To carry out pomegranate planting in different place or environment, there are specific instructions peculiar to each environment that one must carefully take in order to plant pomegranate well.
Pomegranate planting in a container
Pomegranate plant can be planted in pots and containers. The plant has a dwarf specie known as “nana” which makes it easy for one to plant pomegranate from home either in a garden or in a container. However, before we look more into the process of planting pomegranate in a container, let us look at some few things consider if you want to grow your pomegranate in a container.
- Location: To maintain your pomegranate plant happy and healthy, choose the sunniest place. It produces more fruit the more sun it gets. It also grows well in some shade, although the plant blooms and bears fewer fruits as a result. If a pomegranate tree gets full sun, it can also be grown indoors still placed in a container.. Additionally, there should be adequate airflow around it, but you should make sure the area won’t be overly windy to prevent the flowers from blooming too early.
- Also in growing pomegranate in a container, you must take into consideration the soil type. The pomegranate can grow on sandy, clayey, and loamy soil but it thrives more on the sandy loam soil and a soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.2 . Pomegranate can tolerate soil that is mildly acidic to slightly alkaline.
- Watering: Watering Give the plant plenty of water, and always maintain the soil just moist enough. However, you must avoid overwatering your plant so as to prevent diseases such as root rot or other fungal diseases pomegranate are prone to.
Now let us look at the steps to take in planting pomegranate in a container:
- Seed collection: Seeds of the pomegranate should be gotten from ripe fruits. The seeds should be cleaned and dried, then store and kept for some days before planting.
- Soak or place the seeds in water a day or two before planting.
- Place the seed at about 0.00625meters(1/4 inch) deep into the pot
- Place the container in a warm temperature or in a place where sunlight is available
- Ensure that the soil in the container has a good moisture level, but try to avoid too much water from being present. You can help preserve the moisture level of the soil by covering the pots with a cover.
- If the temperature is good or favorable, the seed germination period can start in the first one month of planting.
- Remove the covers and take the containers outside for sunlight
- When the seedlings begin to sprout up, you can then carry out transplanting.
Pomegranate planting instructions for different weather conditions
In the winter period where is frost and cold, one of the instruction in growing pomegranate pomegranate trees over the winter is to cut them back by roughly half in the fall, about six weeks before the first possible frost. Just above a group of leaves, cut with razor-sharp shears. After that, place the pomegranate inside close to a window with exposure to sunshine. The pomegranate needs at least six hours of sunlight each day, even in the winter, otherwise it will grow lanky and drop its leaves.
In the spring, Pomegranates do not necessarily need any special treatment during the spring period. Just ensure that your plant keeps getting enough of the sunlight available.
During the rainy season, ensure your soil remains well drained. Avoid over-watering your pomegranate too.
Pomegranate planting instructions for different environments
Planting environment involves those factors (biotic and abiotic) that affect the growing of pomegranate growth.
Some of the biotic factors in pomegranate planting include:
- Weeds: In a site where weed is dominant, the use of chemicals for controlling this weed is highly important. Weed will fight the pomegranate plant for light, air, water, space and nutrients.
- Insects: Insects can be prevented or controlled. The use of insecticides or pesticides should be encouraged.
- fungi: Pomegranate plant is prone to fungal diseases. The over watering of pomegranate plant can lead to the plant having this diseases caused by fungi. The soil should also be well drained to prevent this infection or attack. In planting pomegranate, a well drained soil should be used or a drainage system should be made available for the soil.
Some of the abiotic factors includes in pomegranate planting includes:
- sunlight : Pomegranate should receive at least six hours of sunlight to experience the best growth and development.
- temperature : The pomegranate require a temperature range of 30-38 degrees celcius.
- soil : The best soil to grow pomegranate is the sandy loam soil. The sandy loam soil should be well drained. If your soil is too packed, you can break it to loosen the soil.
Pomegranate planting in the garden
- Choose a spot with full sun exposure, loamy soil, or sandy loam for your planting. A good or well drained soil will also support growing pomegranate in the garden.
- Through the first year of growth, until plants become established, provide additional water.
- Make sure to leave enough space between trees and keep them away from buildings and other plants. Otherwise, pick a variety that is dwarf.
- Dig a hole that is roughly twice as big as the container your pomegranate tree came in.
- Plant it where it will receive full sun. Pay attention to the nearby plants as
- Water every week.
