Bright red pomegranate is so ancient, some Jewish scholars believe it was the Garden of Eden’s forbidden fruit.
Words Steve McGrane
Pomegranate, from the Latin for “seeded apple”, lends its name to the military hand grenade and it really is a taste explosion. Originating from the Middle East way back when, the red fruit has low care requirements and unique health benefits — not to mention its scintillating flavour and the fact that it’s simply beautiful to look at.
Yet it’s expensive in supermarkets and often imported, thus incurring high food miles. So why not grow your own?
Growing
Pomegranates grow well in a variety of soils, from high sand content (although additional organic matter and fertiliser will assist in the quality and volume of fruit) to clay soils. The desirable pH range is 5.5 to 7.2.
Find a sunny spot in the garden — or grow in a pot. As it’s a deciduous plant (especially in cool climates) with self-pollinating varieties (see list), multiple plants will always improve
pollination rates.
Shield young plants from severe sun and wind as their underdeveloped root systems struggle in high temperatures. Cover or plant as an understorey.
Conversely, a pomegranate dormant in winter can survive on very little water.
Choose a spot with good drainage, although pomegranates can handle some waterlogging. A gentle slope or mound assists with drainage.
Dig a hole twice as deep as the root ball and three times as wide: this pays dividends later.
Before planting, improve the soil with copious amounts of organic matter such as well-rotted manure and compost.
Improve drainage in heavy clay with the addition of gypsum — about two cups per square metre, avoiding contact with the roots.
Actually, gypsum can be added regardless of soil type as the sulphur in it benefits growth.
Consider adding about one-third by volume of coarse river sand to further improve drainage around the root ball, if required.
Press down on the soil around the newly planted pomegranate to ensure large air pockets are removed. Water in well with a seaweed-based product to reduce transplant shock. Add mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture, and keep moist for the first two weeks.
I prefer compost to sugarcane for mulching as compost adds nutrients and microbiology to the soil while allowing water to infiltrate effectively.
Once planted, stake plants with three supports or a tree guard for the first three to four years. This allows plants to move with the breeze and encourage a strong root system while being supported.
Fertilising and pest control
Add organic fruit fertiliser in spring and autumn with larger volumes in spring.
Sprinkle a cup of organic blood and bone (or an organic liquid fertiliser) every 6–10 weeks (longer intervals in winter).
Apply a foliar spray of trace elements in spring and autumn to improve floral blooms and fruit set in spring.
Net or bag fruit to protect from fruit fly. Use neem oil for all other pests such as aphids and scale.
Apply as required in late winter or early spring as a preventative.
Harvesting
The most common question about pomegranates is how to tell when they’re ripe.
The ripening process is influenced by the seasons. In warmer years, you may find they ripen earlier and vice versa. Hence, pomegranates can be ready for harvest between March through to May depending on varieties.
The best indicator is when fruit turns deep red or orange.
Remember that they do not ripen after picking — but sometimes, in the event of excessive rain, you may be forced to pick early to avoid splitting. Dry summers produce the best fruit.
Use sharp secateurs to cut the fruits from the tree to avoid damaging skins.
Selecting a pomegranate
You can source either bare-rooted plants (in bags with no soil) from late autumn to spring in nurseries or potted plants during the warmer months.
Ensure the original soil height found in the pot is maintained when planting out and never plant in the heat of summer.
A dwarf or grafted variety of pomegranate is bested suited to a pot.
Ensure the pot has good drainage and a minimum of 50cm wide and the same depth.
Varieties
‘Wonderful’ is a large, deep purple-red fruit with crimson flesh. Very sweet with soft seeds, it’s good for juicing and eating. Ripens in spring.
‘Azerbaijani’ or ‘Gulosha Azerbaijani’ produces medium to large very juicy fruit with a pinkish hue.
‘Elche’ has great flavour and high antioxidant, vitamin and mineral content. Dwarf Pomegranate ‘Parfianka’ is a naturally dwarfing early-season variety with bright-red fruit and small edible seeds chosen for superior taste. Crops at a young age. Grows up to 3m but with pruning can be kept to 2m. ‘Ben Hur’ Developed for the home garden, it produces large, sweet and juicy fruit to 1.5kg. Suitable for temperate to tropical climates.
‘Red Velvet’ Self-fertile with dark-pink to red skin and red flesh.
Pomegranates range in price from $20 to $100 depending on size and type.
Prunning
Before planting your pomegranate, reduce the branch structure to the strongest three to five upright branches.
Remove growth below the graft (maintain this practice each year). Lightly tip prune each year after harvesting, keeping the mature branch growth for next year’s fruit.
Avoid hedge pruning as it encourages small fruit. Pomegranates only grow on the previous year’s wood growth (second-year wood), hence regular pruning (eg hedging) impedes fruit production.
Pomegranate label
Common name: Pomegranate
Scientific name: Punica granatum
Family: Lythraceae
Aspect & soil: Full sun, well-drained soil
Habit: Deciduous to semi-deciduous shrub/small tree
Propagation: Seed, suckers, tip cutting
Difficulty: Easy