About Pomegranates
Pomegranates are botanical berries with a hard or semi-hard shell containing fleshy clusters of seeds separated by arils. The fruits are high in fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants but low in fats and calories, placing them among the superfruits. They grow on low-maintenance shrubs that can be trimmed into hedges, bushes or as one or two stemmed trees. Pomegranates do not continue ripening after harvest, so it is essential to recognize their signs of ripening before they are harvested.
Pomegranate Uses
Pomegranate seeds are freed from the arils for fresh eating or storage in a cool place. They are also eaten fresh and used in jellies, teas, cocktails, salads, and cosmetics.
Pomegranate Varieties
Pomegranate fruits on the same tree do not ripen simultaneously, so they must be plucked individually. One of the best ways to know whether your pomegranate fruits are ripe is by knowing the characteristics of the variety you are growing. The pomegranate variety of fruits will determine the colour, size, texture of the skin, juice content and density of the fruits at ripeness.
It also determines the colour of the flesh, flavour and texture of the seeds when ripe. We have been harvesting the last pomegranates of the season. Most varieties flower twice a year in Zambia, and the timing may vary with the rainy, cold and hot summer. The fruits may take four to five months to ripen. Overripe fruits may become sour, especially in hot weather. Storing a ripe, sour pomegranate in a cool place for a day or two more may reduce the fruit’s tartness.
Pomegranate Ripening
Pomegranates fruits develop a coarse, leathery skin, dull to percussion and heavier when ripe. However, some varieties have softer skin that is easy to pull off. In addition, the best varieties have soft seeds and sweeten while not fully mature, making them ideal for novices and lengthening their harvest period.
The colour of ripe pomegranates ranges from green, pink, red, yellow, purple and almost black. The size also went from that of an orange to a large grapefruit. The size depends on thinning fruits and the variety. The flavour may be sweet, sweet-tart, or sour. The pictures below show some helpful signs to check for fruit ripening. Picking one fruit to taste before harvesting more is the ideal method to taste for fruit ripeness.
