Is it possible to grow pomegranate in the country and how to care for a berry from southern countries
Content:
Pomegranate is a grainy, sweet-tasting plant. Pomegranate is an overseas fruit, and in this article you will learn how our gardeners can successfully grow pomegranates on their plots.
Description of pomegranate
Pomegranate is a shrub, while it can grow up to two meters in height. The grenade has a clearly traced central trunk, with lateral branches. In order to make a full-fledged tree out of a shrub, it is necessary to cut it regularly.
Pomegranate blooms from late spring to early autumn. Despite the abundance of beautiful flowers, they form ovaries and fruits, no more than five percent of the total. Because of the beautiful flowering, gardeners use pomegranate as an ornamental plant.
Fruit
Pomegranate fruits have smooth skin and grow in diameter up to 10-12 cm. Grant can be of various colors from brown to purple. It is easy to determine whether the fruit is ripe in front of you or not forever, since the pomegranate does not change color throughout the entire ripening period. Inside, the fruit has a granular structure, red in color.
Where does pomegranate grow?
It is known that the homeland of pomegranate is the south of Asia, as well as the southeast of Europe. Archaeological excavations indicate that this plant was grown by the ancient Iranians and Egyptians, Pomegranate bushes were grown in the territory of Babylon and India.
Wild pomegranate can be found in the Caucasus, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan. Although pomegranate is an overseas fruit, it can be grown in temperate regions.
Can you grow pomegranate in your garden?
Since the pomegranate belongs to the heat-loving plants, in order to get a good harvest, it needs to create the right conditions.
If you want to grow pomegranates in the middle lane, then you need to give preference to frost-resistant varieties. Even if a frost-resistant variety is chosen, it must be covered every winter so that the plant does not freeze.
Frost-resistant varieties include:
"Gyulasha pink" - gives sweet and sour, large fruits
"Gyulasha red" - has sweeter fruits, with large grains
"Nikitsky early" is a medium-sized shrub with sweet and sour fruits
Bala-Myursal is a tall tree that grows up to three meters in height. Produces large fruits. Grown on the territory of Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
Growing conditions
Since the pomegranate is a thermophilic plant and tolerates drought calmly. Only some varieties can survive short-term low temperatures, up to -15 degrees. Therefore, the favorable temperature for pomegranates is from +20 degrees.
The pomegranate should be planted on the south side, where there is a lot of light, away from groundwater.
The plant has no special requirements for the soil, it feels equally well both on sandy and clay soil. The acidity level of the soil is from 5.0-7.0 pH. It is important for pomegranates to form a drainage system to remove excess moisture.
How to choose seedlings?
Pay attention to the root system, it must not be damaged. It is best to take seedlings over 30 cm in height. A good seedling has 4 side shoots. The plant must be healthy, free from the characteristic signs of rot and other diseases.
Landing dates
In order for young seedlings to take root, they must be planted in warm soil. The soil temperature should be above +12 degrees. The optimal time for planting is early May.
Grow pomegranate: planting scheme
one.Planting pit depth, approximately 60x60 cm
2. Put dry grass on the bottom of the planting hole
3. Carefully plant the seedling in the planting hole, after clearing the root system of adhered soil
4. Fill the hole with the rest of the earth and water it; if possible, do not bury the pomegranate seedlings.
Care
Maintenance measures include loosening, watering only as needed, and removing weeds. Fertilizers for pomegranates must be applied to the soil before planting. If this moment is missed or you see characteristic signs of a lack of mineral supply, then in this case, phosphates and nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be applied.
Pruning rules
The rules for pruning pomegranates are similar to those for pruning fruit trees. We form the trunk, the number of lateral branches should be more than six. We do not allow abundant thickening of the crown. We remove the root growth. Pruning should be done after giving birth. Anti-aging pruning should also be carried out, this promotes the growth of the upper shoots, which in turn leads to an increase in yield.
Grow pomegranate and multiply
Pomegranate propagates by cuttings, seeds, branches, as well as grafting. Therefore, every time there is no need to buy new seedlings, you can multiply the existing ones on the site.
The most common methods include cuttings and seed propagation. Cuttings should be cut in the fall, after harvest. Cut and peeled cuttings must be laid in a pre-prepared trench. A trench with cuttings must be dug in, covered with straw and left until spring.
Cuttings should be taken out in the spring, only after the frost has passed.
In order to propagate pomegranate seeds, it is necessary to plant the seeds in a pre-moistened soil. In two, three weeks, young borings will hatch.
If you live in a subtropical climate, then the pomegranate tree will delight you with its delicious fruits and good harvest.
If you live in regions with a long and cold winter, then the pomegranate will not be very comfortable, which will affect a small harvest and will be accompanied by great cares associated with leaving.
However, you can grow pomegranates for decorative purposes on your property.