Pomegranate Tree Care Guidelines

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.