Have you ever tried a pomegranate? They have become a much more popular fruit in recent years compared to when I was a child eating them. They are delicious and an excellent source of antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
Pomegranates can be yellow to bright red, depending on the variety. The fruit can be up to 4 inches in diameter, as big as a hefty orange, and the skin is leathery and smooth. Inside you find many seeds surrounded by a pink to reddish flesh, called the aril. These gems inside are what you eat.
Pomegranate is an ancient fruit mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is from the Middle East and grows in places like Iran, the Himalayans, and the Mediterranean. Fortunately for us, it even grows in Central Texas.
What is needed to grow pomegranates?
• Number of trees: A tree. Only one is needed as it is self-pollinating.
• Soil: Best to have moderately alkaline (to slightly acidic), well-draining soil.
• Light: They like to get full sun. If more than one tree is planted, plant 1215 feet apart so the trees don’t shade each other.
• Irrigation: It varies depending on being newly planted or well-established. Once established, the tree requires watering every 7-10 days. The tree is drought tolerant but you need irrigation for fruit quality and quantity.
• Fertilizer: As the new fruit plant makes new leaves and shoots, use light nitrogen fertilizer to help facilitate vegetative growth. As the tree grows, Nitrogen fertilizer use will increase and then after 5-6 years, it can be tapered off. See links on page 4B with more details on fertilization.
• Pruning: If grown naturally, as a bushy shrub, minimal pruning is needed to remove suckers beyond the 3-5 you want to keep or later in the tree’s life to remove dead limbs. Increased pruning is needed to get the plant into a tree.
• Weed control: As with any fruit tree, clear out unwanted vegetation before planting. Then use mulch to keep weeds from competing with the tree and its fruit.
• Environment: It loves hot, dry summers. Temperatures below 18 degrees Fahrenheit will cause damage to the fruit. High humidity can cause heart rot.
Varieties suitable for growing in Texas: Al-sirin-nar, Russian 18, Salavatski, Spanish Sweet, Sumbar, Suh Anor and Wonderful. Pomegranates aren’t a quarantined plant so you can have these varieties shipped in if necessary. Otherwise, visit your local nursery. January is the time when the nurseries stock the best selection of bare root plants. Wait until after the last freeze to plant.
Hopefully you have had the chance to experience a pomegranate’s deliciousness. If not, give one a try and consider growing a pomegranate tree (or shrub). In several years, you will enjoy its fruits and throughout the years, you can enjoy the tree’s beauty.
Here are several resources for further reference on planting and maintenance:
• aggie-hort.tamu.edu/citrus/pomegranate. htm
•aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ fruit-nut/wp-content/uploads/ sites/6/2015/04/pomegranates_2015. pdf
• agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2020/10/23/ plant-fruit-trees-the-agrilife-extensionway/ • agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2023/10/24/ how-to-plant-fruit-trees-the-texas-amagrilife- way/
