Punica

Pomegranate (Punica) is a genus of deciduous shrubs or small trees. Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a deciduous shrub with a spherical crown, abundantly forming shoots. The name of this plant comes from the Latin "punicus" - "Carthaginian" and is due to the fact that Pliny mistakenly attributed the pomegranate origin from North Africa and called it the "Carthaginian apple". Lanceolate or elliptical leaves with a smooth edge, opposite, and on shortened shoots - in whorls; in spring they are colored red. At the ends of the branches are bisexual tubular flowers arranged singly or in groups of 3-5 pieces of bright orange-red color, occasionally white or yellowish, with wrinkled petals. They bloom in May-August. Fruits - multi-seeded, with juicy seeds and leathery pericarp, large spherical yellow-orange, bright or dark red, with a total weight of more than 200 g, edible. Ripen in autumn. Among decorative forms, 'Dwarf' is popular - a very small plant with narrow leaves and very abundant flowering.

Pomegranate (Punica) is a genus of deciduous shrubs or small trees.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a deciduous shrub with a spherical crown, abundantly forming shoots. The name of this plant comes from the Latin "punicus" - "Carthaginian" and is due to the fact that Pliny mistakenly attributed the pomegranate origin from North Africa and called it the "Carthaginian apple".

Lanceolate or elliptical leaves with a smooth edge, opposite, and on shortened shoots - in whorls; in spring they are colored red. At the ends of the branches are bisexual tubular flowers arranged singly or in groups of 3-5 pieces of bright orange-red color, occasionally white or yellowish, with wrinkled petals. They bloom in May-August. Fruits - multi-seeded, with juicy seeds and leathery pericarp, large spherical yellow-orange, bright or dark red, with a total weight of more than 200 g, edible. Ripen in autumn.

Among decorative forms, 'Dwarf' is popular - a very small plant with narrow leaves and very abundant flowering.

Cultivation

Pomegranate is usually planted in parks and gardens, and has long been cultivated as a fruit plant. Some small varieties can be planted in pots, but they must be kept outdoors. At a permanent planting site, pomegranates are planted in autumn, preferably in deep fertile and slightly acidic soil (in nature, it grows more often on dry gravelly or rocky slopes). For potted specimens, use garden soil. During planting, organic fertilizers are applied in the amount of 5-10 kg/m2, and then in the spring they are fertilized with mineral fertilizers-20-30 g/m2 of the soil surface. Potting soil is filled with a complex fertilizer - 35 g per bucket of substrate. In the spring and summer period, liquid fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation every 15-20 days.

Pomegranate is usually planted in parks and gardens, and has long been cultivated as a fruit plant. Some small varieties can be planted in pots, but they must be kept outdoors. At a permanent planting site, pomegranates are planted in autumn, preferably in deep fertile and slightly acidic soil (in nature, it grows more often on dry gravelly or rocky slopes). For potted specimens, use garden soil.

During planting, organic fertilizers are applied in the amount of 5-10 kg/m2, and then in the spring they are fertilized with mineral fertilizers-20-30 g/m2 of the soil surface. Potting soil is filled with a complex fertilizer - 35 g per bucket of substrate. In the spring and summer period, liquid fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation every 15-20 days.

Location

Garnet prefers a place in the open sun. In cold climates, young and potted plants require some protection.

Temperature

Thermophilic plant. Pomegranate trees like a mild climate, despite the fact that in a protected place they can withstand even a fairly low temperature (they are not damaged at -20 °C).

Watering

Young plants are watered, and adults only during a long drought, maintaining low humidity to prevent fruit cracking. Potted plants are watered regularly. In general, pomegranate is a drought-resistant crop.

Transplant

Pomegranate is transplanted into a new pot every 1-2 years in spring or autumn.

Reproduction

In nature, pomegranate propagates vegetatively, seeds-rarely. In culture-cuttings, layering, division of bushes and seeds. In late winter or early spring, lignified cuttings 20 cm long are taken and placed directly in the open ground. Seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place in 1-2 years. Varieties are usually grafted (in a cleft or eye with a dormant growth bud) on a rootstock grown from seed. Sowing of seeds is carried out in March-April, in the seed soil. After the seedlings grow up, they are planted singly in pots. Within 1-2 years, they are transferred several times to more spacious ones capacities. Then the desired varieties are grafted on them, after which the plants are finally planted.

Diseases

The appearance of spots on leaves and fruits can be caused by fungal diseases. Affected leaves turn yellow and fall off. Treatment with copper-containing fungicides is required. Aphids and worms often cause significant damage to the pomegranate tree, weakening and depleting the plant. These pests are eliminated with the help of chemical preparations.

Acquisition

Pomegranates are easily found in specialized gardening centers and nurseries. For growing in a pot, it is preferable to choose 'Dwarf'. The best time to buy a plant and then plant it in the garden is autumn.

Pomegranate fruit Pomegranate fruits are large spherical berries with a leathery crust-orange-yellow or red. Inside, the fruit is divided into segments (chambers) filled with numerous seeds, each of which is surrounded by a fleshy pomegranate-red pulp, which, depending on the variety, has a sweet or tart-sour taste. Fruits ripen in September-October. They are consumed fresh or processed.

Pomegranate fruit

Pomegranate fruits are large spherical berries with a leathery crust-orange-yellow or red. Inside, the fruit is divided into segments (chambers) filled with numerous seeds, each of which is surrounded by a fleshy pomegranate-red pulp, which, depending on the variety, has a sweet or tart-sour taste. Fruits ripen in September-October. They are consumed fresh or processed.