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Pomegranate is called “grainy apple”, “royal fruit”, “Carthaginian fruit”. The history of the pomegranate begins in ancient times. Trees with granular fruits grew on the planet even before the beginning of our era. For growth and development, pomegranate needs a warm sunny climate and fertile lands. Pomegranate grows on poorer soils or not – it depends on the varietal characteristics and conditions of detention.
What does a pomegranate look like?
Pomegranate trees bear fruit for half a century, after which fruiting becomes unstable, and plantings are changed to younger ones. Trees can stretch up to 6 – 7 m. Hybrid varieties grow like shrubs, reaching a height of 2 m. The growing season lasts from 6 to 8 months.
Pomegranate trees look like single-stemmed trees or as shrub-like thickets with several trunks of the same thickness. The bark of the main trunks is dark grey. The structure of the bark is dense, has an equal thickness in all areas. Young branches are covered with gray-green bark, but with time the green tint disappears.
Description of pomegranate parts:
Leaves | Oval shape, light green. Stretched up to 3 cm. Gathered in groups of 5 – 10 sheets. |
Flowers | Inflorescences – bell-shaped or crown-shaped, single or double. They have an orange-red tint. |
The roots | They form a powerful rod system, which can deepen up to several tens of meters. |
The main wealth of the pomegranate tree is the fruit. They begin to ripen after flowering, the ripening period can stretch up to 180 days. The pomegranate tree blooms beautifully and profusely. The buds are tied with the beginning of summer and bloom, replacing each other, until September.
The fruits gradually increase in size. The color of the peel remains red or pink throughout the entire ripening period, therefore, when harvesting, it is not guided by it.
The structure of the peel is dense, difficult to break. Inside are juicy grains, ripening in separate sectors, protected by a white film. Each sector contains a different number of grains. The main part of the pulp, which is suitable for eating, is located on dense drupes inside the grains. It has a pink-red hue, contains a lot of juice, which is released when pressed.
For fruits, a special botanical term has been coined for this variety, they are called “pomegranates”. The diameter can reach 12 cm. The weight of one copy can be more than 500 g. The weight of the pulp is noticeably reduced, since the dense peel is half of the total size. One pomegranate contains from 200 to 1500 grains, it depends on the age of the fruit, the degree of ripeness.
The external feature of the fetus is the presence of a crown-shaped “tuft”. According to the existing theory, this feature became an incentive for the creation of a crown, which is placed on the heads of monarchs.
The fruits of the pomegranate tree are removed as they ripen. Unripe pomegranates ripen quickly during transportation or storage.
The uses of garnets are extensive:
- grains are suitable for fresh consumption;
- for the preparation of tasty and healthy pomegranate juice;
- peels and pericarp are used in the preparation of medicines;
- flowers are used for brewing tea, infusions or decoctions of healing properties.
Pomegranate is considered the leader among fruit and berry crops in terms of iron content. It is often recommended for anemia of various origins, anemia, symptoms of chronic fatigue and depression.
Where do pomegranates grow?
The place of growth of pomegranates depends on the characteristics and preferences of the culture. Thanks to breeding work, the habitat of pomegranates has expanded significantly, but the basic requirements for climate and soil composition have remained the same. There are three types of culture:
- Wild. These shrubs still grow on the island of Socotra, which is territorially located near the Gulf of Aden. The climate of the island is characterized as tropical semi-desert, which is not typical for the culture. There is very little information about how pomegranate bushes got there, it has not been officially confirmed;
- Ordinary. The most common type of fruit that is cultivated everywhere. They need subtropics and high humidity;
- Dwarf, hybrid. Varieties bred specifically for home cultivation. Ornamental pomegranates form inedible fruits, hybrid varieties with edible fruits grow like shrubs.
The territory of modern Iran and the lands adjacent to it are considered the birthplace of the pomegranate. Most often, plantations of pomegranate trees are cultivated in countries with a subtropical climate.
The subtropics are the birthplace of the most ancient civilizations, it was here that the culture of mankind began its birth. This climate zone is characterized by the following features:
- the average temperature in summer does not drop below +20 °C;
- in winter, the air temperature remains at the borders from 0 to +4 ° C;
- the coastal climate is mild due to the influence of the sea.
Pomegranate grows in the subtropics everywhere, most often it is:
- countries of Western and Southwestern Asia;
- territory of Northwest India, North Africa;
- Eastern Transcaucasia;
- some regions of Central Asia;
- countries in southern Europe.
Where do pomegranates grow in Our Country?
Pomegranate trees grow in Our Country. The climate, which is characteristic of the subtropical zone, promotes the cultivation of selectively bred varieties adapted to winter temperature drops.
The pomegranate grows on the territory of Abkhazia, which is adjacent to the “pomegranate country” – Georgia. On the Black Sea coast, which stretches across the south of the Krasnodar Territory, dwarf varieties can be found. On the foothills of the Caucasus there are classic garnets. In areas of the Sea of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbAzov, across the territory of Crimea, pomegranate trees of mixed types grow.
