Pomegranates
By Val Whitmyre, U. C. Master Gardener
Pomegranate
There is nothing as pretty as a festive bowl of these burnished fruits, but they are more than just a pretty face. They add color to sauces, salads, syrups, desserts and juices. Pomegranate juice is loaded with health-promoting antioxidants, more than in red wine, blueberry juice and green tea.
I love the feel of these smooth, leathery globes with their little crowns. Inside they are packed with seeds, each one covered with a juicy, jewel-like, red protective coating, all separated by thin white membranes. By holding a cut pomegranate under water in a large bowl, it's possible to bend the skin and release the seeds without getting red juice all over your clothing.
The pomegranate has long been the symbol of health, fertility and rebirth, no doubt because of all the seeds and the vibrant color. This ancient fruit was first found growing in Jericho (modern-day Israel) around 4000 BCE. It was one of the first five domesticated crops along with figs, dates, grapes and olives.
From there it migrated to Turkey, Mesopotamia and Egypt, and then to India, North Africa, China, Europe and the Americas. Its name literally means "seeded apple," and some think it may have been the original apple that caused all the trouble.
Its popularity is well documented in many art forms. Egyptian sculpture portrayed the pomegranate tree as a tree of life. This beautiful fruit was the subject of Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli's "Madonna of the Pomegranate," and in 1890, Paul Cezanne painted "Ginger Pot with Pomegranate and Pears." Other artists and weavers have found the pomegranate to be a fascinating subject throughout the years.
The variety 'Wonderful' is by far the best to grow in your yard. This is the variety that produces the beautiful large globes we see in the markets. Be advised that you won't have fruit for the first few years, but it's worth the wait.
The pomegranate is a deciduous woody shrub or small tree that can grow to 18 feet. It likes good drainage, a loamy soil, and a long, hot summer for the fruit to ripen. It is hardy to 10ºF. In short, it thrives in our Mediterranean climate. It likes regular deep irrigation for fruit production. The narrow leaves turn yellow before dropping in the fall, leaving the fruit firmly attached to the branches. If the fruit splits on the plant, it is probably due to a drastic change in temperature after a heavy rain.
The Royal Horticultural Society Shorter Dictionary of Gardening describes the pomegranate flower as Indian orange, trumpet shaped and about one and one-half inches long. It blooms on the current year's growth. Hummingbirds, attracted by the flower color, visit my plant often.
You can propagate pomegranates from seed or cuttings, or you can buy them bare root in winter. Nurseries carry pomegranates in bush form later in the spring. If you buy a bare-root plant, be sure to keep the roots wet while preparing the planting hole. Dig a hole twice as wide as it is deep. Mix the soil from the hole with an equal amount of potting soil and place the base of the trunk at ground level or a little higher. Tamp the soil firmly around the plant and water to settle the soil. Then tamp again.
I have had luck with cuttings from a dwarf pomegranate called Punica granatum 'Nana.' These produce tiny fruits and make handsome bonsai specimens. Once you have a crop of pomegranates, they may be stored in a dark place for up to a month or in the refrigerator for two months.
Pomegranates are plentiful in the markets now, so enjoy these unusual fruits. If your child decides to eat one, supervision is a must as the juice stains everything it touches. A rain poncho might not be a bad idea.