How to Grow Pomegranate

Опубликовал Admin
6-10-2016, 08:25
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Researchers and nutritionists are discovering numerous benefits from the consumption of pomegranate fruits and fruit juices. The bright red fruits also add eye appeal to a fruit salad and other recipes. The quality of the fruits from your plant depend on the procedure and care you provide during its growth.

Preparing to Plant

  1. Scout your property. Pomegranates require lots of direct sunlight. While they were originally cultivated in modern day Iran, they can be grown in most climates. If your backyard has a lot of shading from larger trees, consider planting the pomegranate plant in a community garden.
    • Track the location for a few months before planting to ensure it receives the best of the sunlight.
    • Keep in mind that the plant can grow to be 12 feet (3.66 meters) in height.
    • If you live in a colder state, consider using a specific variety of pomegranate from Salavatski or Kazakhe. These are better equipped for the colder winters. The Salavatski pomegranate has been recorded to withstand a winter reaching -6 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Plant cover crop. A great way to prepare a gardening space in the off seasons is to plant cover crops. These include a variety of different plants that balance the nutrients of the soil before planting. Pomegranates thrive best with high pH levels and alkaline rich soil.
    • You can reach this type of soil by adding sulfur, sawdust, conifer needles, or oak leaves. Try some of the common cover crops like hairy vetch, medium red clover, or cereal grains.
    • Always test your soil’s pH level before adding more acidity. Pomegranates like a pH level around 7.5-8.0.
  3. Acquire a seed. The seeds from pomegranates germinate easily and should be started indoors before planting outside. Most pomegranates found at the grocery store are hybrids. You’ll need to use a full blooded pomegranate for the best results.
    • Visit a farmers market or an organic grocery store.
  4. Prepare the seed. Cut open your pomegranate and remove the pulp encasing the seed. Wipe down your seed and allow it to dry for about three days. This prevents the seeds from molding.
    • Plant the seed indoors around mid-winter ¼” deep in lightweight potting soil.
    • Keep the seedling in a warm sunny location indoors.
    • Keep the soil moist, checking regularly if the soil is moist with your hands.

Planting Outdoors

  1. Prepare the location. Make sure the location you’re considering has the necessary attributes. Clear an area about a foot in diameter of weeds and other organic material in the location you plan to plant the pomegranate. Dig up a couple inches of soil for your premature plant using a trowel.
  2. Purchase a pomegranate plant. If you don’t feel like growing your own from a seed, that’s okay.
    • You can find pomegranate plants for sale at nurseries. The best time to purchase cuttings are in February or March.
    • Buy a cutting that is a little more than a foot (30.48 centimeters) long.
  3. Plant the crop. Plant your plant in spring just after the last frost. Submerge the roots and cover with a blend of soil and compost. Water the plant after planting. A good rule with using compost for edible plants is two parts soil and one part compost.
    • If you use your own compost, make sure that it is well rotted and resembles dirt. You can also purchase compost at a gardening center.
    • If you started from a seed, you'll need to let the plant become strong enough before planting outdoors. The best is to start your seeds in February. Watch and care for the seed while it germinates properly.
    • You can try planting your seedling if it has began to wither and brown. The healthier the plant, the better chance it has of surviving outdoors.

Maintaining the Crop

  1. Provide nutrients. Once the plant has agreed with the soil and location, you should tend to its nutrients. Apply nitrogen fertilizer which will enhance the plants rigor and quality.
    • Apply an “8-8-8” analysis fertilizer from November to March.
  2. Harvest fruit. Look for fruits to harvest from your pomegranate plant after about 3 years of growth. Fruits ripen between August and September.
    • Tap the fruit with your knuckle and you'll hear a metallic sound if it's ripe.
    • A ripe fruit will be anywhere from 2 to 5 inches large.
    • The fruit will split open if it is left too long to ripen.
  3. Care for the fruit. Store the fruit from your pomegranate plant for a maximum of 6 months after picking.
    • Use the fruit and fruit juice in a variety of recipes.

Tips

  • Pomegranate plants have more in common with the characteristics of a bush than a tree. They can take on the form of a tree, but need to trained for that particular growth.
  • Pomegranate can be grown from seed or purchased in 5-gallon (18.93 liters) buckets if you do not desire to begin them from cuttings.

Warnings

  • Flowering varieties of pomegranate plants can be purchased. These plants have lovely blooms, but often produce very small, inedible fruits. Consider the purpose of your plant before selecting the variety you will purchase.
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