How to grow a pomegranate from a seed and rules for planting and care at home

If you want to grow a pomegranate, you need to purchase a healthy seedling of this tree. Or, knowing how to grow a pomegranate from a seed, you can grow it yourself. Although this is a southern plant, recently it has begun to be bred in more northern regions, as well as in the Middle Zone. However, to achieve the expected result, it is necessary to adhere to special growing conditions.

Benefits of growing pomegranate from seed

The cheapest way to grow a pomegranate tree is from an ordinary seed. The grains are dried and poured with milk. After a day, they are placed in a small container with wet sand. After 2-3 months, small plants grow from the seeds. This method is attractive because the seedling can be grown in an apartment throughout the year.

Recommended varieties for growing in open ground

Depending on the region in which it is planned to grow pomegranate, a variety is selected. It is also necessary to clarify for what purpose the tree will be planted - for eating the fruits, making juices and wine, or for decorative purposes.

Gyuleysha pink

It belongs to the non-covering group, adapted for the south of the European continent. Grows in the form of a bush. Height – about 2 meters. The branches are spreading. The fruits ripen in mid-October.

The weight of one fruit is approximately 230 grams. The shape is slightly oval, and narrowed at the base. It has a light red or pink tint.On the inside, the upper peel is pinkish-cream in color. The grains have a pleasant aroma, they are dark cherry, sweet and sour in taste.

Gyuleysha red

Before fruiting time, this variety grows into a large tree. The shape of the fruit is round. The color of their outer skin is bright red, and there are visible stripes on the top of the fruit. The fruit neck is quite narrow, with long teeth. The variety has large grains of a rich cherry color. It is used for making juices.

Ak Don Crimean

The variety can easily tolerate low temperatures when creating a shelter. It also grows in closed soils. This is a tall tree, but by pruning it is possible to form a small crown, only 2-3 meters high. The fruits are round. The color of the upper peel is creamy, with a pink tint and a large number of red spots. The grains are red-pink.

Dogwood anor

The variety is widespread in Uzbekistan. Its characteristic positive quality is precocity. Collection begins in early October. Medium sized fruits. The skin is bright pink, almost scarlet. The grains are deep red in color. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour.

Dwarf pomegranate

This variety can be grown indoors. Fruiting continues throughout the year. It blooms profusely. Fruiting begins already at a plant height of 40 centimeters. Up to 10 fruits ripen on it at the same time. Their diameter is about 5 centimeters.

Nuances when planting in different regions

The pomegranate tree tolerates dry periods, as well as short temperature drops to -17 degrees. Because of this, it is grown mainly in the south. But some gardeners are trying to grow it in the Middle Zone. But, for example, in the Moscow region it is necessary to build a shelter for wintering for this plant.Even if the tree can be grown, the likelihood that it will bear fruit in such conditions is small, but in the Krasnodar Territory it is quite possible to harvest from such a tree.

Varieties for home cultivation

At home, you can only grow dwarf pomegranate trees:

1. Baby variety. The shortest plant of this species. Height is about 50 centimeters. Shape: bush. It blooms very beautifully. In autumn, the foliage partially falls off. Mandatory pruning required.
2. Variety Dwarf Carthage. It is bred for home cultivation. Its height is 60-70 centimeters. A mandatory care process is the formation of the crown; without this, fruiting is reduced. Has a decorative appearance. Fruiting occurs once a year.

Preparing seed material for germination

The preparatory stage of growing from seeds begins with their collection. The most ripe and beautiful fruit is selected and the grains are separated. They are washed before planting. Healthy seeds are ivory in color. They are immersed in water with epin or zircon for 10 hours to disinfect and activate the growth process. A day later they are planted in the sand to germinate.

Germination time

As a rule, seeds do not lose their appearance after the soaking procedure. They are planted in sand or light soil to a depth of 1 centimeter. After just 7 days, the first shoots appear. Seed germination is almost 100 percent.

Technology of cultivation and care in indoor conditions

This plant is not demanding in terms of home care. But some manipulations when growing it on a windowsill should be carried out so that a fluffy and fruit-bearing tree grows. As the seedling grows, its top is pinched. Do this so that the plant has two main branches.

Required soil composition and pot volume

A universal soil mixture is used as soil for planting pomegranates. You can add sand to it. The soil should be loose, with a pH level of 5.5-7.

Before planting, it is disinfected by watering it with a manganese solution. To plant a seedling, take a pot with a volume of approximately 2-3 liters.

Planting seeds

Pre-prepared seeds are planted in a large container filled with light soil. After sprouting and the formation of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings are planted in separate pots, but you should not use large containers at once - this will slow down their growth, the plant will put all its effort into the formation of the root system.

