How to Grow Pomegranate

There are many different varieties of Pomegranates available in Australia, that are suited to different regions. Some popular varieties include:

• Wonderful: this popular self-fertile variety is known for being very productive and the large fruit is filled with sweet and juicy arils. Suited to warm temperate and dry areas.
• Elche: a Spanish variety produces medium-sized flavour-packed fruit. Suited to dry and warm climates.
• Gulosha Azerbaijani: flavoursome medium to large fruit. Suited to warm temperate and dry areas.
• Midnight Velvet: a beautiful self-fertile variety with dark purple skin and deep red flesh. Can be grown from cool temperate to sub-tropical areas.
• Red Velvet: the fruit on this self-fertile variety has attractive purple-pink skin filled with bright red and juicy flesh. Suitable for cool temperate to sub-tropical areas.
• Parfianka: a dwarf variety that produces flavoursome early season fruit. Ideal for Mediterranean and arid climates.
• Ben Hur: the name of this variety gives you a hint as to the size of the fruit! They can weigh up to 1.5kg and are sweet and juicy. Can be grown from temperate to tropical regions.
• Nana: this is a compact variety that only grows to around 1 m tall. Perfect for growing in pots. 

Choose a sunny spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Well-drained soil is important, as Pomegranates do not tolerate wet or soggy soil. If your soil type is heavy and poorly drained, plant the Pomegranate into a raised mound of free-draining soil. 

Prior to planting, improve the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. It's a rich source of organic matter to help improve soil structure and water holding capacity, as well as attract earthworms and beneficial soil microorganisms.

If planting bare-rooted plants during winter, soak the root system in a bucket of water and seaweed solution for 30 minutes prior to planting.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball.

For potted plants, remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

Place the plant in the hole and backfill around the roots with soil. The final level of soil should be at the same level as the original potting mix around the plant. Water in well to settle the soil around the roots.

Keep the soil slightly moist as the plant establishes. Applying an organic mulch, such as sugarcane or bark chips, around the root zone will help keep the soil and roots moist.

Once established, Pomegranates are tolerant of dry conditions, however, will be much healthier and more productive if watered regularly. In extended hot and dry summers, they will benefit from a good deep watering once or twice a week. Watering can be reduced during the coolest months.

Once plants are established, feed regularly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food to promote healthy growth and lots of flowers and fruit.

Harvesting usually takes place from March to May. Skin colour can be an indication of ripeness, however colours differ between varieties, so check the label of your chosen variety for harvesting tips. 

During winter, while the plants are dormant, remove stems that have become crowded. Pomegranates will be more productive when stems can receive lots of sunshine. Also cut back any suckers that have grown around the base of the plant, particularly if you want your Pomegranate to grow into a tree-like shape, rather than a bushy shrub.

Pomegranates are ideal potted plants, particularly dwarf forms like 'Nana', which only grows to around 1 m.

Choose a pot at least 400mm wide and as deep as possible. Position in full sun and protect from strong winds. 

If planting bare-rooted plants during winter, soak the root system in a bucket of water and seaweed solution for 30 minutes prior to planting.

Part fill the pot with quality potting mix, like Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. For potted plants, remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

Place the root ball on the potting mix and backfill around the roots with more potting mix. The final level of mix should be the same as the level currently around the plant. Water in well to settle the potting mix around the roots.

Keep the potting mix slightly moist as the plant establishes. Applying an organic mulch, such as sugarcane or bark chips, over the surface of the potting mix will help keep the mix and roots moist.

Once established, potted Pomegranates are tolerant of dry conditions, however, will be much healthier and more productive if watered regularly. In extended hot and dry periods, they will benefit from a good deep watering once or twice a week. Watering can be reduced during the coolest months.

Once plants are established, feed regularly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food to promote healthy growth and lots of flowers and fruit.

Harvesting usually takes place from March to May. Skin colour can be an indication of ripeness, however colours differ between varieties, so check the label of your chosen variety for harvesting tips.

During winter, while the plants are dormant, remove stems that have become crowded. Pomegranates will be more productive when stems can receive lots of sunshine. Throughout the year, also cut back any suckers that have grown around the base of the plant, particularly if you want your Pomegranate to grow into a tree-like shape, rather than a bushy shrub. However, dwarf varieties tend to be more shrub-like.

Pomegranates do best in well-draining soil and do not tolerate prolonged wet or soggy conditions. If your soil type is heavy and poorly drained, plant the Pomegranate into a raised mound of free-draining soil.

Pomegranates make perfect potted plants, particularly dwarf forms like 'Nana', which only grow to 1m.

