For the answer to what soil is best for pomegranate trees, we will have to take a detailed look at different soil types and how much they support the growth and development of a pomegranate tree. Every plant or tree is expected to bear fruits and pomegranate is not on the list. Pomegranate, just like every other plant needs good soil to grow and not just any kind of soil, but a good one that will enhance its growth and development.
WHICH SOIL IS SUITABLE FOR POMEGRANATE FARMING?
Pomegranates can grow in the majority of soil types, except for saline or very calcareous alkaline soils. Pomegranates can tolerate mildly alkaline soils up to a pH of 7.5 but prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.5). The usage of Medium to heavy soils should be considered since they have adequate drainage, and deep, heavy loam is the optimal soil type for pomegranate growth. Pomegranates are resilient to little floods. The watering of pomegranate has to be more. Pomegranates should be heavily watered in the fall to increase fruit size through harvest, but they are not watered at all in the winter to avoid an excessively vegetative spring growth. Growing Pomegranate orchards should be done in light to sandy soils as long as there will be a system for proper watering.
All soils, except for extremely fertile ones, are suitable for growing the pomegranate. In heavy soils, ridges are periodically made to boost production and promote the aeration of the root system. Planting in light-sandy soils is not a problem because all orchards are well-watered and may be irrigated even daily with the necessary amount of water.
WHAT SOIL IS BEST FOR POMEGRANATE TREES?
Pomegranates grow best in sandy loamy, but can also be grown successfully in sandy and clay soils. Also, in addition to sandy soil and thick clay, the pomegranate can grow almost anywhere including dry rocky hillsides and soils rich in lime. The majority of garden plants thrive in loamy soil because it retains a lot of moisture while also draining efficiently, allowing for adequate airflow to the roots. The Pomegranate plant not being an exception requires a soil type that can retain water for a reasonable amount of time. Sandy loam provides a high nutritional value and a good drainage system that maintains moisture. The pomegranate prefers soil that drains properly.
WHAT SOIL IS BEST FOR DWARF POMEGRANATE?
In a regular soil- or loam-based potting mix, dwarf pomegranates flourish. Based on garden soil, this kind of mixture also contains additional nutrients. Because they are heavier than peat-based mixes, soil-based mixtures give the plant a continuous supply of nutrients and aid in stabilizing larger plants in their containers. Pomegranates need quick-draining soil, so, therefore, there should be an addition of sand and gravel to the mixture if you believe yours is unusually water-retentive.
The nutrients in the tiny amount of soil in a potted plant’s pot ultimately are used up. Thus it will eventually be essential to replenish those nutrients with additional fertilizer. The application of high-potassium fertilizer will help the plant develop and preserve its fruits from early summer to early fall. A miniature pomegranate that flowers and produces fruit need more nutrients than a plant that does neither. Also, you can fertilize once using a slow-release fertilizer, and it will last the entire growing season. Remember that it’s usually better to give too little fertilizer than too much and avoid fertilizing in the winter.
IS ACIDIC SOIL GOOD FOR POMEGRANATE TREES?
The ideal PH range for pomegranate is a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0. Although, they can thrive in much more acidic or alkaline environments. If necessary, you can add ground agricultural limestone to your soil to boost its pH or add sulfur of some kind to lower it. Most garden supply companies are selling soil testing kits that are being used in determining the pH and nutrient content of your soil.
DO POMEGRANATES LIKE SANDY SOIL?
Sandy soil isn’t the best for growing a pomegranate, but pomegranate can still grow on sandy soil. The Sandy soil (possesses some characteristics that make it less effective in growing pomegranate such as:
Large-particle sand causes sandy soils to dry up quickly.
deficient in nutrients
can be highly acidic.
Highly porous thereby making it difficult for the plant to use them.
Low water retaining abilities.
DO POMEGRANATES LIKE MOIST SOIL?
Pomegranates as earlier said grow better on sandy-loam soil. This soil is moist but not as moist or sticky as clay soil. Pomegranates need soil with a water retaining capacity, so pomegranates definitely will love moist soil. Some of the reasons why pomegranate will grow well in moist soil are because of two major reasons:
Pomegranates require soil with good water retention and also good drainage.
Watering shouldn’t be an exercise to be carried out frequently so that there won’t be destroying or washing away of seeds. Moist soil will prevent too much watering.
