How to Plant a Pomegranate

Pomegranates need warm weather to grow.

Pomegranate plants are originally from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The Spanish brought the fruit to Arizona, California and Mexico in the 16th century. These plants produce delicious fruit and flowering foliage but can't stand temperatures below 12 degrees Fahrenheit. You can plant pomegranates from softwood or hardwood cuttings, but it will take several years for the plant to produce fruit.

Things You'll Need

• Nitrogen fertilizer

Instructions

1. Purchase pomegranate cuttings from your local nursery in the winter, around February. The cuttings should be 12 to 20 inches long.

2. Pick a location to plant your pomegranate cuttings that is in full sun. Pomegranates can grow in most types of soil with good drainage. Ask your nursery about how to space pomegranate plants when planting. The amount of space depends on whether you want to grow a shrub, bush or tree.

3. Plant your cuttings with 2/3 of their length in the soil.

4. Water the cuttings at the time of planting, followed by every two days for the next three weeks. Once the pomegranate plant has taken root, reduce waterings to every other week.

5. Fertilize your pomegranates to encourage production of fruit. Apply 2 lbs. of nitrogen fertilizer to the soil in November and March for young plants. Apply 4 lbs. of fertilizer for more mature trees.

6. Harvest the fruit when they are the correct color according to their variety and when they measure 3 to 5 inches in diameter. Fruit colors range from pink to deep red and purple. If a pomegranate makes a metallic sound when tapped, it's ripe and ready to be eaten.

Tips & Warnings

• A pomegranate plant grown from cuttings generally bears fruit after three years. For optimum growth, use rooting hormone to treat cuttings before you plant them.

References

• University of California: Fruit & Nut Research and Information - Growing Pomegranate in California
• California Rare Fruit Growers: Pomegranate