Pomegranate Production
Pomegranate Production
Pomegranates have been grown as a common backyard crop for decades in the South. In recent years, there has been
an increased interest in the commercial production of the fruit in Georgia and surrounding regions. This production
increase is largely in response to increased demand for the fruit by the consumer. Global production has increased
substantially in the past decade, and pomegranate is being consumed not only as a fresh fruit, but also as juice or as
a freshly prepared product. The fruit is also being utilized in numerous consumer products, including tea and juice
blends, nut mixes and countless other food and non-food stuffs.
This publication describes current knowledge specific for the commercial and backyard growing of pomegranate
in Georgia, as well as general production practices common in other pomegranate-producing regions. However,
it should be noted that limited local knowledge is available, and the information contained in this publication is
based largely on the fruit produced at the UGA Ponder Farm, an orchard that was planted in 1991-1994.
Introduction
The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a naturally dense,
deciduous, bushy, multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows to
heights of 10 to 12 feet and bears highly colored fruit with many
juicy seeds inside. In some regions, pomegranates are trained into
small trees with a single trunk. The branches tend to be slender
and thorny, while the leaves are glossy and dark green. The colorful
orange-red flowers appear in the spring and summer and are
either bell-shaped (female) or vase-shaped (hermaphroditic), with
the latter type being sterile. The edible portion of the fruit, called
an aril, is comprised of hundreds of seeds surrounded by juicy
pigments, each contained within a seed coat (Figure 1). Seeds are
either soft or hard, depending on the cultivar. The juice within the
Figure 1. Arils of pomegranate cultivar ‘Kaj-
aril varies from light pink to dark red, but can also appear yellow acik-anor.’ Arils are comprised of the outer
or clear in some varieties. The juice ranges from very acidic to very shell, seed and, as seen in this cultivar, a
sweet in taste. The rind is generally smooth but leathery, and can be brightly pigmented red juice.
yellow, orange or red in color.
History
In old Latin, the name Malum punicum literally translates to “Apple of Grain” or multi-grain, in reference to
the multiple seeds in the fruit. However, the current Latin name Punica granatum L. is derived from “Pomuni
granatum,” a name traced back to the middle ages, which translates to “seeded apple.” Domestication of the
pomegranate is believed to have begun in Central Asia and Persia nearly 4,000 years ago, and then spread
east and west through hot, arid regions of India, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean coast. Spanish settlers
first introduced the fruit to North America, including missions on the Georgia coast, in the 16th century.
Pomegranate has been a reasonably common backyard or dooryard plant in south Georgia for centuries. The
plants are long-lived and bear fruit for decades. The origin of the Georgia plants is largely unknown; however,
research efforts are being made to locate, identify and characterize these local trees.
There is some debate as to the origin of the ‘Wonderful’ cultivar. One version of the story suggests that in
1896, the ‘Wonderful’ cultivar was discovered in Florida and brought to California (where it was subsequently
commercialized) by a Mr. Birs. Another version suggests that a shipment of cuttings and/or seedlings was shipped
to Porterfield, Calif., where the ‘Wonderful’ cultivar was discovered amongst the plants. Although it has become
the major cultivar in California, it performs very poorly in Georgia.
Climate
Most pomegranate cultivars are hardy down to 12°F, with the hardier types surviving without damage down
to 7°F. Anecdotal evidence suggests that hard-seeded varieties are more cold-hardy than the soft-seeded types.
The majority of pomegranate varieties do not require winter chill hours, with the exception of a few cold-hardy
cultivars. Consequently, wood is always susceptible to injury. All varieties will benefit from a rest period or
“dormancy,” though assigning a minimum chill hour requirement is not currently possible.
The tree is most resistant to the cold in the winter months, and tends to be more susceptible to frost damage prior
to reaching full “dormancy” in the fall and at bud break in the spring. It is during these periods that the bark
is most susceptible to damage from frost, which usually occurs first on the south side of the tree closest to the
ground. If frost damage is a problem, a possible solution is to paint the bark white with flat latex paint in order to
reduce fluctuations between day and nighttime temperature extremes.