Moist soil is good for growing pomegranate and your pomegranate plant will surely like it because it is needed for your pomegranate to grow effectively.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE THE SOIL FOR PLANTING POMEGRANATE SEEDS?
The following are steps on how to prepare the soil for planting a pomegranate seed:
Get a good site for planting your seed: Pomegranate requires hours of exposure to sunlight for proper and effective growth and development. This can be as much as 5-6 hours of exposure to sunlight.
Select a well-deep medium that drains effectively(preferably sandy loam soil), then add the best organic matter in other to get the best fruits. You will need to mix two parts of sand; one for potting soil and the other with soil formed from decayed plants (peat).
Also, there should be a modification of the soil PH level to grow pomegranate and we can modify the soil using sulfur and limestone. Pomegranate thrives better on slightly acidic soil with a PH of 5.5 – 7.0.
There should be the spreading of manure around the planting area to increase soil nutrients too. The carrying out of this is efficient, especially in the winter period for a much better result.
There should be the addition of good fertilizers to the mix of soil to help boost the soil’s nutrients.
Pomegranate soil preparation happens to be quite easy to do and based on the fact that pomegranate isn’t so picky with soil type, this has made planting a much easier task for anyone to simply carry out.
HOW DO I PLANT A POMEGRANATE TREE?
Pick an appropriate pomegranate variety: Pomegranate trees are little deciduous trees. It will reach a height of roughly 8.2 feet (2.5 meters). The best kind for growing in pots is the dwarf pomegranate, which will only reach a height of about 1 meter (3.2 feet). The planting of a pomegranate tree can be from seed, a cutting, or a seedling, among other options.
Steps you must take to plant a pomegranate tree:
Get the pomegranate seedling or cutting. You can get a seedling of pomegranate at a nearby nursery. Ensure you get to buy a kind of pomegranate that produces edible fruit if you want to be able to eat your planted pomegranates. But if a friend or someone has a pomegranate tree, you can also take a clipping from it. You can cut a branch that is at least 10 inches (25 cm) long. To enhance and promote growth, apply the rooting hormone to the branch’s cut end.
The soil chosen to plant the pomegranate should have good drainage: Select a soil that drains well. On waterlogged soil, pomegranate plants cannot. Instead, they do best in well-draining or sandy loamy soil. Although they can also grow in slightly alkaline soil, some pomegranate growers maintain that pomegranates need slightly acidic soil. As long as the soil is draining well, pomegranates will generally keep adapting to the soil used for their planting.
Find a location or get a good spot that can receive enough sunshine: Pomegranate plants adore light and will only regularly bear fruit when they have access to plenty of it. If there isn’t a spot in your yard that gets constant light all day, pick the one that gets the least amount of shade. Pomegranate will grow well on a daily sunlight duration of six hours.
Go ahead with the planting of your tree: The planting of pomegranate trees should be in the spring season for the best results. Carefully remove the seedling from the container. Wash the first or second inch or so of the root ball to get rid of any surplus potting soil. This is helping the plant with good establishing as opposed to plants that will be moving from the nursery container to the ground. Place the pomegranate seedling into a hole that is two feet deep and wide.
With all of these steps carefully followed, you are on your way to getting a fruitful pomegranate tree
SOME OF THE WAYS YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR TREES ARE:
Water newly planted trees more regularly at first. Water pomegranates thoroughly throughout the hot summer months.
Apply organic fertilizers or compost at the early stage of growth.
Prune branches to help build a strong and resilient plant.
At later stages, avoid over-watering the pomegranate tree to avoid flooding or washing away of roots.
CAN POMEGRANATE TREES GROW IN POTS?
Yes, pomegranates can grow in pots. Pomegranates thrive in hot, arid environments. Of course, not every one of us lives in such hot regions, but growing a pomegranate in a pot is viable and possible. Below are some tips and guidelines for growing pomegranates in the pot:
Pick a location with well-drained soil that is sunny.
Get your pot or container filled with rich sandy loam soil and with a mixture of organic matter. Then create a small hole for your plant.
Inserted the plant into the hole, and carefully compact the ground around it. Always water the area thoroughly after planting to help the dirt settle around the roots and keep it moist for a few weeks as the new plant grows.
Water your plant at a rate of once or twice per week depending on the weather or atmospheric condition at that particular time or in that location1
Citations used in the publication:
- https://www.wikihow.com/Grow-a-Pomegranate-Tree
