Pomegranate is a thermophilic plant that thrives in the southern regions of Russia. In other regions, you can grow pomegranates at home, having received fruits within 2-3 years after planting.
Germinating seeds
The pomegranate is a short tree with a lifespan of about 60 years. The peak yield is reached by 8-9 years of age. Growing a pomegranate at home can be done from a seedling or from seeds.
The seeds are removed from the fruit and soaked for several days, changing the water daily. You can weed out low-quality seeds by wrapping them in a damp cloth and placing them in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. When the seeds germinate, they are transplanted into soil. However, it is much easier to use ready-made cuttings 5-7 cm long.
Planting a pomegranate
A spacious pot is filled with soil, having previously created a drainage of charcoal and expanded clay at the bottom of the container, as well as a layer of washed coarse sand. The soil consists of equal parts of humus, sand and earth. The planted shoots must be covered with a transparent cap or foil.
During the first 2-3 years, pomegranates are transplanted annually, each time picking up a larger container. The plant does not really tolerate this process, therefore, it should be transplanted by rolling it over, trying not to damage the root system. At home, pomegranates rarely grow taller than 1.5 meters, so it can be kept in a room or in a winter garden.
Pomegranate care
One of the conditions to grow pomegranates is frequent moderate watering. It is advisable to use only settled water at room temperature for watering. In winter, watering is performed no more than 2 times a month. In summer, the plant is often sprayed.
The soil is fertilized with organic matter. It is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers 1-2 times a year. Instead of fertilizers, ash is often used, diluting a teaspoon of the product in a liter of water. In warm weather, a pot with a tree is taken out to the balcony; in winter, additional lighting is organized. Also, in the winter months, it is recommended to transfer the plant to a room with a temperature not higher than + 10-12 degrees.
Grant is extremely sensitive to changing conditions. Therefore, it can easily shed ovaries and leaves. Harvesting is carried out in September-October, removing fully ripe fruits. Unlike many fruits, pomegranate fruits do not ripen during storage.
By the way, at home, the plant is kept not only because of the fruit. Pomegranate blooms very beautifully, covered with yellow, white, orange or purple flowers, reaching a diameter of 5 cm. Special decorative varieties continue to bloom from April to August.
