[Arid_gardener] Re: pomegranate tree

[Dick]

Rereading your reply, Rosemary, prompted me to add a comment.

Any fruiting species in good health will shed--or rain, literally, a lot of 
fruit from pea to golfball size until it reaches an equalibrium. A tree will 
only retain and carry to maturity that load it can retain without putting 
the entire organism at risk. How much it sheds may depend  on several 
factors but they all boil down to the health of the tree at that given time. 
To see the huge fruit drop under a citrus may be cause for panic but it is a 
normal prosess and, if the tree is in good health, you will undoubtedly be 
pleased with the crop. The key element in the care of citrus, especially 
here in the desert, is deep watering to at least three feet checked with a 
probe. Feeding is important, but most of the nutrients needed are already in 
the soil, but, both water and nutrient should be applied only in a wide 
shallow trench at the drip line. Unless it rained, water has never seen the 
area inside that ring on my trees. Virtually all feeder roots are in the 
drip line area.  Irrigation any place else is about as effective as letting 
the water run down the street where there are no feeder roots either.  I 
feed only with 21-0-0 as prescribed only in a shallow trench only at the 
drip line.

When I had more ambition, I used a soil drill to bore holes two feet apart 
and six to eight inches deep all around the dripline trench. After filling 
the holes with 21-0-0, I maintained a half inch head of water until I  could 
sink a 36" probe all around the drip line.

This is great citrus country for almost any citrus variety except Navals 
that would prefer a more humid climate like Florida.  But, my own Naval sets 
more fruit than we can use or palm off on friends.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
University of Arizona
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Leo M/Rosemary J Abrami" <abrami at cox.net>
To: "Olin Miller" <olindmiller at cox.net>; <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>; 
"Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>; <pgreer1 at cox.net>
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: pomegranate tree


> To all of you, thanks for the suggestions and comments.
>
> Nursery confirms that they sold us a Wonderful so it SHOULD give us  those 
> ruby-red seeds!
>
> I am working on a way to adjust the watering: will put a new head on  the 
> bubbler with drip line extensions, this way can lead water to the  plants 
> that really need it while restricting that going to the tree.   Of course 
> some will seep into the ground and pom may drink that but  it can't be 
> helped!
>
> Having fertilized at the start of the season that's done for the time 
> being, but I'll try the suggested 21-0-0 formula next time.
>
> Let's see if this summer we have more luck - the tree is already  laden 
> with fruits and our mouths are watering.
>
> I'll keep you posted.
> Thanks again,
> Rosemary Abrami
>