Punica Granatum or pomegranate tree care tips are necessary to ensure
a good plant. Though you might think pomegranate tree care is an onerous task,
yet the fruits of your labor during the summers and winters will be very sweet.
Apart from blessing you with a juicy, sweet fruit, pomegranate tree decorates your
garden.
Ideal Time
to Plant a Pomegranate Tree is Spring
Spring is the appropriate time
to plant pomegranate tree. Cool winters and hot summers are conducive for the growth of the pomegranate tree.
The ideal temperature for the pomegranate fruit to bloom lies between 30F and
90F. If temperatures fall below 15F, the tree can sustain significant damage
and is less likely to bloom fully.
Tips to Care for A Pomegranate Tree
Follow the pomegranate tree care guidelines to enhance the beauty of
your garden and enjoy a juicy fruit in the fall.
Loamy
Soil is Ideal for the Growth of a Pomegranate Tree
Though
pomegranate tree grows well in almost all types of soil, calcium-rich loamy
soil is ideal for its growth. Dig the hole and loosen the
dirt to ensure that enough moisture seeps into the soil for the roots to grow.
Ensure that the location is naturally well drained; otherwise, the
result will be rotten roots and even death of the tree.
Adequate Exposure to Sunlight is a Must to Ensure Fruit Ripening
Ensure that the pomegranate tree is planted where it will receive at
least eight hours of sunlight a day. The more the sunlight falling on the tree,
the better will be its growth. Entire day's
exposure to sun and heat will result in sweet fruit. Contrarily, if grown in a
shady area, the result will be stunted growth and bitter fruit.
Fertilization is a Must to Ensure a Good Harvest
Mix
granular tree fertilizer and compost with the soil and ensure that the soil
level is even so that the roots do not show up. If you aim at a good harvest,
ensure that fertilizers are released into the soil at least two times, that is,
in the spring and after the harvest.
Periodic Watering is Essential to Maintain Plant Growth
Watering the pomegranate tree thoroughly immediately after the initial
planting is an essential pomegranate tree care tip. Usually one inch of water
in the initial stage will suffice. The second time to water the plant will be
when the soil has dried out and requires watering.
In fact, the pomegranate tree requires watering once or twice a week, because
dry, semi-arid conditions are ideal for its growth. Increase
the water quantity to one and a half inches during hot summers. In the summer
season, water the tree two to three times a week would be ideal for better
growth.
Protection From Pests, Weeds, Bugs is Essential to Save the Tree
A pomegranate tree attracts a number of pests, weeds, and even
bugs. Pests and weeds can choke any plant and thwart its growth, and
pomegranate tree is no exception. Bugs can easily destroy any fruit and ruin
your labor. The pomegranate butterfly lays eggs on the flowers, which can
destroy the entire crop. Pesticides are essential to prevent this larvae
growth.
Thus it is an essential pomegranate tree care tip to offer it full
protection from pests, weeds, bugs, and any disease that might affect the
growth. This is vital to reap the benefits of your labor throughout the spring
and summer.
Careful Pruning is Vital to Prevent Fruit Damage
Pruning is as vital for pomegranate as for any other tree, with the only
difference being the method. Pruning should be done carefully, particularly for
the first three years. Branches
should be carefully pruned annually so that a large number of new shoots grow
on all sides. This will also ensure that no uneven development of the branches
takes place and the plant emerges as a well framed tree.
After the
third year, remove any shoots, suckers, or dead branches. Cut off any stems growing
too close to the main branches but keep the ones that sucker from the base,
which will give your pomegranate the look of a multi-stemmed tree.
Pomegranate tree care will be easy if the tree maintains a shorter
height, thus ensure that you prune the top off so that you can easily harvest the
fruit. In this regard, it is a better option to use bypass pruners to check if the seed is ripe.
Harvest Before Complete Ripening of the Fruit to Prevent
Spoilage
August is the
best time to harvest pomegranates prior to their becoming fully ripe because
completely ripened pomegranate fruit often splits open. Most of the fruits get
destroyed this way. Thus don’t wait for the fruit to ripen completely and
relish the fruits of your labor.
Comments
Post a Comment