Does pomegranate grow in Crimea
Crimea is a peninsula that is washed by the Black and Azov Seas. In the southern part of it, pomegranate crops are grown without additional shelter for the winter. They grow in parks and gardens. Crimean pomegranate ripens in early October.
Culture appeared on the territory of the peninsula thanks to the Greek colonists. Natural growth conditions are typical only for the southern part of the peninsula, but amateur gardeners successfully grow pomegranates in the northern part of the Crimea, given the characteristics of a heat-loving culture. Here it is additionally covered, helping to endure temperature drops, to which the roots are sensitive.
Does pomegranate grow in Krasnodar
On the territory of the Kuban, hard seed varieties of pomegranate grow. For soft-seed varieties, natural conditions are not suitable enough. This is due to the long growing season of pomegranate trees.
For the regions of the Krasnodar Territory, early ripe pomegranate varieties are recommended. They feel comfortable with the winter dripping of the near-trunk circle.
Most often in Krasnodar you can find the Gyulosha variety, or Gyuleysha, whose homeland is Azerbaijan. The fruits ripen a little faster than the classic varieties. This allows growing in areas with a shortened summer period and allows pomegranates to reach the lowest degree of maturity.
Does pomegranate grow in Sochi
Sochi is the longest city in Our Country: its length is estimated at a hundred kilometers. On the territory of Sochi, you can find pomegranate trees only from the southwestern side. This is the Black Sea coast, where the climate is as close as possible to subtropical.
The coastal zone allows growing pomegranate by the beginning of October, its collection begins simultaneously along the entire length of the plots. Pomegranates grown in Sochi appear on the markets by mid-autumn.
Does pomegranate grow in Abkhazia
Abkhazia is located in the southern part of the slope of the main Caucasian ridge. The country’s mild climate makes it possible to grow classic pomegranate varieties. The fruits are harvested in October. Abkhazian grenades can be stored for a long time, so they can be seen on the territory of central Our Country with the onset of spring. An Abkhazian variety has been developed with oval-shaped fruits, characterized by purple-red flesh and a sweet-sour taste. From these pomegranates, delicious valuable juice is obtained, which is distributed throughout Our Country.
How pomegranates grow
The most delicious pomegranates grow on the territory of modern Iran. This is the natural habitat of trees. Soft-seeded varieties are grown here. In addition, seedless pomegranates grow on subtropical soils.
How pomegranate grows in nature
Trees begin to bear fruit at the age of 3. Full fruiting occurs by 7 – 8 years. For 30 – 40 years, pomegranates are able to bear fruit stably and fully.
In order for the branches to form ovaries and ripen full-fledged fruits, the trees need an elevated air temperature and an above-average humidity level. In order for the flowers not to fall off and move on to the stage of fruit formation, the trees need consistently warm days with an air temperature of +20 °C to +25 °C. This period for pomegranates is extended for 180 days, so frosts at this stage of development are excluded. Trees in winter can tolerate temperatures as low as -12°C without loss. For the winter, the branches lose their leaves like deciduous crops.
Flowering culture also has features. Fruits may not form from every flower that appears: many fall off after flowering.
How pomegranate grows at home
Amateur gardeners successfully grow pomegranates at home. Tree propagation options allow you to create the necessary conditions, regardless of belonging to a certain climatic zone:
- cuttings;
- seeds;
- vaccinations.
At home, pomegranate trees look like dwarf shrub-like varieties. For this, special varieties have been created. Among the breeding variety for home cultivation, types are selected that are able to form fruits and adapt to changed climatic conditions.
For the summer period, homemade pomegranates are planted in open areas, and in the fall they are removed indoors.
Pomegranate trees, when grown by cuttings, begin to bear fruit in the 3rd year of existence, when planting seeds, adaptation is delayed for up to 7 years.
How to grow pomegranates
Pomegranates are often grown from seeds. To do this, they are harvested from ripe fruits. Then washed, separated from the pulp. Landings are made in the spring and the home tree is cared for according to a certain pattern.
Homemade pomegranates grow under a special temperature regime. At each stage of development, it should be different.
Flowering | From +20 °C to +25 °C. |
Fruiting | +16 … +20 °C. |
The rest period | +10 … +12 °C. |
Domestic fruits grow up to 6 cm, their weight reaches 200 g. The size of the pulp is half of the total weight. Those who grow homemade pomegranates characterize the taste of the grains as sweet and sour with a predominance of acid.
How much pomegranate grows
Pomegranate trees are long-lived. Ordinary varieties of the classical type bear fruit for more than 50-60 years, then gradually begin to wither. If they are not replaced by young plantings, they are able to grow in a permanent place for several more decades.
There are unique specimens among pomegranates. Azerbaijan is known for centuries-old pomegranate trees that have been growing there for over 100 years. On the territory of the southern part of France, you can find a 200-year-old pomegranate tree that grows for beauty, without fruiting.
Conclusion
Pomegranate grows where the subtropical climate prevails. This is a heat-loving tree that can delight with unique useful fruits for many years. Subject to certain requirements, dwarf varieties can be grown even at home.