Pomegranate

Info

The pomegranate is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing to between 15 and 20 feet tall. The pomegranate is native to Southwest Asia and has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times.
The leaves are glossy, narrow, and oblong. The flowers are bright red, with four to five petals. Some fruitless varieties are grown for the flowers alone.
The edible fruit is a berry and is 5–;12 cm in diameter with a rounded hexagonal shape, and has thick reddish skin and can contain up to 600 seeds. The seeds and surrounding pulp, ranging in color from white to deep red to purple, are called arils.
The pomegranate juice can be very sweet or sour, but most fruits are moderate in taste.

Varieties

  • Granada

    Vigorous and productive plant. Large, reddish-orange, ornamental flowers. Leathery skinned, attractive red or yellow fruit. Delicious flavor. Likes full sun to partial shade.

Care and Maintenance

  1. Preparing the Hole

    Dig the hole as deep as the root ball, and as much as three times as wide as the diameter of the root ball. Breaking up the soil around the tree provides the newly emerging roots room to grow into loose soil to hasten establishment.

  2. Placing Your Tree

    Place the tree carefully in the center of the hole after removing it from the container. The tree's root collar (the bulge right above the root system) should be just above the top of the soil. Don't dig the hole too deep. It is better if the root collar is slightly (1 to 2") higher than ground level because of possible setting.

  3. Filling the Hole

    Carefully fill the hole with soil when the tree is positioned and straight. Fill the hole about 1/3 full and lightly push the soil around the base of the root ball. Fill the remainder of the hole taking care to gently but firmly pack soil to eliminate air pockets that may cause the roots to dry out. Don't plant the tree too deep. Back fill the soil to the height just below the root collar.

  4. Mulching

    Place 2 to 4 inches of mulch in a 2 to 3 foot circle around the tree. Keep the mulch from touching the trunk to keep fungus from growing on the trunk. Mulch can be aged wood chips or bark. Mulch helps keep roots moist and insulates them, and prevents weed growth. It is not recommended to apply fertilizer at the time of planting.

  5. Watering

    Water the tree well as soon as you plant it. Water the tree at least once a week for the first year after planting. A slow, root-saturating, one-hour trickle once a week is recommended for a new tree. The watering schedule should be adjusted accordingly if it rains or is very dry.