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The pomegranate is called the “grainy apple”, “royal fruit”, “Carthaginian fruit”. The history of pomegranate begins in ancient times. Trees with granular fruits grew on the planet even before the beginning of our era. To grow and develop, pomegranate needs a warm, sunny climate and fertile soil. Whether pomegranate grows on poorer soils or not depends on the varietal characteristics and maintenance conditions.
What does a pomegranate look like?
Pomegranate trees bear fruit for half a century, after which fruiting becomes unstable, and plantings are changed to younger ones. Trees can stretch up to 6 - 7 m. Hybrid varieties grow like shrubs, reaching a height of 2 m. The growing season lasts from 6 to 8 months.
Pomegranate trees appear as single-trunked trees or as shrub-like thickets with several trunks of equal thickness. The bark of the main trunks has a dark gray tint. The structure of the bark is dense and has equal thickness in all areas.Young branches are covered with gray-green bark, but over time the green tint disappears.
Description of pomegranate parts:
Leaves | Oval in shape, light green in color. They stretch up to 3 cm. Collected in groups of 5 - 10 leaves. |
Flowers | Inflorescences are bell-shaped or crown-shaped, single or double. They have an orange-red tint. |
Roots | They form a powerful core system that can go deep up to several tens of meters. |
The main wealth of the pomegranate tree is its fruit. They begin to ripen after flowering, the ripening period can stretch up to 180 days. The pomegranate tree blooms beautifully and profusely. The buds begin to form at the beginning of summer and bloom, replacing each other, until September.
The fruits gradually increase in size. The color of the peel remains red or pink throughout the entire ripening period, so it is not taken into account when harvesting.
The structure of the peel is dense and difficult to break. Inside are juicy grains, ripening in separate sectors, protected by a white film. Each sector contains a different number of grains. The main part of the pulp, which is suitable for eating, is located on dense drupes inside the grains. It has a pink-red hue and contains a lot of juice, which is released when pressed.
A special botanical term has been coined for the fruits to designate this variety; they are called “pomegranates.” The diameter can reach 12 cm. The weight of one copy can be more than 500 g. The weight of the pulp is noticeably reduced, since the dense peel makes up half of the total size. One pomegranate contains from 200 to 1500 grains, this depends on the age of the fruit and the degree of ripeness.
The external feature of the fruit is the presence of a crown-shaped “tuft”.According to the existing theory, this feature became the impetus for the creation of the crown, which is placed on the heads of monarchs.
Pomegranate fruits are removed as they ripen. Unripe pomegranates ripen quickly during transportation or storage.
The uses of pomegranates are extensive:
- grains are suitable for fresh consumption;
- for preparing tasty and healthy pomegranate juice;
- peels and pericarp are used in the preparation of medicines;
- flowers are used to brew tea, infusions or decoctions with healing properties.
Pomegranate is considered the leader among fruit and berry crops in terms of iron content. It is often recommended for anemia of various origins, anemia, symptoms of chronic fatigue and depression.
Where do pomegranates grow?
The place where pomegranates grow depends on the characteristics and preferences of the culture. Thanks to breeding work, the habitat of pomegranates has expanded significantly, but the basic requirements for climate and soil composition have remained the same. There are three types of culture:
- Wild. These shrubs still grow on the island of Socotra, which is geographically located near the Gulf of Aden. The climate of the island is characterized as tropical semi-desert, which is not typical for the culture. There is very little information about how the pomegranate bushes got there; it has not been officially confirmed;
- Ordinary. The most common type of fruit that is cultivated everywhere. They need subtropics and high air humidity;
- Dwarf, hybrid. Varieties bred specifically for home cultivation. Decorative pomegranates produce inedible fruits; hybrid varieties with edible fruits grow like shrubs.
The homeland of pomegranate is considered to be the territory of modern Iran and the adjacent lands. Most often, pomegranate tree plantations are cultivated in countries with a subtropical climate.
The subtropics are the birthplace of the most ancient civilizations; it is here that human culture began to emerge. This climate zone is characterized by the following features:
- the average temperature in summer does not drop below +20 °C;
- in winter the air temperature remains between 0 and +4 °C;
- The coastal climate is mild due to the influence of the sea.
Pomegranate grows everywhere in the subtropics, most often it is:
- countries of Western and South-West Asia;
- territory of North-West India, North Africa;
- Eastern Transcaucasia;
- some areas of Central Asia;
- countries of southern Europe.
Where do pomegranates grow in Russia?
Pomegranate trees grow in Russia. The climate, which is characteristic of the subtropical zone, promotes the cultivation of selectively bred varieties adapted to winter temperature drops.
Pomegranate grows on the territory of Abkhazia, which neighbors the “pomegranate country” - Georgia. On the Black Sea coast, which stretches across the south of the Krasnodar Territory, you can find dwarf varieties. Classic garnets are found in the foothills of the Caucasus. In areas of the Azov region, along the territory of Crimea, pomegranate trees of mixed types grow.
Does pomegranate grow in Crimea?
