7 Pomegranate-Growing Mistakes to Avoid this Season
Although pomegranates are tasty and beautiful, they’re not grown as often as apples or pears. Therefore, it’s common for gardeners to make a few mistakes when they’re growing these unique fruit trees. Join Briana Yablonski to learn some common missteps to avoid.
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Although you may think of pomegranates as mysterious fruits that only grow well in faraway lands, you can happily grow these plants in many temperate areas. The small trees or shrubs produce delicious fruits and liven the landscape with colorful flowers and beautiful foliage.
However, growing pomegranates isn’t as easy as sticking the plants in the ground and walking away. Pomegranate growers commonly make mistakes, including planting the wrong variety for their area and keeping the soil too dry. Learning about the mistakes of others can prevent you from making the same errors.
Planting in the Wrong Climate
Although pomegranates can survive in growing zones cooler than you may have initially imagined, they still have their limits! If the plants experience temperatures colder than they can tolerate, they’ll experience extreme dieback or even death.
The cold tolerance varies depending on the variety, but most pomegranates are hardy in zones 8-10. Some extra cold-hardy varieties can survive the winters in zone 7 and even zone 6. So, if you want to grow a pomegranate and live in zone 6 or 7, select a variety with good cold tolerance.
No matter where you live, you should keep an eye on the weather. While pomegranates can survive cold winter temperatures, they are more susceptible to damage when cold temperatures occur in the fall or spring.
For example, a tree is likely to remain unharmed by a January night that drops to 20°F (-7°C), but it can experience severe damage if that same temperature occurs in October or April. That’s because the plants haven’t built up cold tolerance and/or are outside their dormant state.
Fortunately, you can protect your plants from these damaging cold temperatures. Covering the trees with a layer of burlap or row cover will provide insulation and help protect tender stems, leaves, and flowers from damage. Make sure to remove these coverings the next day when temperatures warm up.
Not Providing Enough Light
There’s no way around it—pomegranate trees require lots of light! These fruiting plants grow best in full sun and will begin to show signs of unhappiness if you attempt to grow them in partial shade. Therefore, you should plant your pomegranate in an area that receives at least eight hours of direct light.
If your plants don’t receive enough light, they’ll become stunted and overall weak. They may also fail to flower or produce a smaller amount of flowers than you hope for. Since it’s difficult to move trees after they’re in the ground, carefully choose your planting spot.
Planting an Ornamental Variety
There’s nothing wrong with ornamental pomegranates. The cute little fruits brighten up gardens and make interesting fall and winter decor. However, they don’t provide the juicy, tart arils many pomegranate lovers hope for.
Fortunately, you can find a wide selection of pomegranate varieties that produce delicious fruits. Both ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Texas Pink’ pomegranates grow up to 15 feet and produce lots of round fruits filled with juicy arils. When looking at different pomegranate varieties, pay attention to the fruit size, flavor, plant size, and cold hardiness.
Applying the Wrong Type of Fertilizer
Many gardeners know that plants require a range of nutrients to thrive. That’s why they apply fertilizer! However, not everyone knows that adding the wrong type of fertilizer can be just as harmful as applying no fertilizer.
Since most gardeners grow pomegranates with the hope of harvesting and eating fruits, your goal is to select a blend of nutrients that supports overall plant growth and encourages flowering. Some growers apply too much nitrogen, which can lead to lush green leaves but few flowers.
Pomegranate plants typically grow well when you apply a balanced fertilizer. That means the fertilizer contains an equal amount of the three macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Look for a product with an NPK ratio like 10-10-10 or 8-8-8. You can also select a product with an NPK ratio like 10-5-10 or 10-7-10.
The best time to apply the fertilizer is in the spring and summer. Researchers from the University of Florida recommend applying one-third to one-half pound of nitrogen per year to young trees. Since a 10-10-10 fertilizer contains only 10% nitrogen, you should apply three to five pounds of fertilizer per year. Mature trees require double this amount of nitrogen per year.
You should also pay attention to micronutrients. Although plants require smaller amounts of these nutrients, they’re essential for healthy plants. Applying a small amount of AZOMITE will supply the plants with these valuable micronutrients.
Overestimating Drought Tolerance
It’s true that pomegranate trees can survive hot summers and tolerate periods of drought. However, many growers make the mistake of assuming the trees’ drought tolerance means they don’t require irrigation. While your tree may survive weeks without water, it certainly won’t thrive.
When trees are in their first year of growth, you should water them one to two times a week during periods of drought. Make sure to water deeply rather than just applying water to the top of the soil surface. This deep watering will encourage the plants to develop extensive roots that allow them to reach water that’s located far under the soil surface.
You should also water mature plants at least once a week during hot, dry periods. Although the trees can survive drought, the lack of water will inhibit flower and fruit production. Adding supplemental water will ensure the plants can complete the energy-intensive work of growing healthy fruit. If you fail to water during drought, the fruits may drop from the tree before they’re ripe or crack on the tree.
No matter when you water, it’s always best to apply the water near the base of the plant rather than spraying it on the leaves. Not only will this limit evaporation and save water, but it will also decrease the chances that the foliage will develop fungal diseases. You can use a hose to water or install a drip irrigation system to simplify irrigation.
Expecting Fruits in the First Year
Like most fruit trees, pomegranates won’t produce a big fruit crop in the same year you plant them. Instead, they’ll use this year to put on vegetative growth. They may form a few fruits in the second year of growth, but you shouldn’t expect a major harvest until four to five years after planting.
It’s important not to give up on your plant as it grows, even if it doesn’t produce fruit. Continue to provide the proper amount of water and fertilizer and deal with any disease and pest issues. As long as the tree remains healthy, it will eventually produce fruit when grown in the proper environment.
If you want to enjoy homegrown fruit as your pomegranates mature, consider planting fruits that produce soon after you plant them. Watermelons, cantaloupes, and other melons will produce fruits a few months after you plant the seeds. Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries also produce a sizable crop in the year after planting.
Improper Pruning
Pruning at the wrong time of year or in the wrong way can severely damage your tree. In most cases, it’s better to forgo pruning rather than improperly prune your tree. However, since proper pruning is the best-case scenario, don’t be afraid to pick up your pruning shears. Just make sure to avoid these common mistakes.
First, avoid pruning in the fall. Fall pruning encourages plants to produce tender, new growth that’s extra susceptible to cold damage. Instead, aim to prune in the late winter or early spring before the buds break.
When you’re pruning, it’s helpful to consider where the plants produce flowers and fruit. The plants produce fruit on short spurs that grow on two to three-year-old wood. As the wood surpasses five years, production of these fruiting spurs begins to slow. Therefore, you should prune to encourage the production of new wood without removing too much old wood.
In the first few years of plant growth, you may want to prune more aggressively in order to influence the plant’s shape. Once the plant is three years old, you can decrease the pruning as you shift into a maintenance phase.