A vibrantly colored fruit with an impressive nutritional visibility , the Punica granatum has become a go - to choice for health - witting imbiber and nosher . So if you dream about growing pomegranates , you ’re not alone . The good news is that with cool wintertime , hot summers and some TLC , pomegranate treesfruit in only three years ! We explore where they develop — and how they ’ll grow best for you .
USDA Hardiness Zones
Pomegranate trees ( Punica granatum ) thrive in domain with foresightful , live and relatively teetotal summers and cool winters . In the U.S. that usually translates to USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 11 , depend on cultivar . Most U.S. commercially grown pomegranate tree come from parts of California , Texas and Arizona .
know in a colder area wo n’t disqualify you from growing pomegranate , as long as you stick to a super - stalwart cultivar such as ‘ Russian Red ’ or ‘ Russia 26 . ’ They grow in USDA geographical zone 6 and tolerate wintertime lows of 8 ° farad and 3 ° F ( -13.3 ° C and -15.5 ° C ) , severally . Even they , however , should be planted in a wind - sheltered smear .
Growing Pomegranates in Colder Zones
If you ’re in USDA zone 5 or lower and have your heart set on growing pomegranates , do n’t despair . The dwarf mixed bag ‘ Nana ’ will develop in a container and overwinter indoors . It ’s 2 to 4 substructure tall , with coral - reddened summer flowers and comestible , 2 - column inch orange fruits .
Pomegranates and Frost
hoar damages pomegranate tree in varying stage , depend on where they turn :
Pomegranates, Heat and Humidity
Pomegranates flourish in desert environments , admit Saudi Arabia where the thermometer regularly tops 120 ° F ( 48.9 ° snow ) . In the U.S. , they ’re most productive with a growing season that includes at least 120 day of temperature above 85 ° F ( 29.4 ° century ) . As you ’d expect , their demand for water system increases with the heat .
In areas with humid springiness , pomegranate prime often bomb to set yield . Late summertime humidness may cause theripeningfruit to cleave .
depend on which trouble you have , establish a humidness - tolerant cultivar such as ‘ Russian Red ’ or a scummy - split variety like ‘ Francis . ’
Expert nurseryman ’s wind : If you plan to grow pomegranates just for their juice , splitting wo n’t count . Simply lave the fruit well before juicing .
Pomegranate Planting Site
From moxie to arduous clay , pomegranates handle almost any soil . But like most fruit trees , they rise best in organically rich , deep loam with ripe drainage and a pH between 5.5 and 7.2 .
They ’ll tolerate some common salt and abbreviated full stop of standing water . Where the soil or water system check lots of salt or the one-year rainfall surpass 32 inches , however , they profit from extra drainage . To bring home the bacon it , institute them in raise beds 6 inches to 1 foot high and 4 or more feet across .
Sun and Spacing
Pomegranates need six or more hour of daily sun to fruit their full . If you ’re planting more than one , set them on an east - west billet so the Lord’s Day will make them all day . While full Sunday and in high spirits heat may sunburn a few fruits on one side , it wo n’t ache their quality at all .
Space Punica granatum tree in N - rich soil 12 to 14 feet apart in their beds , and allow 14 to 17 feet between bed . If they ’re in low - atomic number 7 Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin , increase the spacing by half .
Know Before You Grow
All pomegranate fruitgrowcomes from ego - pollinated flowers . While one Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is all you involve for a harvest home , cross - pollenate trees give birth up to 30 percent more yield . If you have the way , constitute two or more trees is the way to go .
Two pomegranates of the same variety will cross pollinate , but commercial growers advocate planting different cultivar . ‘ rattling ’ and ‘ Russian Red ’ make a successful combining .
Boosting Your Pollination Odds
Whether grow severally or in grouping , pomegranates rely on insects and hummingbird for pollination . To attract them , plant some zinnias , bee balm or recurrent salvia nearby .
Or take matters into your own hands and move pollen from flower to flower by mitt . Simply transmit it with a soft - bristle artist ’s brush or cotton plant swab . For the good outcome , do your pollinating early in the good morning while the pollen is still fresh and glutinous .
