Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

El pomegranate, whose scientific name is Punica granatum, is a large bush or small tree that, although it is thorny, has been cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean. It is very resistant to drought, so much so that it can go for months without receiving a single drop of water once it has had time to take root in the garden soil; and the high summer temperatures that usually reach in that region, often exceeding 35ºC maximum, do not scare him.

It is therefore a fruit species to be taken into account when rainfall is scarce, which also produces very beautiful flowers, and does not need any special care. Let's get to know it.

Origin and characteristics of Punica granatum

The pomegranate is a small tree native to the Old Continent, specifically found from Iran to the Himalayas, although as we said, it is so present throughout the Mediterranean, and for so long, that it can give the impression that it originated there. It reaches 5 meters in height, and is a deciduous plant which loses its leaves in autumn/winter., depending on the temperatures in the area (the milder they are, the longer it takes to lose them).

These leaves are green in spring-summer and yellow in autumn, elongated, about 7 centimeters long by 2 centimeters wide, and usually sprout early in spring, as the risk of frost recedes and the mercury in the thermometer rises. . Shortly after blooms, and it does so by producing red or pink flowers about 2 centimeters in diameter They can be single or double.

Later, in summer, the fruits ripen. These are spherical or oval in shape, about 5-10 centimeters wide by tall, and have orange/reddish bark. Inside we find a large number of reddish seeds, with a rounded shape, which measure about 15 millimeters.

Varieties of Punica granatum

There are many varieties of pomegranates, such as these:

• alandi: its pomegranates are medium in size and have hard seeds.
• Blanco: It is named like this because the fruits are clear, with a cream-colored pulp.
• Valencian Mollar: It is a large tree with large fruits with a rounded shape.
• kandhari: Produces large dark red pomegranates with hard seeds.
• wonderfull: It is one of those that produce larger and better tasting fruits.

What uses does the pomegranate have?

Our protagonist is used, above all, as Fruit tree. Its seeds are edible, and in fact drinks, syrups are prepared with them, and they can even be consumed fresh because they have a very pleasant sweet taste.

In addition, they are attributed medicinal properties, such as antioxidants, vermifuges, diuretics, and antihypertensives. And contrary to what many people believe, the pomegranate does not cause constipation; quite the opposite: it serves as a laxative. This is because it contains an average of 4 grams of fiber per 100 grams of fruit, somewhat more than pears, for example, which has 3.1 grams.

However, it is not only a good fruit-bearing plant, but also ornamental. It is a very interesting species, since in spring it becomes very beautiful when it blooms, and it can even provide shade. It tolerates pruning well, so it is possible to grow it in a pot or as a bonsai.

What are the care you need?

The pomegranate tree is a plant that does not need a lot of care, but if there is something that it cannot miss, it is never sunshine. It will not live in shadow; even indoors with lots of light it has serious problems, since it must live outside, in the open air. But in addition, we must take into account other things so that it is good:

Location

We have said that the sun should give it, but where to put it? Well, the first thing to know is that it is a plant that can not only reach 5 meters in height, but also develop a crown of about 3 meters in diameter. Because, in the event that it is going to be on the ground, it must be planted at a minimum distance of 2 meters from walls and walls, as well as other plants that have wide crowns.

If we want to have it in a pot, we can do it, but it will be very important to prune it from time to time to control its growth., and plant it in increasingly larger containers every 3 or 4 years, otherwise the roots would deplete the available soil and space, and the plant would stop growing. From then on, it would weaken.

Soil or substrate

• Garden: grows in almost any type of soil, but prefers those that drain water quickly.
• Flower pot: if it's going to be in a container, we can plant it in universal cropland, like this.

Irrigation and fertilizer

The frequency of irrigation will vary greatly depending on the weather, and also on whether we have the pomegranate in the ground or in a pot. And it is that if it has been in the garden for more than a year, it is probably already acclimatized and only needs sporadic watering during the dry season; On the other hand, if it is in a pot, we will have to water it more often, letting the soil dry out a bit between one watering and the next.

As far as the subscriber is concerned, it's a bit the same. If it is on the ground, it is not necessary to fertilize it, but it is in a pot, since the amount of soil is limited and the nutrients it contains also, it should be fertilized with organic fertilizers, such as guano, during spring and summer.

Pruning

If required, will be done in the fall. Since it blooms in spring, and it is interesting that it produces pomegranates, we recommend pruning it when it runs out of leaves. To do this, we will eliminate the branches that are dry and those that are broken, we will eliminate those that sprout from the lower half of the trunk, and we will reduce the length of the rest so that it has a more compact crown.

Multiplication

The pomegranate tree is multiplied by seeds, cuttings and cultivars by grafting.

Plagues and diseases

Although it is a fairly resistant plant, that does not prevent it from having a pest. In fact, can have aphids, mealybugs, and borers. Also, pomegranates are vulnerable to fruit flies. To combat them, the use of ecological insecticides and the like is recommended, such as yellow sticky traps that serve against flying pests, or the diatomaceous earth which kills sap-sucking insects by piercing their bodies and causing them to die of dehydration.

With regard to diseases, it is difficult for a pomegranate tree that is apparently well to have them. But if the soil is very compact, and/or if it is watered too much, pathogenic fungi such as alternaria or phytophthora will infect it. To avoid this, it must be planted in suitable land and places, and the soil should be allowed to dry before watering again. If the leaves turn yellow and fall, starting with the lower ones, or if it has received a lot of water, we will have to treat it with fungicide.

Rusticity

Due to its origin, the Punica granatum It can live in a wide variety of (seasonal) climates: from subtropical and Mediterranean, to colder ones. Withstands frost down to -10ºC, heat up to 40ºC, drought if it has been in the ground for more than a year, and occasional floods (such as those that occur at the end of summer in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula and in the Balearic archipelago) as long as the land drains water quickly.

For all these reasons, it is a highly, highly recommended species.