Plants

Name

Dwarf Pomegranate

Botanical Name

Punica granatum var nana

Plant Type

Fruit

Is Edible

Yes

Poisonous

No

Growing Instructions

How to Grow a Pomegranate Tree from Seeds

There isn't much to say about how to plant a pomegranate seed since these seeds sprout readily without too much help. The seeds should be cleaned of the fleshy aril surrounding them and should be planted in loose soil with a covering layer about a 1/2 inch (1.5 cm). Which I have done.

Heat should be second on your pomegranate seed care list. These seeds will germinate at normal room temperature in about 30-40 days. Bring the soil temperature up a few degrees and you can cut this time in half. Try surrounding your plant with foil and placing it in direct sun until the seedlings sprout.

There is another method that should be mentioned when describing how to plant a pomegranate seed. It's called the baggie method. Some gardeners swear by this method for growing pomegranate from seeds. Wet a coffee filter and wring out the excess water. Sprinkle the cleaned seed on one quarter of the filter. Carefully fold the filter into quarters and slide it into a sealable plastic bag. Store in a warm place and check the bag every few days for germination. Once the pomegranate seeds sprout, transfer them to a pot.

Use any small container that has good drainage and plant two to three seeds per pot. You can pinch off the weaker seedlings after they are a few weeks old or transplant them to their own pot. That's it!

Caring for Pomegranate Tree Saplings

But...if you want to know how to grow a pomegranate tree that is healthy and strong, the trick is in pomegranate care.

In their natural habitats, the calcareous or chalky, alkaline soil is perfect for planting pomegranate trees, so for you, pomegranate care should begin with the planting medium. It should be slightly alkaline with a pH around 7.5-8.0. Since most planting mediums are developed to fall in the neutral range, the addition of a very small amount of limestone or garden lime to the mix should be sufficient.

Your new pomegranate tree will produce fruit in one to three years and nothing tastes better than something you have grown yourself. These Dwarf ones make great bonsai.


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