I have some “hardy” pomegranates started over the winter. I just wonder if I can plant pomegranate the same we plant fig trees. I’m thinking of planting out 2-3 trees in ground and wrap them. Maybe after several year, I do not need to wrap them any longer when the trunks grow thicker?
I’ve seen a lot of pomegranates planted as landscape plants in some Asian cities like in Beijing. Of course they are the more ornamental kinds.
I just realized that Beijing is USDA zone 7B equivalent. This is a surprise to me since I remember it is cold there.
Pomegranates are essentially bushes. The big question is whether wraps will keep temperature above 10 F during cold nights. Also, spring frosts will kill green growth which is very frost sensitive.
I have been considering a few myself. Most east coast growers have more problems with fruit rot than winters from what I have read here. Edible landscaping advised me to try Sur Anor as one that does not rot as badly.
I hate to shoot down anyones zone pushing, but in zone 6 you’re wasting your time. These love hot DRY climates. If the cold doesn’t get them, your dampness will. They grow like weeds in CA with a similar climate to their native lands. They really are a plant and forget low maintenance plant when they are happy.
Theres a guy on a European pomegranite FB page with many varieties that says he has 6 or 8 types that are way more hardy than our US available hardy types(Salavatski etc), several types from Bulgaria, Uzbekstan etc. He says he has sold cuttings to dozens of growers recently in the US so perhaps these types will be popping up soon here! He said his best with no damage in the -21C to -22C temp range are Bulgaria 3, Bulgaria SH, Uzbek, Belbek, and Deve Disi. And a few unnamed types from the middle east. No damage on them when many others die to ground like Sovietski, K-A-Anor etc. So they may work for zone 6b or so… He says these types are in his experience obviously hardier than any of our popular cold hardy types.
Wow @RedSun well his types should work but I would grow them out in pots first and then plant them deep like figs so that if they die back they can regrow. Eventually they should establish. Im sure interested in those. My Salavatski died to the ground for me at around -3F but regrew fine. But i potted it up later. I have it and KAAnor but something more hardy is very attractive! I would say grow it out in pots and then give it a try inground Cover the first 2 years maybe until established better.
My only concern is deer. If deer does not bother them, I’d like to grow them in ground and use them as ornamental trees. I can mulch them to 12" high, so they won’t completely die.
My neighbor keeps a 18+ year old fig as ornamental only. They do not do anything and only keep it as an tropical landscape tree.
Pomegranate looks much better than a huge green fig bush. Some cities grow them as ornamental flowering trees. I still recall the streets with pomegranates at street planters.
Thats great! They should produce for you eventually I think theyre worth a try. Especially on those stretches where you get several mild winters with no dieback for some time. And yeah i agree their ornamental value is good too! Yeah if you grow them out and get extra scion and want to swap more stuff let me know. Im growing some new salavatski out for rootstock.
Wow @alanmercieca it will be interesting to hear more results when it gets growing here in the us! I sure will be looking to trial it when scionwood goes around and someone offers to swap!
I’m experimenting in zone 6a/5b. Since the trees are deciduous I’m growing like figs, in containers. I have had fruit. I don’t care about hardiness early ripening time is more important.
Not if you know how to peel them, and juicing them with a citrus press takes away a lot of the mess, if you know how to open them right. Also not all varieties of pomegranates have juice that stains, even if they make a sticky mess.
I’ve had a Kazake in the ground for 5-6 years. It is in a too shady southern exposure and has proven root hardy, but the growth (as poor as it is due to sighting) makes it most years.
It has only once flowered for me, but never held a fruit to any kind of ripeness…
I actually just went out to see if it was still there and it is, but you wouldn’t notice it unless I pointed it out to you.
The other thing I’m thinking is to plant the pomegranate tree in larger planter and plant the planter in ground. Place a liner to contain the roots. Also use 5" thick layer of large graves/stones to isolate the roots.
Then I can lift the planter for winter storage. Thinking 20-gallon planter. Then the tree can be good size. Not too much work either. Just one or two trees.