Pomegranates are hardy plants that grows easily either in pots / containers or in the ground. There are so many varieties of pomegranates and they can be grouped into Fruit bearing or non-Fruit bearing (Ornamental Variety). The fruit bearing pomegranates can be further grouped into varieties that produce fruits with hard seeds and varieties that produce fruits with soft seeds. Pomegranates are exceptionally healthy fruits packed with healthy nutrients.
Planting Environment
Pomegranates can be planted in pots / containers or in the ground
Planting Materials
Pomegranates should be planted as Cuttings, Air layered seedlings, grafted seedlings, or Tissue cultured seedlings propagated from mature plants, this is to ensure that you get seedlings that will bear fruit within a year and also seedlings that will have the same characteristics as the parent tree.
Soil Types
Pomegranates require soils that drains well and also rich in organic matter, loamy soil is a very good example. Pomegranates that will be planted in pots or containers need soils that drains very well. Planting pomegranates in pots or containers using a soil that drains poorly will cause the plant to be stunted or cause the plants to die. Excess water retention in soil inside containers or pots with plants is totally undesirable to plants.
Sunlight Requirement
Pomegranates requires sunlight hours of at least 6 hours a day.
Fertilizer and Nutrient Requirements
Pomegranates requires fertilizers that have a higher level of Nitrogen and other Macro and micro nutrients. The best fertilizers for Pomegranates are either organic fertilizers like Chicken Manure or in organic fertilizers that has all the Macro and Micronutrients. If your pomegranate is planted in a pot only apply organic fertilizers to the soil and in-organic fertilizers as a foliar spray on the leaves. Apply chicken manure (ensure its well composted) every 4 weeks and also apply a foliar fertilizer with Macro and micro nutrients every 4 weeks too. For pomegranates planted in containers, ensure you water them daily (Depends on the weather), pomegranates planted in containers requires more water than pomegranates planted in the soil.
Pest & Disease Management
Pomegranates are regularly infected by insects as well as fungal diseases. Common pests that attack pomegranates are Thrips, Leaf footed bugs, Aphids, While flies, Mealybugs, and Mites, fruit sucking moth.
Organic Pesticides like neem oil and insecticidal soaps can be used however this will not kill the pests rather it simply chases them away for a brief period. In-organic pesticides are the only solution towards killing the insects, their eggs and larvae. Pesticides should be applied once a month to prevent infestation.
Pomegranates are also regularly infected by fungi most especially during the raining season where the splashing of water and the damp atmosphere makes it easy for fungal spores to be spread. Common Fungal diseases of pomegranates are Alternaria Leaf spots, Tip die back, Fruit rot, Anthracnose, Bacterial blight., Heart rot disease.
Organic fungicide like neem oil helps to prevent Anthracnose, however In-organic fungicides are the best choice since they have both preventive and curative capabilities. Fungicides should be applied every 2 weeks to 3 weeks During the rainy season applying fungicides every 2 weeks will prevent infection from Fungi.
Time to Fruiting
Pomegranates grown by seed takes about 3 to 5 years before they start bearing fruits, some seed grown trees may have flowers in their second year however this flower will most probably not develop into fruits. Also, commercial harvest from seed grown pomegranates occurs in the 5th year.
Pomegranates grown by cuttings, air layering, and grafting takes about 6 to 18 months before they start bearing fruits. Commercial harvest from trees grown from cuttings, air layering and grafting occurs in the 2nd year.
Pomegranate trees are self-pollinating which means you do not need another tree for pollination.
Harvesting of Fruits
It usually takes about 5 to 6 months from flowering to harvesting for Pomegranates. Some variety of pomegranates can be harvested when the fruits are about 4months old. Pomegranate fruits generally have a much longer shelf life with or without refrigeration than most fruits. Most varieties have a shelf life of 1 month without refrigeration and up to 6 months in a controlled refrigeration system. The fruit size of pomegranates depends on the variety, some varieties like Ambrosia and Ilorin Sweet (New Variety in Nigeria) has a fruit size range of 400 grams to 700 grams while some varieties have fruit size ranging from 200 grams to 350 grams
