How To Fertilize and Water Your Pomegranate Tree
If you're looking for a beautiful tree to plant in your yard, look no further. Not only do pomegranate trees provide excellent scenery, but eating their delightful fruit also provides you with plentiful health benefits.
They can withstand hot and dry conditions; however, they need some additional care to keep them healthy and strong. Find out how to fertilize and water your pomegranate tree to ensure its best possible yield and overall health.
Reasons To Plant Pomegranates
If you've ever eaten a pomegranate, you already know just how delicious and versatile they are. Pomegranate trees are more than just any other fruit tree. It may be the perfect option for you if you're looking for a plant that provides a stunning pop of color to your property.
Not only do the trees produce beautiful pink to red fruits, but they also grow gorgeous flowers of the same color. However, pomegranate trees are still more than just brilliant scenery. Some of the benefits of consuming the fruit include:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Fights arthritis and joint pain
- Improves cognitive function
- Fights fungal and bacterial infections
These are only four ways pomegranates can benefit you and your health; the advantages are endless.
Caring for Pomegranate Trees
Although pomegranate trees can tolerate less-than-ideal conditions, there are a few basic guidelines you should follow when caring for your new plant.
Watering
Like most other trees and plants, pomegranate trees also need an adequate measure of water to thrive and reach peak fruit production. The amount of water necessary for your tree depends on several factors, such as rainfall and soil type. Generally, pomegranate trees can withstand dry air; however, they also need some moisture in the soil.
Immediately after planting, be sure to soak the soil surrounding the roots deeply before adding a root stimulator. Water is only necessary during a drought to keep the surrounding soil moist. During the first active growing season, you shouldn't have to water it every day. In fact, this can actually cause overly wet soil in which bacteria grows.
Additionally, you can apply mulch around the tree's base to help retain moisture and reduce the amount of hand watering you need to do. It's best to soak the tree less frequently rather than water it lightly every day.
Pomegranate trees require much less water during the dormant season as they aren't actively growing; therefore, you should be careful not to overwater. Similarly, pomegranate trees are tolerant to drought and require less water a few years after planting.
However, they prefer consistently moist soil while they're bearing fruit. You shouldn't worry too much if you cannot provide additional water, as the plant should survive; however, the tree won't yield as much fruit. During extended droughts without supplemental watering, the fruits may suffer and fall off the tree prematurely.
Fertilizing
You shouldn't fertilize your pomegranate tree within the first year following planting. It's not always essential to fertilize your tree, but fertilizer may be necessary if the plant does poorly or yields minimal fruit. These plants thrive in soil ranging from 6.0 to 7.0 on the pH scale, and you may need to add more nitrogen to your ground to achieve this range.
During the second year's spring, apply 2 ounces of nitrogen to the plant. Each following year, increase by one additional ounce until it reaches 6 to 8 ounces per year.
Pruning
Once your new tree reaches approximately 2 feet tall, cut away all but a handful of the strongest shoots. You should shorten the shoots once per year for the first few years to promote new growth. After the tree is mature, you only need to prune the dead branches.
Harvesting
When harvesting the fruit, be sure it's fully ripe, as it doesn't continue to ripen after you pick it. When fully mature, pomegranates will be a deep red color and make a metallic sound when you tap them with your finger.
When you're ready to pick your pomegranates from the tree, you should cut them off rather than try to pull them off. Make your cut as close to the branch as possible; there's no need for the fruit stem to remain attached to the tree.
After gathering your delicious fruit, you can store them in your refrigerator for approximately 6 to 7 months if you don't have an immediate need for them. However, there's always something tasty you can make with pomegranate if you don't want to eat them plain.
Indoor Growing
Although pomegranates thrive in warm, arid conditions, not everyone lives in these ideal conditions. If this includes you, there is good news: growing a pomegranate tree in a pot is a strong possibility. Therefore, you don't have to let your climate stop you from checking out Plant Me Green's selection of pomegranate trees for sale.
The potted plant can be kept indoors with proper provisions, or outdoors for part of the year and then brought indoors during cold fronts. You will need a 10-gallon container one-fourth full of potting soil to start planting your pomegranate tree indoors. Set the root ball inside the container and then continue adding potting soil to the top. Water your newly potted plant, and be sure to eliminate any air pockets from the dirt.
Whether you are planning to put the pot outside or keep it inside, pomegranates need exposure to full sunlight. Therefore, if the tree is outdoors, you should move it inside to a sunny area if the temperature drops below 40 degrees F. Since the plant won't get any rainfall if kept indoors, be sure to water it thoroughly once a week and maybe more during the summer months.
While pomegranate trees may seem like a lot of work, the rewards are more than worth it. The tree will provide you with a beautiful pop of color in your yard or inside your home, and its fruit is both tasty and beneficial for you.
However, it's crucial to know how to fertilize and water your pomegranate tree properly for a strong tree and the best fruit yield. Because it's a unique fruit you may not be able to find just anywhere, you may have the urge to plant a tree to grow them yourself to ensure you never run out.
