy to light ; only poorly drained areasneed to be avoided. It is more tolerant to salinesoils than most other fruit trees.

One of its chief attractions as an ornamentalis the relatively large, bright orange-red flowers,which bloom in the spring and continue tonearly midsummer. The fruit matures from lateJuly to Sept., depending upon average growingtemperatures through the developmental period,and hangs on the trees until winter. As it colorsit adds materially to the ornamental value of theplant. Fruits not used should be cut off, as theyeventually split, become subject to molds androts, and are unsightly.

The fruits are normally from 3-4 in. in dia.,roughly globose to subglobose in shape, with apersistent tubular calyx. The arils, which arefrom white to red, the latter being preferred, areencased in the leathery skin. If the calyx end ofthe fruit is cut off, the skin cut through in 4 or 5sectors around the fruit, it may be pried openexposing the arils most effectively. The mem-branous skin separating groups of arils is highlyastringent, and should not be eaten.

Few Americans are fond of the fresh fruit, butthe expressed juice is used fresh, in cookery, andmakes a very delightful jelly.

Two varieties are generally available.`Wonderful' yields a large fruit, more or lessblushed with light red over a straw-colored base.The arils are pinkish red, the seeds small andsoft, and the quality very good. `Ruby' fruitsare somewhat smaller, but the fruit is usuallyfully colored medium red; the arils are brightred, but the seeds are slightly larger and harder,and the flesh more acid.

Non-fruiting ornamental forms with pink,white-frilled, double flowers are available. Also,a very dwarf form, which bears typical but tinyfruits, is offered

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