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Can I Grow Pomegranate from Seed Indoors

Punica granatum is the scientific name of pomegranate. Pomegranate is a plant that grows to 5-8 meters tall. Pomegranate flowers are bright red with 3-7 petals. Fruit is round shaped with thick reddish skin and seeds may vary from 200-1400. The dwarf variety is most popular as an ornamental plant in gardens. They are used in oils, cooking, baking, meal garnishing, smoothies and alcoholic beverages like cocktails, vodka, and wine.

Nutritional Information

Pomegranate is the most popular nutrient-rich fruit with unique flavor and taste. 100 grams of pomegranate seeds contain 83 calories, 20 grams of carbohydrates, fewer proteins & fats and cholesterol free. It is also a good source of vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Pomegranate Varieties

Pomegranate varieties are classified base on the size, shape, and taste of the fruit. The table illustrates the pomegranate varieties and its specifications.

S.No	Varieties	Specification
1	Ambrosia	Pale pink skin with purple sweet tart
2	Pink satin	Bright red fruit with light-pink edible seeds
3	Ariana	Soft seed & does best in hot inland regions
4	Desertnyi	Soft seed with sweet-tart and mild citrusy hint
5	Parfianka	Bright red skin with pink arils
6	Sienevyi	Pink skin with dark purple arils

Companion Plants

If pollination is not done properly then the tree will not produce fruits. you can apt for companions as they attract bees and improves the growth of pomegranates with high yield.  Pomegranate trees love to grow with herbs such as cilantro, basil, mint, parsley, thyme, summery savory and flowering plants like lavender, cosmos, sunflowers, and zinnias for tasteful pomegranates.

Pomegranate Growing Conditions

• Choose a pot or container of size about 10-15 inches depending upon the type of pomegranate variety you wish to grow.
• Pomegranate grows best in warm or tropical temperate zones. So it may require heavy loams, clay or sandy and well-drained soils for the plants to propagate. Maintain soil ph between 5.5 & 7.0.
• It requires full sun (minimum of 6 hours) to thrive. Make sure you plant them on a sunny site.
• As the plant grows in warm conditions, it does not require plenty of water. So water the plant for every 7-10 days.
• When you start growing from seeds, do not forget to soak and clean it with warm water.
• Be patient, as each single varieties maturity time depends upon different climatic conditions.
• Pomegranate does not survive if the temperature is below 12 F. So maintain an optimum temperature of 75-90 F.
• It takes years to establish tree and reaches to a height of 12-16 feet depending upon the dwarf variety.

Plant Care

• You no need to add fertilizers regularly to pomegranate trees. If the plant performance is poor or not producing fruits then there is a necessity of adding fertilizers.
• Before adding you need to test the soil ph by taking a sample of it and plant thrives if the soil ph is acidic.
• Fertilizers such as sulfur, iron compounds or aluminum sulfate are added to the soil to boost the plant growth. You also add fertilizers rich in nitrogen, compost or mulch that break down the soil continuously and supplies nutrients to the plants.
• Pests like the citrus flat mite, aphids, leaf roller larvae and bugs and Plant diseases fruit rot, Aspergillus, botrytis and other bacterial & fungal disease affects the plant growth.
• To get rid of pests and diseases problem uses copper fungicides as per the guidelines that promote air circulation in plants. Also, remove dead or diseased leaves, stems, and fruits to control its spread.
• As there are no certain methods to control plant viruses, proper cultivation helps to combat minor infections.

Pollination

Pomegranates are self-fruitful means it doesn’t require any other trees to cross-pollinate. Bees do all the work by transferring the pollen from the tree itself. another pomegranate tree can be planted near it to increase the fruit production in both the plants.

Pruning

If the pomegranate tree matures and produces little fruits, you can prune to obtain more effectively.  The best time to prune pomegranate tree is winter season before the buds break when the frost is passed.  You can also prune out suckers and other branches as they appear throughout the growing season.

