Pomegranate

In short: Pomegranate (Punica granatum) can be grown in containers in cooler climates – it germinates reliably at around 25 °C, withstands short frosts down to -15 °C and needs cool overwintering at about 5 °C with watering reduced to once a week. The fruits reach up to 12 cm and hold roughly 600 seeds.

Pomegranate

The pomegranate (lat. Punica granatum) is an exotic fruit with distinctive, beautiful flowers and fruits from the pomegranate family (lat. Punicaceae). The fruits have a sweet-sour taste and will delight every gourmet. The pomegranate tree is a smaller tree. The pomegranate originates from the island of Socotra near Somalia. It most commonly grows in the Mediterranean region. Pomegranate trees are cultivated in the Mediterranean. They are also grown in India, Argentina, the USA, and throughout Asia. Fruits from Iran are considered the highest quality.

The fruits of the pomegranate tree - pomegranates - grow up to 12cm in diameter. They don't have a purely round shape, but are rounded into a hexagonal form. The fruits have a tough skin. If you cut the fruit crosswise, you'll discover 6-12 chambers containing seeds embedded in a jelly-like pulp. A pomegranate contains an average of 600 seeds.

The pomegranate is a symbol of fertility, fruitfulness, and wealth. It had its place even in Greek mythology. Aphrodite was chosen by Paris as the most beautiful woman precisely with a pomegranate. In Christianity, the pomegranate is also an important attribute. Adam and Eve stood under a pomegranate tree when they tasted the apple. The pomegranate is a symbol of gods, states, saints, and families of Czech bishops and merchants.

Granum means grain in Latin. It is used as a weight unit for precious metals. Granatus, according to the dried pomegranate, is the name for "angular". The rock granite also has its origin in the word grain - granularity. The Czech garnet (pyrope) also gets its name from the red-black grain of the pomegranate fruit.

Growing Pomegranate

The pomegranate is a magnificent (interesting) tree (shrub), especially for its flowers. Anyone who has visited Albania has surely desired one. It grows there behind every wall. The magnificent red flowers and fruits attract everyone's attention. In our conditions, you can also grow pomegranate, but you need to keep in mind its subtropical roots and bring it indoors for winter in time. The pomegranate can withstand frost down to -15°C for short periods.

You can grow pomegranate in a portable container. Always provide good drainage at the bottom. You need to pre-grow it from seed or propagate by cuttings. We propagate by cuttings by placing a cut branch in a container with water and planting it after sprouting. Or you can use a rooting stimulator and plant it directly in soil. If you decide to grow from seed, you'll be thrilled. Pomegranate germinates very quickly and reliably.

The optimal temperature for germination is around 25°C. Try using a mini greenhouse with ventilation for pre-growing. Soak the seeds in water beforehand so the pulp around the seed ferments. Then place them in prepared substrate for subtropical plants. Press the seed about 1cm deep. Water regularly with a spray bottle.

Care Instructions for Pomegranate

Choose a sunny location for your pomegranate. With its beautiful flowers, it will look stunning on a sunny terrace. Protect younger trees from direct midday sun. Soil should be neutral, lighter, sandy-loam. You can lighten the soil by adding coarse sand, expanded clay, or perlite.

Watering must always be sufficient. During the growing season, water regularly. Don't forget essential fertilizing. Do not fertilize with calcium. It doesn't tolerate alkaline environments.

Recommendation: Prune the tree-shrub for the first time between 2 and 3 years of age. You can start trying to shape it at this time.

Overwintering is important. The plants come from a climate where hot summers alternate with cooler winters. When growing indoors, it benefits from being moved to a cooler location. The optimal climate for overwintering in a greenhouse is also cooler. During overwintering, reduce watering to max. once a week. The temperature for wintering should be around 5°C. Pomegranate is a deciduous shrub.

Pomegranate shapes very well as a bonsai.

Punica granatum - the Latin name is derived from the word Punic (Phoenician) after the Phoenician growers, or also from the name for the red color. The pomegranate is inspirational and interesting. Many works of art - paintings - contain pomegranate, pomegranate tree, or its seeds. It has been a pattern on fabrics, carpets,... ornaments since the Middle Ages.

Vitamin Content

Pomegranate is a source of vitamins and minerals. Pomegranate consists of 77% water. The peel is not consumed. It contains tannins, which are not tasty and leave an astringent feeling in the mouth. Edible parts of pomegranates may have a mild laxative effect. Thanks to the higher content of minerals - magnesium, sodium, and potassium - pomegranate is excellent for athletes and hard workers who quickly lose mineral balance in the body through sweat. They are also suitable after other activities associated with sweating, even during fever.

Pomegranate contains significant amounts of B vitamins (B1, B2, B3), vitamin C, and provitamin A. Also minerals - calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron. It contains sugars, citric acid, and essential and non-essential amino acids. The peel contains flavonoids and tannins.

Pomegranates are excellent antioxidants. Juice from pomegranate helps in the treatment and prevention of upper respiratory tract diseases. It helps against stress from polluted environments. The content of substances in pomegranate acts as a natural prevention of breast and prostate cancer (which are associated with estrogens in the body).

Seeds of pomegranate positively affect the condition of blood vessels (beneficial for the health of men, women, children, young and elderly).

Most commonly, pomegranate is processed into juice. It's used to make grenadine syrup for mixed drinks. The most famous is the Oriental drink sherbet, and it's also used to produce juices. In Asia, pomegranate is grown for spice production.

TIP: Try adding pomegranate to vegetable salads or use it to garnish platters. In hot cuisine, you can add it to pasta salad. The peeled seeds can be served as a side dish with fish or tender chicken meat.

Pomegranate decorates every plate, both with its exceptional colour and taste.

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Author: Hana Michalíková