During winter, while the plants are dormant, remove stems that have become crowded. Pomegranates will be more productive when stems can receive lots of sunshine. Throughout the year, also cut back any suckers (growth appearing from the soil or below the knobbly graft union on the trunk), particularly if you want your Pomegranate to grow into a tree-like shape, rather than a bushy shrub. However, dwarf varieties tend to be more shrub-like.

At other times of the year, Pomegranates can be pruned to reduce their size or to remove dead or diseased stems. 

It's important to note that Pomegranates produce fruit on old stems, so don't prune off more than 30% of the old growth. Otherwise, the next fruiting season will be delayed. 

Bare-rooted plants are planted during winter while they are dormant. Potted plants can be planted year-round, with spring and autumn being ideal times. 

Harvesting at the right time is important for the sweetest and juiciest fruit. While skin colour can give you an indication of ripeness, it's best to check the label of your specific Pomegranate for harvesting tips, as colour varies between different varieties. Ripe Pomegranate fruit will also feel heavier than unripe fruit. Generally, Pomegranates are ready to be picked from March to May.

When picking your Pomegranates, it's best to cut them off the stem using secateurs or scissors, rather than pulling or twisting, to avoid damaging the fruit. 

Yes! Pomegranates can be grown as a hedge. Start trimming the plants from when they are still young, to promote dense, bushy growth. 

Pomegranate trees are self-pollinating, meaning that they do not require another tree for cross-pollination in order to produce fruit. This makes them a great option for home gardeners who may only have space for one tree.  However, having several Pomegranate plants or varieties can help improve pollination and increase the number of fruit.  

Unlike some other fruit trees, Pomegranate trees have both male and female flowers on the same plant. Male and female flowers need to be present and open so pollen can be transferred from the male flower to the female flower (pollination). 

Fruiting plants like Pomegranates do best when fed regularly with a balanced high-potassium fertiliser. To promote healthy leaf growth as well as lots of flowers and fruit, feed Pomegranates from spring to autumn with a potassium-rich fertiliser like Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food.

Yes! First, remove the Pomegranate seeds from a ripe fruit and wash off any pulp that may be sticking to them. Let the seeds dry for a day or two on some paper towel. Then plant the seeds in a seed raising mix, like Yates Specialty Potting Mix Cuttings & Seeds, about 1 cm deep. Keep the seed raising mix consistently moist. Seeds can take up to six weeks to germinate. 

Seed-grown Pomegranates can be variable and may not produce the same type of plant or fruit as the parent plant. If you're after a particular variety, it's best to start with a named and labelled plant from a garden centre. 

Pomegranates thrive in warm, dry climates with plenty of sunshine. They do well in regions with hot summers and mild winters, such as Mediterranean climates. In cooler climates, you can still grow pomegranates, but young plants may need protection from frost.

Using a sharp knife, carefully slice off the top of the fruit. Then, make shallow vertical cuts down the ridges of the fruit, from top to bottom. Don't cut through the skin too deeply, as you don't want to damage the seeds. Then pry the fruit open into segments. You can remove many of the seeds (arils) by turning the fruit over and knocking the base of the fruit with a wooden spoon. Any remaining seeds that don't dislodge can be removed by hand. 

Pomegranates are deciduous (lose all their leaves in winter) or semi-deciduous, depending on where they're grown. 

Pomegranates are usually not affected by pests, however in some areas they can be affected by Fruit Fly, including Mediterranean and Queensland Fruit Fly. Adult female Fruit Flies lay their eggs in the fruit skin, and the eggs hatch into larvae which burrow into and damage the fruit. In Fruit Fly prone areas, protect fruit by applying Yates Nature's Way Fruit Fly Control from when the fruit is still small. 

It can take 2-3 years for a Pomegranate to start bearing fruit, so some patience is required. Also, ensure the plant is fed regularly with a citrus and fruit fertiliser like Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food. 

One of the most common reasons for Pomegranate flowers fall off is lack of pollination. Female flowers need to be pollinated by bees and other insects for fruit to form. Encourage bees and other pollinators into your garden by growing lots of flowers throughout the year. You can also try hand pollination. Using a small soft paintbrush, transfer pollen from male to female flowers by gently wiping around the inside of multiple flowers. Repeat this process throughout the flowering season. 

There are a few possible reasons for Pomegranate fruit splitting. One common cause is irregular watering, which can lead to the fruit cracking. To help prevent this, make sure to water your Pomegranate tree consistently and evenly throughout the fruiting season. Another factor that can lead to fruit splitting is excessive heat or sun exposure. When hot conditions are expected, water the plant thoroughly and drape some shadecloth over the plant to provide some sun protection.