Pomegranates are extremely heat tolerant, and perform best when temperatures are above 85°F for at least
120 days a year. The trees are also drought-tolerant; however, supplemental irrigation is necessary during tree
establishment and is critical for commercial fruit production. Without irrigation during prolonged periods of
drought, fruit production will be lost, and substantial injury to young trees is likely.
Propagation
Pomegranates can be propagated from softwood or hardwood
cuttings. Hardwood cuttings are the preferred means of
propagation, but softwood cuttings collected in early fall can be
used with varying degrees of success. A tree from a hardwood
cutting will bear fruit in year two after planting, while it will
take at least three years from seed. Trees will reach maturity in Figure 2. Example of sunscald (top) and
five to seven years, and can live up to 200 years. sunburn (bottom).
Irrigation
Though pomegranates are very drought tolerant, ensuring adequate soil moisture will result
in a substantial improvement in plant vigor and fruit yield. Furthermore, providing adequate
water throughout drought periods will help minimize the amount of fruit splitting when the
rain returns. Drip irrigation is the preferred method. Overhead irrigation is not advisable as
it will increase the spread of field pathogens and may also result in reduced fruit set because
the flowers are highly sensitive to humidity and moisture. Excessive soil moisture in the summer can lead to
an abundance of vegetative growth, but the fruit produced will tend to be softer, resulting in poor postharvest
quality. Avoid excessive irrigation in the fall as it may contribute to fruit splitting. This splitting can lead to
increased rates of infection from field-borne diseases, which will eventually develop during storage.
Fertilization
Soil pH should be adjusted to 6.5 with dolomitic limestone before planting. Phosphorus should also be
incorporated in the soil by adding 150 pounds per acre of triple superphosphate if the phosphorus level is less
than 20 pounds per acre.
If you are planting small plants, a small amount of non-burning, controlled-release nursery fertilizer is
recommended to help with establishment. If you are planting a 1 gallon-size plant, a suggested rate of fertilization
is 1 ounce of 10-10-10 per foot of bush height three times a year (early spring, late spring and summer) applied
evenly in a circle about 18 inches in diameter with the plant in the center. Continue to increase the diameter of
the circle and the rate as the plants grow, up to a maximum of 8 ounces per application when the plants are 8 feet
UGA Cooperative Extension Circular 997 | Pomegranate Production 4
tall. Under conditions of heavy rainfall or very sandy soil, additional fertilizer should be applied. Nitrogen rates
in California can be up to 100 pounds per acre per year on mature trees. Phosphorus and potassium should be
applied based on soil and leaf analysis.
It is very important to note that excessive nitrogen in the late summer to early fall will have a detrimental impact
on fruit color and size, and may also increase the susceptibility of the tree to early chilling temperatures. As
for other macronutrients, phosphorus and potassium need only be applied if soil tests or leaf analysis indicate
a deficiency. One of the few common deficiencies found in pomegranate is zinc, which appears as unusual
yellowing of the leaves. If required, a foliar zinc application in the spring after fruit set is recommended.
Figure 3. Examples of multi-trunk (left), single-trunk (center) and triple-trunk (right) tree training strategies.
Pollination
Pomegranates are self-fruitful. The primary pollination vectors are
insects and hummingbirds. Bloom begins in April and continues
through to June, either in a continuous manner or in three to four
flushes (variety dependent). It is not unusual for pomegranate to
A B
produce flowers well into fall; however, the majority of the blooms
appear early in the spring and will result in the largest fruit at Figure 4. The exterior (A) and interior (B),
maturity. of the vase-shaped male (left flower) and
peanut-shaped hermaphroditic (right flower)
There are two types of blooms: hermaphroditic and functionally pomegranate.
male. The hermaphroditic fruit-bearing flowers can be identified by
their fuller, more rounded base, which appears somewhat peanut
or bell-shaped. The male non-fruit-bearing flowers will be more
narrow and vase-shaped (Figure 4).
