How to Grow and Care for Pomegranate Trees

Pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) produce delicious fruit, and if you have the right warm climate, they are easy to maintain and not affected by many pests or diseases. The trees usually take between three to six years to mature enough to bear their signature red, leathery fruit filled with sweet, edible seeds.

The pomegranate can range from a dwarf shrub of 3 feet to a tree of 20 to 30 feet. In most places, they are deciduous, but in warmer climates, they may be evergreen. They are also attractive ornamentally, with glossy leaves and scarlet red, tube-shaped flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators. The pomegranate is a popular choice for bonsai. The bark is a red-brown color, and branches may have spines.

How to Plant Pomegranate Trees

When to Plant

Young trees should be planted in the spring after any danger of late frost has passed.

Selecting a Planting Site

Somewhat drought tolerant, a pomegranate tree is perfect for the sunniest and warmest locations in the yard that might scorch other plants. When planting, make sure the soil is loose and not too wet.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

The spacing will depend on how you plan to use your pomegranate tree. Some growers use them as a spreading shrub hedge, and they can be spaced around 6 to 9 feet apart. For those being used for fruit production, it is better to space them around 15 feet apart. The hole in the ground should be as deep as the nursery pot or root ball and twice as wide. If you choose, you can plant pomegranate trees so they grow up a supportive trellis or wall.

Pomegranate Tree Care

Light

Pomegranate shrubs may be grown in part shade but ideally should be placed somewhere with as much sun and warmth as possible. For a good harvest, your tree should get at least six hours of full sun per day.

Soil

The pomegranate needs well-drained soil, though it can thrive in a wide variety of soils from acid loam (preferred) to poor-quality alkaline types.

Water

The pomegranate tree is drought tolerant, though irrigation is needed for proper fruit production. Water deeply every two to four weeks during the dry season when you are establishing new trees.

Be careful, however, not to overwater. Excess water and soggy conditions can lead to a poor harvest. The fruit will also be more prone to splitting, increasing the chances of problems with pests and fungal diseases.

Temperature and Humidity

The optimal growing areas for this fruit are USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 to 10. They appreciate cool winters and hot, dry summers. They thrive when growing season temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Pomegranate trees are more cold tolerant than citrus trees but the levels vary depending on the cultivar. Most pomegranate trees do not require chill hours to bloom or fruit or they require very low chill hours.

Fertilizer

Fertilize in November and March for the first two years. Otherwise, not much fertilizer is needed in subsequent years. In fact, over-fertilization can result in a poor harvest.

Pollination

Pomegranate trees are usually self-pollinating. However, if you want to increase your fruit production, plant the trees in pairs for extra cross-pollination. If the tree is flowering but not fruiting, you may also need to plant a second tree nearby for cross-pollination.

Types of Pomegranates

There are many cultivars to choose from, including some that are more cold-hardy. Some of the popular types include:

• 'Nana': A dwarf form that is cold hardy to zone 7 and typically grows to just 4 feet tall
• 'Sweet': Produces fruit earlier than some cultivars and, as the name suggests, has a very sweet flavor and usually provides a prolific harvest
• 'Wonderful': The most popular cultivar grown in the United States; produces large, flavorful, red fruits in abundance late in the season

Harvesting Pomegranate Trees

It takes around three to six years for a pomegranate tree to produce a proper harvest. You'll know the fruits are ready to be picked when the color has developed, they have a matte rather than glossy sheen, they change from a round to a more hexagonal shape, and they make a metallic sound when tapped. Use a pair of pruning shears to cut the stem above the fruit instead of pulling it off. They can be stored for a long time if kept between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Grow Pomegranate Trees in Pots

Though it is easier to grow a dwarf pomegranate tree in a pot, you can grow any size pomegranate plant in a container. Pomegranate trees in pots may produce less fruit because their roots will be more restricted but they will thrive when watered and fertilized consistently. Use a minimum 10-gallon container with plenty of drainage holes. Plant the tree in a standard potting mix.

Pruning

Pomegranates are prone to producing suckers, so remove them as they appear. If you choose not to prune your pomegranate tree, it will develop a wider spreading bushy, shrub-like form. Regular pruning of branches in the first few years will help to encourage healthy new shoot development and a more abundant harvest.

After the tree is established, it may be enough only to prune away any dead, crossing, damaged, or diseased branches. It is a good idea to thin out the fruits growing on the branches. This will ensure the pomegranates can grow to full size and reduce the chance of a limb breaking because of excess weight.

Propagating Pomegranate Trees

It is an infringement of copyright law to propagate or grow from seed a trademarked or patented cultivar. Check your pomegranate tree first to make sure propagation is allowed. Propagating pomegranate trees can be tricky and it is best left to nurseries. However, if you are up for the challenge, it is best done through hardwood cuttings (avoid softwood cuttings or they can easily dry up) taken in winter. To propagate from cuttings, take these steps:

1. Take pencil diameter cutting of 8 to 10 inches long in the winter from the previous season’s growth.
2. Dip the cutting in rooting hormone (containing IBA, a rooting chemical).
3. Insert half the length of the cutting into a pot filled with well-draining soilless mix.
4. Put a clear plastic bag over the pot with holes for air circulation.
5. Place the pot outdoors in a shady but bright spot. It should root in about eight weeks.
6. Rooted cuttings may be transplanted the following year.

How to Grow Pomegranate Trees From Seed

If you choose to grow pomegranate tree seedlings, the seeds may not stay true to type. Take these steps to start a pomegranate tree from seed.

1. Remove the aril (fleshy part) from the seed by rolling it in a paper towel which will absorb the fluid. Rinse and dry the seeds for a couple of hours.
2. Refrigerate the seeds in a paper towel and bag for a few weeks before sowing.
3. Put seeds about 1/2 inch to an inch deep in a moistened potting medium.
4. Keep the soil temperature warm (75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit) to aid germination. Do this by either putting the pot under a plastic baggie tent, surrounding it with foil, or putting the pot in direct sunlight.
5. Transplant the seedlings to a pot or outdoors in a protected area when they reach 4 to 6 inches in height.

Overwintering

Some types of pomegranate trees can cope with winter temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you live in an area where the temperatures dip this low, it would be prudent to grow the trees in containers so they can be moved into a garage or other sheltered location to minimize the chance of frost damage occurring.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Pomegranate shrubs are one of the easier fruits to work with since they are not usually affected by many pests or diseases. Possible occasional pests include pomegranate butterflies, thrips, scale, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Diseases are rare in well-maintained trees but can include leaf spot, fruit spot, twig dieback, dry rot, and soft rot.