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Index : Landscape Plants
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- 34. Pomegranates Well Suited to Tucson - Top
- Pomegranates are popular fruits for desert cultivation. They are native to southeastern
Europe and Asia and were grown in ancient Egypt, Babylon, India and Iran. Cultivated
extensively in Spain, pomegranates moved with the missionaries into Mexico, California, and
Arizona in the 16th century.
Pomegranate fruits are small purplish-red berries about 2 to 5 inches in diameter. They
resemble small apples, and derive their name from the French word Pome', meaning apple.
Fruits have numerous seeds are each surrounded by a pink to purplish-red Judy, pulp which is the
edible portion. The pulp is somewhat puckery to the taste. Although eaten fresh, pomegranate is
most popular made into jelly. Fruit ripens from August to October.
Normally a dense, bushy, deciduous shrub, 6 to 12 feet tall, the plant has slender,
somewhat thorny branches. It may be trained as a small tree reaching 15 feet in height. It is also
attractive espaliered against a wall. Pomegranates grow well in our alkaline desert soils and can
withstand scorching heat and freezing temperatures as low as 10 F. For good fruit development,
watering on a regular basis is important. Water requirements for pomegranates are about the
same for citrus.
Pomegranate plants are available at local nurseries and garden centers, usually in 5 gallon
containers. The variety Wonderful' is the best fruiting variety. Other pomegranate varieties are
available, but they are ornamental types and produce only, dry inedible berries.
New plants may also be obtained by taking cuttings from known fruitful individuals.
Pomegranates grown from seed do not come true-to-type. To propagate by cuttings, remove
shoots 6 to 8 inches long, with the thickness of a pencil or larger. Cuttings should be taken in
February or March and placed vertically in soil with the top dormant bud exposed. Dusting a
rooting hormone, such as Rootone, on the cut end may speed root formation.
When trained as a tree, pomegranates tend toward a bushy habit with many suckers arising
from the root and crown area. Tree-type plants can be produced by allowing only one trunk to
develop. Additionally suckers should be removed frequently around the main trunk(s). The goal
is to produce a stocky, compact framework. To this end, plants should be cut back to 2 to 2.5
feet tall at planting. Branches should be thinned to allow 3 to 5 symmetrically spaced scaffold
branches to remain at a level at least 10 inches above the ground. A year after planting, branches
should be shortened to 3/5 of their length. Interfering branches and shouts should then be
removed to allow 2 or 3 shoots per scaffold branch.
Light annual pruning of established trees encourages production of good quality fruit.
Dead or damaged wood should be removed in late winter. Suckering growth should be removed
as it appears.
Do not fertilize at the time of planting! Young trees should receive about 2 pounds of an
8-8-8 or similar analysis fertilizer in November and March. Mature trees require 5 pounds of a
similar analysis fertilizer at the same intervals. Excessive or late applications tend to delay fruit
maturity and reduce color and quality.
Pomegranate trees are self-fruitful. That is, they pollinate themselves. Severe fruit drop
during the plant's juvenile period (3-5 years) is not uncommon. Fruit drop is aggravated by
practices favoring leafy growth such as over-fertilization and excess watering. Avoid putting
young plants under stressful conditions. Mature trees seem to set and hold fruit better than
younger trees, so have patients!
A free pomegranate jelly recipe can be yours by sending a self-addressed, stamped
envelope to: Pomegranate Recipe, Pima County Cooperative Extension, 4210 N. Campbell Ave.,
Tucson, Az. 85719-1109.
Answers to gardening questions may be obtained by phoning the Extension Center Plant Clinic, weekdays for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 626-5161.
The University of Arizona College of Agriculture is an Equal Opportunity employer authorized to provide research,
educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to sex, race,
religion, color, national origin, age, Vietnam Era Veteran's status, or disability. - Updated: August 30, 1998
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