The pomegranate, celebrated for its ruby-red arils, is a resilient plant that can be successfully grown in home gardens across various regions. This plant is technically a large, long-lived shrub that can be trained into a small tree. Pomegranates are popular due to their ornamental qualities, the health benefits of the fruit, and their adaptability to challenging climates. Growing pomegranates requires specific conditions and care to ensure a bountiful harvest.
Environmental Requirements for Growth
Pomegranates thrive in warm, semi-arid to subtropical climates, performing best when summer temperatures are hot and prolonged. They are particularly suited for outdoor cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. While most varieties tolerate temperatures as low as 12°F, cold-hardy cultivars can survive in zones as far north as 5 or 6.
For optimal fruit production, the plant requires full sun exposure, meaning at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Insufficient light results in poor flowering and reduced fruit yield. Pomegranates are highly tolerant of various soil types but require excellent drainage to prevent root rot.
A sandy loam is ideal, but pomegranates grow well in soils ranging from acid loam to alkaline, with a preferred pH range of 5.5 to 7.2. If the soil is highly alkaline, incorporating organic matter, such as compost, can improve structure and nutrient availability. Established plants need consistent moisture during the growing season for quality fruit production, despite their drought tolerance.
Planting and Propagation Methods
The most reliable way to start a pomegranate is by purchasing a container-grown plant or a bare-root specimen from a nursery. This allows the grower to select a specific cultivar, ensuring known fruit characteristics. When planting, prepare a hole three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball itself. The plant should be set in the ground at the same depth it was growing in the container.
Planting from seeds is not recommended for fruit production because the resulting tree will not grow true-to-type, leading to unpredictable fruit quality. Seedlings also take longer to produce fruit than plants started from cuttings. Hardwood cuttings, taken from year-old wood during the dormant season, are the preferred method of propagation as they produce a genetic clone of the parent plant.
If training the plant as a single or multi-trunk tree, allow 15 to 20 feet between plants for spacing. For a dense hedge or screen, plants can be spaced closer, at six to eight feet apart, which requires more aggressive annual pruning.
Essential Care and Maintenance
Water management balances the plant’s fruiting needs with avoiding excess moisture. Although established pomegranates are drought-tolerant, consistent, deep watering every two to four weeks during dry periods is crucial, especially when the fruit is maturing. Irregular watering can cause the fruit to split prematurely, increasing susceptibility to pests and fungal diseases.
The plant does not require heavy fertilization; excessive nitrogen encourages leafy growth over fruit development. Avoid fertilizing in the first year after planting to allow the roots to establish. In the second year, apply a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 formulation, in the early spring as new growth begins.
Pruning should be performed during the plant’s dormant season, typically in late winter before new buds break. The plant naturally grows as a multi-stemmed shrub, but can be trained into a small tree by selecting a few strong main trunks and removing suckers from the base. Light, annual pruning encourages the growth of new fruiting spurs, which appear on two- or three-year-old wood, and helps maintain an open, vase-like structure for better air circulation and light penetration.
Harvesting the Fruit
Pomegranates are non-climacteric fruit, meaning they must be fully ripened on the plant before harvest, as they will not continue to sweeten once picked. The fruit generally matures six to seven months after blossoming, with the harvest window typically falling between late August and November. The first substantial harvest usually occurs after the third year of growth, with full production achieved around years five or six.
A ripe pomegranate changes shape from perfectly round to slightly angular due to the swelling of the arils inside. The skin becomes leathery and slightly matte, and the fruit feels heavy for its size. Some growers tap the fruit, listening for a dull sound, which indicates a fully juicy interior.
To harvest, use sharp pruning shears to cut the fruit from the branch close to the stem, leaving a small portion of the calyx intact. Pulling the fruit off can damage the branch and other developing fruit. Once harvested, the fruit can be stored at room temperature for about a week or refrigerated for up to two months.