Pathogens
There is limited information about the disease pressures specific
to pomegranates produced in Georgia. The information that
is available so far has been obtained from harvested fruit, and
no information is currently available about the economically
important pathogens that may be present on pomegranate leaves
and in the orchard environment. In general, the fruit and trees
are considered reasonably disease-tolerant. Currently, there are no Figure 5. Example of Cercospora punicae
registered products for the control of diseases. (left) and Botryosphaeria spp (right). Pho-
tographs courtesy of Dr. Harald Scherm and
With respect to the known pathogens from Georgia, fruit harvested Lucky Mehra, UGA Department of Plant
from the Ponder Farm Pomegranate Orchard displayed symptoms Pathology.
caused by the infection of Cercospora punicae and Botrysphaeria
spp. (Figure 5). Other organisms that were also present on the
fruit (but did not cause any symptoms) included: Aspergillus,
Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Epicoccum, Penicillium, Pestalotia
UGA Cooperative Extension Circular 997 | Pomegranate Production 6
and Phomopsis spp. Further surveys and studies on the pomegranate diseases in Georgia
are needed. Pomegranate growers are encouraged to report their experiences to their
local county agent or Extension offices.
One of the most interesting findings was that Alternaria spp. was not present. This is
a major problem in some other production areas (California). Alternaria spp. usually
enters the fruit during bloom/fruit set. As the fruit develops, the fungus spreads through
the interior of the fruit, while leaving the exterior untouched. This type of disease is
often called “black heart” or “heart rot,” and there is no known method of control. There
is some evidence suggesting that occurrence is greater when moisture is present during
bloom. Even though Alternaria spp. was not present at the Ponder Farm orchard that does not
mean that it is not present in other production regions in the state.
Other U.S. production areas, including Florida, have found an unidentified fungal disease that can affect
both fruit and leaf tissues. The leaf symptoms include small spots or angular regions that are dark red-brown
in color and about ¼-inch in diameter. Fruit symptoms appear as dark brown spots. Presence of the disease
causes premature leaf and fruit drop. The described disease may be Cercospora punicae, or may be some other
unknown disease. It was treated with a copper fungicide in late spring and early summer with reasonable success.
Pests
There is no information about the pest pressures specific to pomegranates produced in Georgia. The only
products available for pest management of pomegranate include: Lannate, Admire and Dipel. There are
opportunities for using chemicals that are considered reduced-risk or that carry tolerance-exempt status. These
products can be used on any crop, and include: B.t. sprays, soaps, sulphur dusting, plant oils and omnivorous
leafroller pheromone mating disruption.
So far, there have been few insect pest problems on Georgia pomegranate farms. However, other U.S. production
areas have problems with the following pests: Flat mite (Brevipalpus lewisi), omnivorous leafroller (Platynola
stultana), root-knot nematode, mealybug, melon aphid, thrips, whitefly, scale (citricola, black and California red)
and katydid. However, very few of these have caused any significant damage, and seldom required control. If
mites become an issue, a sulphur dusting in June followed by a second application in July (if necessary) can offer
some protection. White aphids in these other production regions are routinely controlled using soap, but can
also be controlled with an application of Lannate. The use of dormant oil sprays (3 percent) in winter has been
effective against scale. However, more research is required to first identify and then determine an appropriate
recommendation for the control of Georgia pomegranate pests.
Harvest Maturity
Pomegranates in general do not have a synchronized single spring bloom and can have shoot flushes that bear
flowers throughout the warmer parts of the year. Early cultivars will begin to ripen near the end of August,
and will continue through to October or early November for the late-maturing cultivars. Except for intensive
production where once-over harvesting is occasionally practiced, plan on harvesting two to four times per season.
