The pomegranate (punica granatum) is native to the Middle East and is known to thrive in rather warm areas. Its notoriety derives from its beauty as an ornamental plant, with bright, orange-red flowers and glossy foliage, and with fleshy and acidulous fruits. Pomegranate can be planted outdoors in areas with mild winters or, if you live in an area with a colder climate, you can grow it in a container, moving it indoors during the cold season. Understanding how to germinate pomegranate seeds helps to successfully propagate the plant.
Steps
Step 1. Remove all fruit pulp residues from pomegranate seeds
Step 2. Fill small pots 2/3 full with soil
Step 3. Make 3 small holes in each pot, spacing them about 2.5cm apart and push deep to about twice the diameter of the seeds
Step 4. Place a seed in each hole and then cover the holes with potting soil
Step 5. Water the newly planted seeds until the soil around them is completely moist, but not soaked
Step 6. Place the pots in a sunny window or greenhouse that keeps the temperature around 20 degrees Celsius
Step 7. Check the soil moisture level every day
Keep the seeds moist throughout the germination process, which takes about 6 weeks.
Step 8. Remove the 2 weakest plants when they reach a height of 7 - 8 centimeters
Step 9. Feed the pomegranate seedling in the pot until it reaches a height of about 30 centimeters before transplanting it in a permanent position during the spring or summer
Advice
- Water every 7-10 days once the pomegranate has settled. A ring rise of earth around the base of the tree will help retain moisture.
- Expect an adult pomegranate planted outdoors to reach a height of 6-10m.
- For best results, eliminate all competitors from the place where you planted the pomegranate about 0.3-0.6m on all sides of the trunk.
- Pomegranates don't produce much fruit until about 5 to 6 years after they are planted.
- Fertilizer applications can be added once the tree has settled in its final position. It uses ammonium sulfate, which is distributed in multiple applications.
Warnings
- Check the pomegranate seedlings for signs of parasites such as flat, light red mites, the omnivorous Platynota Stultana, the Leptoglossus zonatus, a species native to America, the cochineal Pseudococcus comstocki and root-knot nematodes known to attack the roots.
- Pomegranate grown in wetlands produces lower quality fruit.
- Changes in seedlings can occur by propagating pomegranate from seeds. Reproduction by cuttings is a more reliable solution to make sure you get the expected result.
- Beware of the rot of the heart. It can occur on pomegranates in the fruiting phase and should not be a concern during the germination and growth phase of the seedling.
