Growing Pomegranates From Seeds. Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of questions on how to plant a pomegranate seed. The apple-sized fruit is now a regular addition to the grocery’s fresh fruit section, where it was previously only seen during winter vacations. Along with the current surge in popularity, seeing the number of seeds behind that ruby skin is enough to make any gardener ponder about growing pomegranate from seeds.
Growing Pomegranates From Seeds
There isn’t much to say about how to plant a pomegranate seed because these seeds develop quickly without much assistance. The seeds should be washed off the fleshy aril that surrounds them and planted in loose soil with a 1/2 inch covering layer (1.5 cm).
Heat should be the last thing on your pomegranate seed care checklist. At typical room temperature, these seeds will germinate in 30-40 days. If you raise the soil temperature a few degrees, you can cut this time in half. Wrap your plant in foil and place it in direct sunlight until the seedlings sprout.
When detailing how to plant a pomegranate seed, another way should be included. It’s known as the baggie method. This method for growing pomegranates from seeds is recommended by some gardeners. Wring out extra water from a coffee filter. Cover one-quarter of the filter with the cleaned seed. Fold the filter carefully into quarters and place it in a sealable plastic bag. Keep the bag in a warm spot and check for germination every several days.
Transfer the pomegranate seeds to a pot once they have sprouted. Plant two to three seeds per pot in any small container with sufficient drainage. Keep the bag in a warm spot and examine it every few days for germination. Transfer the sprouted pomegranate seeds to a pot. Plant two to three seeds in any small container with sufficient drainage. After a few weeks, you can pinch off the weaker seedlings and transplant them into their own container. That’s it!
Caring for Pomegranate Saplings
Pomegranate trees thrive in calcareous or chalky, alkaline soil in their natural habitats, therefore your pomegranate care should begin with the planting medium. The soil or planting medium should be slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.5 or above. Because most planting mediums are designed to be neutral, a very tiny amount of limestone or garden lime added to the mix should suffice.
You should be aware that your seeds may not grow true to the cultivar from whence they came now that you know how to cultivate a pomegranate tree from seed. Nonetheless, your new pomegranate tree will bear fruit in one to three years, and nothing tastes better than something you grew yourself.
Conclusion
If you live in the appropriate planting zone, we hope this advice has been useful in teaching you how to cultivate a pomegranate tree in your garden. By taking the proper procedures to get your tree started, you will ensure that it is healthy enough to fend off illnesses and pests. Giving your tree the attention it requires will result in a bumper crop of pomegranates that you may enjoy throughout winter.