Caring for young shoots

After 2-3 months, the seedlings are planted in separate pots. The transplanted plant is watered abundantly and treated with Kornevin to speed up establishment. As the pomegranate grows, it is transplanted into a larger container. A five-year-old plant is transplanted into a pot with a volume of 10-20 liters.

During the growth period, he should be provided with:

• irrigation regime;
• lighting;
• fertilization;
• preventive measures against diseases and pests.

Crown trimming

During the period of growth at home, the pomegranate must be provided with sufficient lighting. Without observing this rule, the branches begin to stretch greatly, and new shoots do not form. In order for the plant to grow new branches, the pot is taken into a room with a temperature of 10 degrees.

The crown is formed by pruning so that the tree looks beautiful and well-groomed.

What to fertilize and how often to water

Watering on hot days is carried out 2 times a week. Take water at room temperature. When growing pomegranate in a pot, it definitely needs feeding. It is carried out from the spring months until the end of autumn.Use mineral and organic fertilizers. Feeding is also used fertilizers based on humates.

Organizing a period of rest

During dormancy, the plant partially or completely sheds its foliage. If the dormant period has not occurred in the winter months, then it continues to be fed. Watering in winter is reduced to once a week.

How to plant pomegranate in open ground

You can grow pomegranate in your country house. In this case, it is necessary to fulfill some requirements.

Selecting a location

For planting, select a place in the garden, on the southwest side, to ensure maximum lighting, without strong wind currents.

Optimal timing and planting scheme

Planting in the ground should be done in several stages:

• dig a hole measuring 60x70;
• humus, sand, compost are laid out at the bottom of the pit, and a layer of soil is placed on top;
• the seedling is lowered into the hole at an angle of 45 degrees;
• the roots are compacted with soil on top so that there is no emptiness;
• Place a peg next to the seedling for support.

Soil and temperature requirements

Soils with high groundwater flow are not recommended. Alkaline soil with adequate drainage is considered optimal. The main requirement is not to overcool the plant. If the temperature begins to drop to -10 degrees, then a special shelter is built.

Lighting

Pomegranate is a light-loving plant. Therefore, maximum sunlight should be provided. For the same purpose, its crown is thinned out.

Features of agricultural technology during cultivation

It is difficult for gardeners in non-southern regions to imagine how to care for a pomegranate tree in their garden.

Regularity of irrigation

This plant does not require abundant watering; Make sure that there is no stagnation of moisture in the soil. Excess moisture causes the flowers to fall off.

Foliar and root feeding

Feeding in open ground is carried out even before planting the seedling. But if the tree has withered, then the adult plant is also fed. In this case, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are used. In autumn, rotted manure is scattered near the tree.

Loosening the soil

The frequency of watering can be reduced by periodically loosening the soil in order to slow down the process of moisture evaporation.

Formation

The formation of the crown should be done not only for the purpose of giving a decorative appearance, but also for successful growth and development. This procedure is carried out in early spring or after the leaves fall in the fall. Remove dry branches and cut off root shoots. In addition, old branches should be properly pruned every 20-25 years to rejuvenate the pomegranate.

Preparing for winter

In order for the pomegranate to easily endure the winter cold, the near-root zone is insulated with a thick layer of soil. If the bush is not tall, it is bent down to the soil and also covered with earth or covered with other insulation materials in the form of plywood sheets or car tires.

How to graft a tree for harvest

For grafting you need a high-quality cutting. It is grafted onto a seedling with a diameter about a finger thick. A cutting cut at an acute angle is inserted into the T-shaped cut in the bark. Its cut is completely immersed under the bark. After a month, the cutting will take root and you can remove the bandage. This pomegranate, grown at home, will bear fruit well.

When to expect first flowering and fruiting

The first flowering and fruiting of pomegranate begins at the age of 3 years. But industrial fruiting is achieved by 7-8 years. Such trees will delight you with fruits for 30-40 years.

Rules for collecting and storing pomegranate fruits

In the southern regions, pomegranate can begin to ripen at the end of September. Ripe fruits and those that still need to ripen are removed. But the quality of unripe ones is not too high. Trim the fruits with pruning shears.

Only undamaged grenades are selected for storage. Store in a room with a humidity of 80-85% and a temperature of +1, +2 degrees.

Pests and diseases - ways to combat them

Diseases of the pomegranate tree can completely destroy it, so you should be careful about the following problems:

1. Pomegranate moth. She eats the inside of the fruit. The way to get rid of it is to timely harvest the affected fruits and then destroy them.
2. Pomegranate aphid. It appears on young foliage. Removed using pesticides.
3. Cancerous diseases of branches. It mainly affects weakened plants whose bark is cracked. In this case, swellings form near the wounds. The fight against this disease consists of timely removal of infected branches.