I start cutting branches at the ends, and work my way towards the trunk. I can see if there are signs of life. If there is any ‘green’ . . . or all just WOOD. When I get to the main trunk of the part that is ‘questionable’ - and it is definitely DEAD . . . then I cut that trunk off at the base. - - - And I wouldn’t mind a single trunk . . . but it probably won’t stay that way for long! Pomegranates are simply stubborn about having multi-trunks - and if you cut them off - more will pop up as suckers. But if you leave them they will eventually fruit.
I’m waiting for 2 things to happen before I ‘lop them off’. One - Everything else on the bush/tree has truly leafed out. Two - I get to ditch the boot I have to wear on my broken foot! It’s no fun trying to walk on uneven surfaces with this thing!
Yeah, I’m hesitant to cut off any of the dormant wood because it is still green underneath the bark all the way to the very tips of the branches. The wood is definitely alive, just not waking up. I’m nearly 100% positive it isn’t any kind of cold stress that has caused this extended dormancy because every other tree woke up right on time, and because I’ve never heard that 26 can hurt a mature pomegranate tree. I didn’t even have to cover my citrus this past winter, that’s how mild it was. Last winter this pomegranate endured a low of 21 and woke up just fine last spring. I suppose I’m in a holding pattern for now, hoping it will wake up and join the party.
I know all about those post surgical boots. I’ve had FOUR foot surgeries in the last 15 years, two on each foot. Wearing the boot is no fun. Here’s to hoping that you are soon hopping around without the boot.
This was our Salavatski in 2020, I am not sure what color(s) the flowers may have been other years, although on another variety of pomegranate that I grow, this year I noticed both darker colored flowers and lighter colored ones at the same time
Almost all of my trees’ blossoms are very similar in color. Some trees have fuller and more plentiful blossoms than others, but the blossoms you are showing are typical of most of my varieties’ flowers. The pollenated blossoms’ newly developing fruit will darken - as yours do. Most of my ‘fruitlets’ then lose their red color, for a time, and turn green before turning back to red as they mature. Some, like Phoenicia, are predominantly green when ripe. But the blossoms of my pomegranates - all just about the same shade of red.
Very nice, they look so green and healthy. Your area must be drier than our. My 3rd year Salavatski held on to some fruits this year but most has some rot.
The Surround spray also has Immunox in it. Since it’s a fungicide, I was hoping it would reduce the rotting. It may not have helped since I sprayed them after the rot already started.
I have a few pomegranates that I overwintered in pots inside the last few years. Last winter I left them outside for the first time and they survived without a problem. I am in an urban zone 8b and I get fig crops most years. That being said, I never saw a single flower on my pomegranates and they are at least four years old. Is that normal?
We’ve had some rain but it’s typically not humid here not nearly as humid as the south. Sorry about the rot, I wonder if there are more resistant varieties anyone can recommend here