Crimea is a peninsula washed by the Black and Azov seas. In the southern part, pomegranate crops are grown without additional shelter for the winter.They grow in parks and gardens. Crimean pomegranate ripens at the beginning of October.
Culture appeared on the peninsula thanks to Greek colonists. Natural growth conditions are typical only for the southern part of the peninsula, but amateur gardeners successfully grow pomegranate in the northern part of Crimea, taking into account the characteristics of the heat-loving crop. Here it is additionally covered, helping to withstand low temperatures to which the roots are sensitive.
Does pomegranate grow in Krasnodar?
Hard-seeded varieties of pomegranate grow on the territory of Kuban. Natural conditions are not sufficiently suitable for soft-seeded varieties. This is due to the long growing season of pomegranate trees.
Early ripening pomegranate varieties are recommended for the regions of the Krasnodar Territory. They feel comfortable with winter digging around the tree trunk.
Most often in Krasnodar you can find the variety Gyulosha, or Gyuleysha, whose homeland is Azerbaijan. The fruits ripen a little faster than the classic varieties. This allows it to grow in areas with a shortened summer period and allows pomegranates to reach their lowest degree of ripeness.
Does pomegranate grow in Sochi
Sochi is the longest city in Russia: its length is hundreds of kilometers. On the territory of Sochi you can find pomegranate trees only on the southwestern side. This is the Black Sea coast, where the climate is as close as possible to subtropical.
The coastal zone makes it possible to grow pomegranate by the beginning of October; its collection begins simultaneously along the entire length of the plots. Pomegranates grown in Sochi appear on markets by mid-autumn.
Does pomegranate grow in Abkhazia?
Abkhazia is located in the southern part of the slope of the main Caucasus ridge. The country's mild climate makes it possible to grow classic pomegranate varieties. The fruits are harvested in October. Abkhazian grenades can be stored for a long time, so they can be seen in the central part of Russia with the onset of spring. An Abkhazian variety has been developed with oval-shaped fruits, characterized by purplish-red flesh and a sweet-sour taste. From these pomegranates a delicious, valuable juice is obtained, which is distributed throughout Russia.
How do pomegranates grow?
The most delicious pomegranates grow in the territory of modern Iran. This is the natural habitat of trees. Soft-seeded varieties are grown here. In addition, seedless pomegranates grow in subtropical soils.
How does pomegranate grow in nature?
Trees begin to bear fruit starting from the age of 3 years. Full fruiting occurs by 7-8 years. For 30 - 40 years, pomegranates are able to bear fruit stably and fully.
In order for ovaries to form on the branches and full-fledged fruits to ripen, trees need elevated air temperatures and above-average humidity levels. To prevent flowers from falling off and moving on to the stage of fruit formation, trees require consistently warm days with air temperatures from +20 °C to +25 °C. This period for pomegranates extends to 180 days, so frosts are excluded at this stage of development. Trees can withstand temperatures as low as –12°C in winter without loss. In winter, the branches lose their leaves like deciduous crops.
Flowering culture also has its own characteristics. Fruits may not form from every flower that appears: many fall off after flowering.
How to grow pomegranate at home
Amateur gardeners successfully grow pomegranate at home. Tree propagation options allow you to create the necessary conditions, regardless of belonging to a particular climatic zone:
- cuttings;
- seeds;
- vaccinations.
At home, pomegranate trees appear as dwarf shrub-like varieties. Special varieties have been created for this. Among the selection diversity for home cultivation, types are selected that are capable of producing fruits and adapting to changed climatic conditions.
In the summer, homemade pomegranates are planted in open areas, and in the fall they are removed indoors.
Pomegranate trees, when grown by cuttings, begin to bear fruit in the 3rd year of existence; when planting seeds, adaptation is delayed for up to 7 years.
How to grow pomegranates
Pomegranates are often grown from seeds. To do this, they are collected from ripe fruits. Then washed and separated from the pulp. Planting is done in the spring and the home tree is cared for according to a certain pattern.
Homemade pomegranates grow under special temperature conditions. It must be different at each stage of development.
Bloom | From +20 °C to +25 °C. |
Fruiting | +16 … +20 °C. |
Rest period | +10 … +12 °C. |
Homemade fruits grow up to 6 cm, their weight reaches 200 g.The pulp size is half of the total weight. Those who grow homemade pomegranate characterize the taste of the grains as sweet and sour with a predominance of acid.
How long does a pomegranate grow?
Pomegranate trees are long-lived. Ordinary varieties of the classical type bear fruit for more than 50-60 years, then gradually begin to wither. If they are not replaced by young plantings, they are able to grow in a permanent place for several more decades.
There are unique specimens among garnets. Azerbaijan is famous for its centuries-old pomegranate trees; they have been growing there for more than 100 years. In the southern part of France you can find a 200-year-old pomegranate tree that grows for beauty, without bearing fruit.
Conclusion
Pomegranate grows where a subtropical climate prevails. This is a heat-loving tree that can delight you with unique, healthy fruits for many years. If certain requirements are met, dwarf varieties can be grown even at home.
