Position
Plant your pomegranate in full sun for maximum flower and fruit production. They do not like wind, so plant them in a protected spot.
Size
Pomegranates grow between 3 and 6 mts in height and have a wide canopy spread.
Soil Type
These trees are not fussy about the soil type they grow in. Add a layer of organic mulch to get sufficient nutrients into the soil.
Watering
Once the tree is established, it can tolerate drought and heat very well. Even with no water, the tree will grow, but it won’t produce good quality fruit in any significant quantity. Water it about twice a month if there has been no rain. Keeping the soil moist during fruiting will prevent the fruits from splitting.
Fertilising
To support growth and fruiting, apply one teaspoon every 4-5 months of our berry and fruit slow release fertiliser. Press the fertiliser balls gently under the soil and add a layer of mulch, moving the mulch away from the plant stem.
Mulch:
Apply 2 to 5 centimetres of pine bark mulch to protect the roots from UV damage and drying out. It retains moisture, and maintains an optimal pH. Do not let the mulch touch the plant stem, as it may cause infection or rot.
Pest and Disease Control
Monitor for common pests like aphids, scales, and fruit borers. We recommend Effective Microorganisms to prevent the spread of these pests and diseases. Hose the tree first, to remove the aphids, and then spray well with EM Control. As they tree grows larger it will be healthy and pests will be a thing of the past. Use as a preventative once a month.
Pruning
Pomegranates do best when they are pruned lightly after two years.
Harvesting
The fruit of the pomegranate tree takes a long time to ripen (about 5 to 7 months), and most will ripen from about April. During hot and dry conditions, pomegranates can ripen earlier and faster, pick the fruit just before mature as they if allowed to become overripe.
They are ready to be picked if they have good, colour and if, when tapped, they sound metallic. Use Scissors to cut the fruit rather than tugging at them.
