Pomegranates come in a wide variety. The plants are grown from air layers, cuttings, or seeds. However, seeds may not be true to type. The fruits have different sizes, colours, acidity, sweetness, and seed softness or hardness.
Tree training
Pomegranate trees grow best as shrubs in the drier, hot conditions of the subtropics, which protects the roots and trees from the hot sun. The standard tree growth habit may lead to dieback of the top branches. However, allowing two or three tree stems is a good compromise.
Current care
Some varieties are flowering and fruiting, while the later varieties will be flowering in the next few weeks. Therefore, the trees need minimal maintenance throughout the year. However, appropriate soil amendments and moisture are required in summer, especially during flowering. Inadequate watering results in flower and fruit drop or cracked fruits when the rain starts. https://subtropical-urban-eden.garden/2022/10/20/garden-and-orchard-maintenance-in-october/
https://subtropical-urban-eden.garden/tag/mulching/
Current threats
Fruit fly infestation, especially during the flowering season, will result in rotten fruit. For more information, follow the link https://subtropical-urban-eden.garden/2022/09/18/harmful-insects/. Occasionally, fungal diseases may affect the leaves and fruits. Occasionally, aphids may affect the new leaves. The spraying and disease-prevention regimen is similar to that for peach trees. Pomegranate can be intercropped with fig, grape, peach, and elderberry plants.
Advantages
Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, grows in pots, trained to be a large or small tree. Fruits are high in micronutrients and antioxidants—they have a long shelf life, juicing and eating fresh or in salads. Pomegranate trees can bear a small crop of fruits, even in poly bags. This is because they are watered at least three times a week during the hottest period.