Harvesting

• During the 1^st year, the tree may produce less number of fruits but takes 2-3 years for better harvesting results after planting.
• Don’t expect to harvest the fruits early i.e. until 2-3 years of planting. Once the tree matures and produces fruits after 6-7 months of flowering.
• When harvesting picks up the fully ripe and deep red color fruit. Cut the fruit close to the branch with the stem.
• Store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks to eat this healthy delicious fruit.

Can I Graft Pomegranates?

Pomegranates can be propagated from seeds though it takes much time (2-3 years) to produce fruits. Instead, you can prefer grafting technique that results in sweet and healthy fruits. It is easy to graft pomegranates using wipe cut method for high yielding and also promotes fast growth for a long time. Here is the procedure that illustrates grafting in pomegranates.

• Choose the best time to graft pomegranates as it requires enough nutrients to grow.
• The Select young stem scion from the plant to establish leaves and flowers.
• Now select rootstock plant that is healthy to which the graft can be attached.
• Cut the stem of scion below graft and rootstock stem above graft in the desired shape using a knife.
• Join both scion and rootstock (simply say graft) in the desired shape and wrap it with a grafting tape.
• Now plant the newly established graft in a pot. Water regularly and provide sunlight for better growth.

Health Benefits

Pomegranate benefits are innumerable and make it special for being healthy and delicious.

• Cancer Prevention: Making it in your diet also reduces the risk of prostate cancer. High levels of antioxidants like flavonoids help to stop the growth of cancer cells in lung, brain, breast, and blood.
• Improves Digestion: Pomegranate juice when consumed reduces the inflammation in the gut and improves digestion. It is also beneficial for the people who suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases, arthritis and anemia.
• Dental Care: The antibacterial property of pomegranate helps to reduce tooth erosion and decay. It also protects the enamel layer on your teeth and against various oral diseases.
• Boosts Immune: They are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds that help for those who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. It also helps to develop and maintain healthy immune system.
• Blood Pressure: The pomegranate juice lowers the cholesterol level i.e. eliminates bad LDL cholesterols and reduces the risk of heart & other cardiovascular diseases.
• For Women: Consuming pomegranate juice during pregnancy has many benefits. Calcium and vitamin D in pomegranate improves metabolism and lowers the risk of the placenta. It may also be helpful in lowering the risk of injuries to baby’s brain.
• Diabetes: Pomegranate is a traditional remedy for treating diabetes. It lowers the blood sugar levels and thereby controls the overall health of diabetic patients.

Side Effects: Only some people have allergic reactions to pomegranate fruit or juice. Extracts are possibly safe when applied to the skin or taken by mouth.  It also results in itching, swelling, cold, nausea and difficulty breathing.

Is pomegranate tree a self-pollinating?

Most pomegranate trees are self-fruiting as they do not require any other pomegranate tree variety for pollination purpose. The tree produces flowers that attract insects for pollination. It is also said that planting another pomegranate tree nearby can increase the fruit production in both the trees.

When do you plant a pomegranate tree?

Take a healthy stem cutting from the parent plant and place them in a well-drain soil at your home. Best time to plant pomegranate is the late winter or early spring season. Do not plant pomegranate seeds or cuttings in cool weather or frost conditions.

How long does it take for a pomegranate tree to bear fruit?

Pomegranate tree usually grows to a height of 12-20 feet tall but you just need a lot of patience while growing pomegranates in your garden space. It takes 2-3 years time to bear fruit and 5-7 months to mature the fruit.

Why are pomegranates plant leaves turn yellow?

Yes, your pomegranate leaves may drop off and may even turn a yellow color. It happens mostly during the fall and winter season which is due to the unhygienic growing conditions, lack of water and sunlight to the plants.

Start growing pomegranates from seed indoor, it monitors the health as you make a supplement in your diet. If you have already grown wonderful pomegranates in pots or containers please share your experience with us.

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