How long pomegranate tree bear fruit

Pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) produce delicious fruit, and if you have the right warm climate, they are easy to maintain and not affected by many pests or diseases. The fruits have a red, leathery rind, and the sweet, edible seeds are full of antioxidants and have many health benefits.

The pomegranate can range from a dwarf shrub of 3 feet to a tree of 20 to 30 feet. The average size of a standard pomegranate shrub is 12 to 16 feet tall with a round shape. In most places, they are deciduous, but in warmer climates, they may be evergreen. They are also attractive ornamentally, with glossy leaves and scarlet red, tube-shaped flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators. The pomegranate is a popular choice for bonsai. The bark is a red-brown color, and branches may have spines.

Somewhat drought tolerant, a pomegranate tree is perfect for the sunniest and warmest locations in the yard that might scorch other plants. Young trees should be planted in the spring after any danger of late frost has passed. They usually take two to three years to bear fruit.

When planting, make sure the soil is loose and not too wet. The spacing will depend on how you plan to use your pomegranate tree. Some growers use them as a spreading shrub hedge, and they can be spaced around 6 to 9 feet apart. For those being used for fruit production, it is better to space them around 15 feet apart.

The Spruce / K. Dave

The Spruce / K. Dave

The Spruce / K. Dave

Pomegranate shrubs may be grown in part shade but ideally should be placed somewhere with as much sun and warmth as possible. For a good harvest, your tree should get at least six hours of full sun per day.

The pomegranate needs well-drained soil, though it is able to thrive in a wide variety of soils from acid loam (preferred) to poor quality alkaline types.

The pomegranate tree is drought tolerant, though irrigation is needed for proper fruit production. Water deeply every two to four weeks during the dry season when you are establishing new trees.

Be careful, however, not to overwater. Excess water and soggy conditions can lead to a poor harvest. The fruit will also be more prone to splitting, increasing the chances of problems with pests and fungal diseases.

The optimal growing areas for this fruit are USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 to 10. They appreciate cool winters and hot, dry summers. They thrive when growing season temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pomegranate trees are more cold tolerant than citrus trees, but the levels vary depending on the cultivar. Some can cope with winter temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when they dip this low, it would be prudent to grow them in containers so they can be moved into a garage or other sheltered location to minimize the chance of frost damage occurring.

Fertilize in November and March for the first two years. Otherwise, not much fertilizer is usually needed in subsequent years. In fact, over-fertilization can result in a poor harvest.

There are many cultivars to choose from, including some that are more cold hardy. Some of the popular types include:

• 'Nana': A dwarf form that is cold hardy to zone 7 and typically grows to just 4 feet tall
• 'Sweet': Produces fruit earlier than some cultivars and, as the name suggests, has a very sweet flavor and usually provides a prolific harvest
• 'Wonderful': The most popular cultivar grown in the U.S.; produces large, flavorful, red fruits in abundance late in the season

It takes around three years for a pomegranate tree to produce a proper harvest. You'll know the fruits are ready to be picked when the color has developed, they have a matte rather than glossy sheen, they change from a round to a more hexagonal shape, and they make a metallic sound when tapped. Use a pair of pruning shears to cut the stem above the fruit instead of pulling it off. They can be stored for a long time if kept between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pomegranates are prone to producing suckers, so remove them as they appear. If you choose not to prune your pomegranate tree, it will develop a wider spreading bushy, shrub-like form. Regular pruning of branches in the first few years especially will help to encourage healthy new shoot development and a more abundant harvest.

After the tree is established, it may be enough only to prune away any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. It is a good idea to thin out the fruits growing on the branches. This will ensure the pomegranates can grow to full size and reduces the chance of a limb breaking because of excess weight.

Propagation is best done through hardwood cuttings taken in winter as those grown from seeds may not stay true to type.

Pomegranate shrubs are one of the easier fruits to work with since they are not usually affected by many pests or diseases.

Possible occasional pests include pomegranate butterfly, thrips, scale, mealy bugs, and whiteflies. Diseases are rare in well-maintained trees but include leaf spot, fruit spot, twig dieback, dry rot, and soft rot.

One of the fruits growing in popularity across the country is the pomegranate. Lately it seems like there’s been a pomegranate explosion in the food world with the fruit appearing in more and more recipes and showing up in your grocery’s produce section. But as a gardener, have you ever wondered how to grow a pomegranate tree in your own garden? Is is tricky? What does it take? Can it even be done where you live?

Pomegranate trees are pretty resistant to disease and even pests, which makes them a more low-maintenance option for gardens. Some trees are dwarf in size, at around only three feet, while others can grow between 20 to 30 feet in height. In the warmest climates, pomegranate trees can be evergreens and will attract hummingbirds for miles around.