Temperature range for pomegranate planting
Between 30 and 38 degrees, celsius is ideal for pomegranates. The pomegranate plant can effectively complete photosynthesis at this temperature However, although some types can resist temperatures as low as 10, others may be damaged by temperatures of 18 degrees. One of the most common varieties of pomegranate that can withstand cold weather conditions is the Greek red pomegranate.
How to properly prune pomegranate
The optimal time to prune pomegranates is when they are dormant, just before spring blossom but after the risk of frost has passed. Consider pruning in the late winter. Early to mid-spring is when active growth begins, and most places see blooming throughout spring until October. Pomegranates can grow up to 20 feet tall and are naturally shaped like shrubs. To give the plant time to establish itself, it is recommended to postpone pruning until after the first year of its life.
In the second year, pick three to five of the strongest vertical branches and prune the remaining ones, along with the smaller branches, if you’d rather shape the plant into a tree. Pruning should be avoided once the plant starts to generate buds because doing so will decrease fruit output. Remove any broken or diseased branches in the late winter to make room for new growth in the spring.
Plan to remove no more than some inches from the branches before the start of budding, and no little part of the branches at a time, in order to maintain plant structure.
Equipment for trimming pomegranate includes:
- Glove
- protective gear
- Pruning scissors
Benefits of pruning:
- It enhances the plant health: Pruning eliminates dying and dead branches and make place for new growth and to prevent harm to your plant.
- Pruning also prevents animal and pest invasion, encourages the plant’s natural structure, and fosters healthy growth.
- It gives beauty and a defined structure to your plants thereby beautifying your garden.
Pests affecting pomegranate planting
Here are some of the pests affecting pomegranate planting:
- Gophers : In quest of food, these pests may harm gardens, lawns, and orchards. Gophers are not omnivores like other rodents with similar appearances; rather, they consume crops, ornamentals, shrubs, and vines for food.1
- Mealy bug: Mealy bugs are tiny, soft-bodied insects that prey on pomegranate fruits and their stalks. By sucking the sap from the leaves, flowers, and fruits, both nymphs and adults significantly harmed pomegranates by causing yellowing of the leaves and shedding of the sensitive flowers and fruits.
- Aphids: Aphids are soft-bodied insects that consume plant sap using their piercing, sucking mouthparts.
- Root weevils: Both indoors and outside, root weevils are a problem for plants. A healthy plant’s root system will be invaded by these devastating tiny bugs.
- Stem borer : The insect larva or arthropod that bores into the stems of plants is referred to as a stemborer.
- White fly : Hemipterans known as whiteflies often feed on the undersides of plant leaves.
Some others also include:
- Wire worms
- White grub
- Rodents
- Pomegranate fruit borer
- Gnat Larvae
However, there is a good news, this is it, pests can be prevented or controlled when you get to do the right things.
Below are ways to prevent and control pests that affect pomegranate planting:
- Encourage natural predators while excluding weeds and other agricultural waste from the land.
- Your pomegranate trees need good pruning.
- The use of fungicides and insecticides
- It is advisable to remove or burn damaged plants to prevent the spread of diseases brought on by this plant.
- Avoid overwatering since plants with inadequate drainage are often more attractive to pests.
- Avoid crowding plant roots together.
- At least twice a year, apply fertilizers.
Diseases affecting pomegranate planting
- Anthracnose: Many plants in warm, humid climates are susceptible to a group of fungi diseases known as anthracnose. Sycamore, Ash, Oak, and Maple trees are most vulnerable, while the disease can affect a variety of plants, including grasses and annuals. The major system of anthracnose is that, on the leaves, the calyx region, and fruits, there are tiny, regular to sporadic black specks that subsequently evolve into dark brown depressed patches. If your pomegranate plant gets affected by this disease, the plant leaves begin to deteriorate and fall off.
- Fusarium wilt: Affected pomegranate plants exhibit some branch or twig browning, followed by leaf drooping and drying. The lower (older) leaves are typically where the disease signs initially develop. Younger leaves will also be impacted as the disease worsens, and the plant will eventually perish. Many times, the symptoms only appear on one branch or side of the pomegranate plant .
- Fungal disease: Pomegranates do best in regions with hot, dry summers, therefore northern gardeners in cooler climates with abundant rainfall can have trouble growing the tree. Diseases that harm the fruit of pomegranate trees are the most common. Leaf drop is a common symptom of many fungus diseases, but it usually doesn’t have a significant impact on the health of the tree as a whole. Examples of this fungal disease are dry rot, black heart, and black spot, gray and blue molds, several soft rots etc2