Position
Plant your pomegranate in full sun for maximum flower and fruit production. They do not like wind, so plant them in a protected spot.
Size
Pomegranates grow between 3 and 6 mts in height and have a wide canopy spread.
Soil Type
These trees are not fussy about the soil type they grow in.
Improve soil quality by adding a bag of Volcanic Rock Dust (R25 per bag), which replaces minerals and trace elements that our soils have lost. Also add a bag of Superfrass (R25 per bag) at planting to boost nutrients (NPK and micronutrients) and support strong, healthy growth while also helping protect against pests.
Watering
Once established, it can tolerate drought and heat very well. Even without water, the tree will grow, but it won’t produce good-quality fruit in any significant quantity. Water it about twice a month if there has been no rain. Keeping the soil moist during fruiting will prevent the fruits from splitting.
Fertilising
To support growth and fruiting, apply one teaspoon every 4-5 months of our berry and fruit slow release fertiliser. Press the fertiliser balls gently under the soil and add a layer of mulch, moving the mulch away from the plant stem.
Mulch:
Apply 2 to 5 centimetres of pine bark mulch to protect the roots from UV damage and drying out. It retains moisture and maintains an optimal pH. Do not let the mulch touch the plant stem, as it may cause infection or rot.
Pest and Disease Control
Monitor for common pests like aphids, scales, and fruit borers. We recommend Effective Microorganisms to prevent the spread of these pests and diseases. Hose the tree first to remove the aphids, and then spray well with EM Control. As the tree grows larger, it will be healthy, and pests will be a thing of the past. Use it preventively once a month.
Pruning
Pomegranates do best when they are pruned lightly after two years.
Harvesting
The fruit of the pomegranate tree takes a long time to ripen (about 5 to 7 months), and most will ripen from about April. During hot, dry conditions, pomegranates can ripen earlier and faster; pick the fruit just before it becomes overripe.
They are ready to be picked if they have good colour and if, when tapped, they sound metallic. Use Scissors to cut the fruit rather than tugging at them.
