Growing Pomegranates in Containers

Hey home gardeners and farmers, it’s perfect time to add some wonderful fruits to your gardens and farms.

Let’s start with pomegranates an exotic fruit which is becoming extremely popular with gardeners around the country because of the relative eas of growing them and its ability to grow in containers, making it attractive to people with less space. This post tells you all you need to know about growing pomegranates in  containers.

Introduction

Pomegranate is a fruit-bearing tree; dwarf varieties grow up to 5 feet. Pomegranate is suitable for growing in pots, like citrus plants. Pomegranate has a shallow root system that suits well for growing in compact spaces. Pomegranate is grown for its fruit crop, and as ornamental trees and as shrubs for landscaping. Pomegranate is drought-tolerant and moderately frost tolerant. 
Did you know that Pomegranate is the richest source of vitamin C, K, and dietary fiber? Well, now you do! All species of pomegranate grow well in full sun and well-drained soil with the pH levels 5.5 to 7.2. Pomegranates are also grown indoors with sufficient arid provisions.

Pomegranate in containers:

• Select big sized containers for fruit-bearing varieties and medium-sized containers for growing fruitless and ornamental varieties.

• Select the container depending on the size of the plant; the container should be 3 times bigger than the plant size.

• Transplant carefully without harming the root of the plant.

• Water the plant and place it in full sunlight. Pomegranate loves to grow in partial to full sun

• Don’t fertilize the plant for 2 to 3 weeks till it gets accumulated with the soil.

• Pomegranate tree can be planted anytime if you are planting young trees from nurseries.

• Repot the trees when it becomes slightly root-bound. Repotting should be done when the trees start their growth at the beginning of the season.

•Feed the trees with fertilizers every two weeks for optimum performance.

• If transplanting 1 to 2 years young trees from nurseries, they can be transplanted any time of the year.

• Pomegranate plants are self-pollinating, they don’t need hand pollination.

• Pomegranates grown in sandy soil need more fertilizer.

• Feeding the plants with organic fertilizers every week will promote plant growth and fruiting.

• High nitrogen in the soil can affect the fruit production.

• Placing a layer of pebbles or stones at the bottom of the container will improve the water draining capabilities.

• Best companion plants for pomegranate are cilantro, basil, mint, parsley, thyme, sunflowers, and lavenders.

Suitable Containers for Growing Pomegranates

The Size of the container varies on the size of the pomegranate tree/shrub.

✓ Pomegranate trees have a shallow root system, that needs large space to expand.
✓ For dwarf pomegranate varieties the size of the container should be 2.5 feet wide and 2 feet deep.
✓ But too large containers can be hard to move, if needed you can grow in a medium-sized pot and can repot when the plant grows larger.
✓ Plastic/Ceramic/Terracotta/Concrete pots are preferred for growing pomegranate trees.
✓ And container should have a good draining system, each container should have a minimum of 2 to 3 darning holes.

The Best Soil for Growing Pomegranate in Containers

Pomegranate grows well in a wide range of soils:
✓ Highly fertile, well-drained soil is recommended.
✓ Mix the soil with organic manure, balanced organic N: P: K fertilizer, compost, and humus.

Watering Requirements for Growing Pomegranate in Containers

✓ During the germination period, the soil should be kept moist not waterlogged.
✓ During the growing period, the plant needs a medium to a large amount of water depending on the climatic conditions.
✓ During the blooming and fruiting period, the tree should be watered regularly, and soil should stay moist but on wet.
✓ Water logging, or over watering should be avoided.
✓Provide rain water to trees during rain seasons, rainwater is a rich source of support that promotes the growth of the plant.

Suitable Location for Growing Pomegranate in Containers

✓ Containers should be placed in a warm and sunny place.
✓ Pomegranate trees love hot and humid climates, so the container should get a good amount of sunlight.
✓ It can also thrive in partial shade.
✓ Place the containers on terraces, balconies, front yards, or backyards.

Pruning and Trimming for Growing Pomegranate in Containers

✓ Pruning is compulsory to maintain the shape of the tree and to increase flowering and fruiting.
✓ Pruning should be strictly done, especially when the trees are young. Young trees shoot up of lots of branches from the base unevenly, prune unnecessary branches and allow the tree to grow in the exact shape
✓ Prune the dead and weak stems, this saves the plant energy.
✓ Suckers are also a big problem, they should be pruned immediately.
✓ Trimming long branches will encourage the blooming.

Fertilizers for Growing Pomegranate in Containers

✓ Pomegranate is a heavy feeder.
✓ During the growing season, fertilize the plants with balanced organic liquid fertilizers (N: P: K 8:8:8) regularly
✓ Leaves turn yellow in the case of zinc deficiency, spray the diluted zinc solution on the foliage.
✓ Feeding the plants with natural dried manure or compost once in a month is recommended.
✓ Over-fertilizing can cause heavy foliage with fewer blooms and flowers.
✓ Using bio-organic fertilizers once in a month will improve the nutrient levels in the soil.
✓ Fertilizers should be applied only to the base of the plant, it shouldn’t contact the stem.

Pests and Diseases that affects Pomegranate in Containers

✓ Pomegranate is not much affected by diseases and pests.
✓ Common pests the affect pomegranate are aphids, spider mites, fruit flies, whiteflies, and pomegranate butterflies.
✓ To protect plants from fruit flies, just wrap fruits with tissue covers.
✓ Common pests can be treated by spraying neem oil mixture, horticultural oil spray, or garlic oil spray.
✓ To treat spider mites, dust the trees with sulfur. And mild soap water can control aphids.
✓ Fruit split is the major problem faced in pomegranate.
✓ Main causes of fruit split: Fungal diseases are the root cause of fruit split. Fungal diseases lead to leaf spots and leaf drops. Fungal diseases in pomegranate can be treated with copper fungicide, applying it before fruiting seasons can control the fruit splits. Irregular watering can also cause fruit splits in trees, maintain a proper watering schedule.
✓ Mulching prevents fruit from splitting to a certain extent, mulching the tree with a 3 to 4-inch layer of organic mulch when the blooms start falling off. Water plant regular without soaking the root system. Too much water can cause fungal diseases, water the plants till soil mulch gets wet.

Harvesting Tips for Growing Pomegranate in Containers

✓ Our pomegranate Seedlings from Ladecrity Farms start fruiting between 6 months and 2 years at most. We also see already blooming plants.
✓ Fruits took 4 to 5 months to get ripen after blooming.
✓ Pick the fruits when they mature to a deep red.
✓ Use sharp shears or knives to harvest pomegranates, don’t pinch with hands.
✓ Pomegranate becomes juicy and more flavorful when store in the refrigerator, it can be kept for more than 7 months.

Did you know you could get your favourite exotic herbs and fruit trees seedlings all in one spot? And all you need to do is transplant them in your containers, farms or gardens?

 

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Written by Dorcas Kofoworola of Ladecrity Farms