How to Grow a Wonderful Pomegranate Tree

The Wonderful pomegranate is the standard by which other varieties are judged.

Wonderful is a variety of pomegranate tree known for producing high-quality fruit. Discovered in Florida in 1896, Wonderful is the most popular variety of pomegranate. The seeds are small and juicy, perfect for juicing or eating. They grow naturally in the form of a bush or, with pruning, as a small tree. Wonderful has red flowers, producing red fruit in September and October. Mature trees are 8 to 12 feet in height. Wonderful pomegranate trees are self-fertilizing, so one tree is capable of producing alone.

Things You'll Need

• Organic mulch
• Pruning shears
• Loppers
• 8-8-8 fertilizer

Instructions

1. Plant Wonderful pomegranate trees in full sun. Remove grass and weeds beneath the drip line. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch below the tree to discourage weeds and conserve moisture.

2. Water newly planted trees weekly for the first few months, until the roots are established. Mature trees are drought tolerant but regular irrigation during fruiting periods encourages even growth and better-quality fruit.

3. Train young plants to a tree form. Choose one trunk and three to five scaffold branches spaced approximately 4 to 6 inches vertically along the trunk. Remove other branches. Leave two to three strong shoots per branch, removing the rest.

4. Prune away dead wood and conflicting branches yearly before new growth begins. Thin out interior branches to allow light and air to penetrate the tree. Remove suckers while still tender.

5. Harvest the fruit in September when the fruit have matured and turned red. Premature fruit drop is common during the first three to five years but will resolve itself as the tree matures.

6. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in November and March. The Arizona Cooperative Extension Service recommends approximately 2 lbs. of 8-8-8 fertilizer for young trees and 4 lbs. per mature tree.

References

• University of California Extension Service: Growing Pomegranate
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Pomegranate
• University of California Fruit & Nut Information Center: Growing Pomegranates in California