If you are a fan of pomegranates or pomegranate tree and wonder if they’re right for your garden, then keep reading this guide on how to grow a pomegranate tree.

Where Do Pomegranates Like to Grow?

Pomegranates are thought to have originated in Iran (it was called Persia then). It quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, India, parts of Africa, and the drier parts of Asia. Pomegranates love it hot and dry.

In the US, pomegranates do best in hardiness zones 7-10. Click here for a map of those zones. If you live in one of those areas, congratulations — you can grow pomegranates!

Types of Pomegranate Trees

Before you begin your pomegranate growing adventure, you need to know which tree you will be planting and the purpose for planting the tree. Those who want to grow pomegranates for consumption or sale should not purchase just any pomegranate tree they see without knowing what kind it is first.

Here are three varieties to make you aware of.

Nana

The smallest of the pomegranate trees is the Nana Pomegranate tree. It is just over 3 feet and is the most adaptable in a colder growing zone at its tallest. This tree is often found in landscaping and used as border plants. While it does produce small fruit, the eating quality of them isn’t considered to be very good. So if you are looking to grow and harvest edible pomegranates, you should select a different variety. 

Wonderful

The Wonderful Pomegranate tree is the most commonly found pomegranate across the country and it’s meant for harvesting. The Wonderful variety makes up 95% of the US pomegranate consumer market so if you’ve ever eaten a pomegranate, chances are that it was a Wonderful pomegranate you enjoyed.

The climates this tree grows best in are usually moderate or dry and very warm. The Wonderful Pomegranate tree is meant to yield fruit (lots, in fact), so if you want pomegranates as a source of income or personal consumption, this might be the right tree for you. 

Sweet

The Sweet Pomegranate tree produces fruit early in the season. These pomegranates are often much sweeter than the Wonderful tree variety.  You can expect to get a successful harvest from these pomegranate trees, but their taste may not be what you are expecting if you’re accustomed to the flavor of standard, tart pomegranates. 

But You’ll Need a Little Patience…

No matter which pomegranate trees you choose to plant, keep in mind that it will take at least two years before your first fruit harvest. After growing a pomegranate tree for a year and not getting anything the following season, you need not be discouraged. Sometimes it can take up to three years before the first pomegranate fruits start to form and ripen. 

How to Grow a Pomegranate Tree: Getting Started

So now that you’ve selected your pomegranate tree variety, you’ll want to carefully plan when and how to plant the new addition to your garden.

When to Plant

Before you plant your pomegranate tree, you need to ensure that the last frost has passed, especially for trees that are still really young. The soil around the tree should be loose so that the tree and its roots can become established. 

If your soil is too compact, take a hand or rake cultivator to the ground where you are planting the tree and break it up a bit. If you plan to plant a row of these trees, you may want to get an electric tiller to break up the soil in a row.

Either way, make sure that the ground is loose, and the temperature is starting to rise. You do not want to shock pomegranates by putting them in the ground and forcing them to go through an unexpected frost. This could leave your pomegranate tree vulnerable to diseases and pests. The shock could also stunt the growth of your trees for several weeks, even if they are able to survive the weather snap. 

Space Out Your Trees

If you are planning to plant multiple trees, you want at least 15-20 feet between each tree, especially if harvesting the fruit is the goal. If you have the smaller ornamental shrubs that you are using as a border, your spacing can be anywhere from six to nine feet apart. These trees need enough room to spread out above ground, but the roots also need space below the dirt so that each tree has its own space.

Sunlight is Best

If you are not sure where to plant your pomegranate, select the part of your yard or garden that has at least six hours of direct sunlight. This area can be partially shaded, but you do not want full shade since pomegranates enjoy sun and warmth.

If you can put them in a location that gets more than six hours, your pomegranates will do even better.

Watering the New Trees

Once your pomegranate tree is planted, you want to ensure that it has adequate water for the first couple of months. Keep in mind that these trees, in general, are pretty tolerant of dry spells. Once they mature and their roots are established in the soil, they can showcase their hardiness when rain is few and far between. To prevent shock and give them the best start, steady irrigation on these trees is necessary. 

Too Much Water Can Be Dangerous

Because these trees have a high drought tolerance, too much water can be dangerous, especially while the trees are young. If you have had excessive rain over the last week and the ground is getting saturated, you need to try and drain the water from around the trees. While pomegranate trees are usually resistant to disease, overly wet soil can lead to fungal infections, which can be dangerous for a pomegranate tree.

How to Care for Your Pomegranate Tree

Pomegranate tree care begins immediately once you plant your trees. You must take several steps weekly and even biannually to encourage the tree’s growth and a successful harvest of pomegranates when the time comes. 