Harvest maturity is determined by sugar and acid contents, sugar:acid ratio and the color development of the
fruit. With experience, proper harvest maturity can also be determined by tapping the fruit and listening for
a metallic “ting” sound. In general, for ‘Wonderful,’ the acids should be lower than 1.85 percent, soluble sugar
content greater than 16 to 17 percent and the sugar:acid ratio greater than 18.5. A Munsell color chart has been
used for determining the color score of the fruit rind. However, rind color values will vary with season and
should only be used in combination with other maturity tests. Harvest maturity indices for cultivars other than
‘Wonderful’ are not currently available, but it is known that they will differ significantly from the benchmark
values established for this cultivar.
UGA Cooperative Extension Circular 997 | Pomegranate Production 7
Compared to other similar crops, pomegranates are
easy to harvest and require minimal ladder work
(assuming proper pruning and training of the tree).
Fruit are harvested by clipping them with shears
(Figure 6). Cut as close to the fruit as possible to
prevent a sharp point of wood from piercing and
rubbing against other fruit in the bin. Fruit are placed
either directly into bins located in the orchard, or into
shoulder harness baskets (identical to those used in
the apple industry) while working around the tree.
Either way, fruit should be handled with care in order
to minimize scuffing or cracking (a strong bump may
cause the fruit to split open).
Juicing a Pomegranate
Pomegranate juice has increased in popularity because of its nutritional value and taste. Juice is a more
convenient way of ingesting the beneficial health compounds that are present in the fruit. However, different
pomegranate cultivars will have varying levels of juice yield, color and antioxidant content. Furthermore, the
optimum processing conditions that affect these quality aspects might vary depending on the cultivar.
Home juice production can be simply accomplished by separating the arils (as described above) and then pressing
the arils in cheesecloth, or using an electric blender followed by straining to remove the seeds. Laboratory scale
juice extraction can involve numerous steps, including: opening the fruit, separating the arils and pressing to
extract the juice. Numerous other optional steps then follow to strain, filter, purify and pasteurize the juice
prior to bottling. In all cases, temperature control is very important. For home juice production, juice should be
consumed fresh or stored in the refrigerator for only a short period of time.
Before choosing a variety for juicing, several different quality aspects need to be considered. Some cultivars may
have the desirable color and antioxidant content, but may not have the best yield. For example, 13 Georgia-grown
pomegranate cultivars were evaluated for juice yield and antioxidant content. Juice yield ranged from 24 to 39
percent of fruit weight, while there was a two-fold range in antioxidants from the lowest to highest. Thus, it is
desirable to conduct a small study to determine juice yield. This can be easily done with the weight of the whole
fruit and the weight of the juice using the following formula:
Juice weight×100
% juice =
Whole fruit weight
To determine other quality aspects, such as color, antioxidant content, sugar and acid content, a private laboratory
may be used.
References
Devin Carroll, Bernard Puget, Brad Higbee, Matt Quist, Octavio Magallenes, Norman Smith, Andreaa Gjerde
and Ken Schneider. 2006. Pomegranate pest management in the San Joaquin valley. www.aaie.net/IPMinfo/
PomegranatePestManagement_002.pdf
Richard Ashton, with Barbara Baer and David Silverstein. 2006. The incredible pomegranate plant and fruit. Third
Mellennium Publishing. http://3mpub.com
Robert Hodgson. 1917. The pomegranate. College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station, Berkeley,
California. University of California Press. Bulletin no. 276.
Julian Sauls. 1998. Home fruit production – pomegranate. Texas Citrus and Subtropical Fruits, in association with
Texas A&M University. http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/Citrus/pomegranate.htm
James LaRue. 1977. Growing pomegranates in California. University of California DANR Leaflet 2459.
Gerard Krewer, Thomas Crocker, Paul Bertrand and Dan Horton. Minor fruit and nuts in Georgia. University of
Georgia Cooperative Extension Bulletin 992.
Sheets, M.D., Du Bois, M.L., Williamson, J.G. 1994. The Pomegranate. University of Florida IFAS extension
publication #HS44.
extension.uga.edu
Circular 997 Reviewed June 2022
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