Weekly Tree Care

Early in the first two months, you want to make sure that the pomegranate trees are getting the right amount of water to keep them hydrated but doing so without drowning them. If you planted your trees and experienced an unusual dry spell, you may want to water twice a day to the trees hydrated. Make sure when you water them, you do so at the base of the tree so that you do not create conditions for fungal infections on the leaves. 

As your pomegranate trees start to grow and develop strong roots, you want to cultivate around the base of the plant once a week to keep the soil loose early on. You do not need to keep this up after the first year, but while the tree is getting established, it is good to make sure the soil is well aerated.

Biannual Tree Care

Twice a year, you need to add fertilizer to your soil to give your pomegranate trees the nutrients they need. While they can survive in poor soil, they’ll thrive in soil that is amended. By adding fertilizer to the soil during these periods, you can replenish the nutrients that the pomegranate trees have absorbed and even change the pH of the soil to make it more acidic for the trees. 

This is only required until you get your first harvest of pomegranates. Once fruit comes in during the growing season, you can dial back the fertilizer to once a year after the season is over and winter is starting to roll into the area.

Too much fertilizer over time can burn a pomegranate tree and its roots. Like water, there is too much of a good thing in over-fertilizing, and the fact that a harvest is producing means the need for fertilizer is reduced.

Pruning

The time to prune your pomegranate trees depends on how well they are growing. Once you cut back on your weekly maintenance for watering, you still should step outside once a week and examine your pomegranate tree. Make sure you immediately remove any suckers before they grow much. If they are not pruned properly, the shape of your tree will start to change. 

If you want to encourage a higher production yield when the time comes, prune away some of the branches. This lets the tree focus on the fruit and growth. As always, if you see any branches that look diseased or dying on the tree, remove them before infection spreads and causes severe damage to the tree. 

Reduce Pests and Diseases

While it is no secret that the pomegranate tree is pretty hardy when it comes to diseases and pests, there are some times when they get the best of the trees because of current conditions. Trees that are stressed are most susceptible so keeping your pomegranate tree healthy is the best defense against disease and pests.

Be on the lookout for common pests like scale, mealy bugs, whiteflies, and pomegranate butterflies that take advantage of shrubs and trees that have not been properly pruned. They feed on diseased branches and then get into the trees, causing disaster. 

When there is too much water, you can expect diseases like soft rot and fruit spots that are caused by fungal infections. Consider using an organic fungicide and insecticide on your pomegranate trees weekly to prevent either of these from taking over and destroying the trees that you have worked hard to grow. 

Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor: Harvest Time

Now that the first two growing seasons have come and gone, it is year three, and you start to notice baby pomegranates growing on the branches. Make sure you stay on top of that preventative pomegranate tree care to keep the insects and fungus away. There are several signs to look for when it is time to harvest your pomegranates.

The first thing you notice about your pomegranates is that the color has gotten darker and more profound. They do not look shiny or glossy, but their color is so deep that it seems a bit flat and one-note.

If you think that the color has changed, you need to take a closer look at the shape of the fruit. Ripe pomegranates will be longer and look more like a hexagon with corners instead of fully round.

Finally, you want to tap your finger against the pomegranate and see if the sounds bounce back. It will sound tinny or even slightly metallic.

If your pomegranate fruits meet all of these criteria, then it is time to harvest the fruit.

Carefully Remove The Fruit

When you start harvesting your pomegranate fruit, you cannot simply pluck it off the tree — doing so can damage both the tree and the fruit. Instead, use pruning shears and cut the stem close to the fruit.

Storing Pomegranates

A pomegranate that is fully intact and undamaged will keep at room temperature for 1-3 weeks. When refrigerated, pomegranates will last even longer — about two months.

If a pomegranate has split, it won’t keep and should be used right away. Pomegranate juice and arils can be frozen for up to a year.

Common Culinary Uses for Pomegranates

After you’ve waited patiently for your pomegranate harvest to come in, you may wonder “How am I going to eat all this fruit?” If you think pomegranates are just for juicing or sprinkling into salads, you’re in for a tasty surprise.

Pomegranates are a versatile fruit with all sorts of culinary uses. There are the well-known ones like salads (both in aril form and also as a salad vinaigrette), juicing, and smoothies. But pomegranates can also be made into beverages like tea or lemonade, be used for desserts, used in baking, and they even have a place in savory dishes.

For inspiration, visit this link to our blog article of 21 recipe ideas for pomegranates.

In Conclusion

If you live in the right planting zone, then we hope this guide has been helpful in providing what you need to know for how to grow a pomegranate tree in your garden. By taking steps to get your tree off to the right start, you’ll ensure that it’s healthy enough to fight off diseases and pests. Giving your tree the proper care it needs will result in a bountiful harvest of pomegranates that you can enjoy all winter long.

If you have a tip to share about growing and caring for a pomegranate tree, feel free to leave it in the comments below.

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