Pomegranate
Punica granatum
Also known asGranada · Grenade · Anar · Rumman
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 7–11 (winter low around -18°C)
- Frost
- tolerates light frost
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.5 |
| flowering | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.8 |
| fruiting | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.8 |
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
A container-friendly fruit tree for greenhouse or outdoor aquaponics in warm, dry climates. Use a large container (30 L). EC 1.4-2.2 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.5 (tolerates alkaline conditions). Temperature: 15–35°C for growth, with a moderate chill requirement (100-300 hours below 7°C). Full sun (DLI 20-30 mol/m2/day; pomegranates need intense light and heat for fruit sweetness). Self-fertile, so a single tree sets fruit. Fruiting begins at 2-3 years from nursery stock, and a mature container tree yields 5-20 fruits. Harvest when the fruit is fully coloured and makes a metallic sound when tapped. The fruit splits if watering swings between drought and flood, so keep moisture consistent during fruit development. For pomegranate molasses, juice the arils and simmer the juice with a little sugar and lemon juice until reduced to a thick, dark syrup, a sweet-tart staple of Middle Eastern cooking.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wonderful | open pollinated | 1095 | The commercial standard in the US, deep red rind, large dark red arils, juicy and tart. Hardy zones 8-10. Standard size (4-5 m), too big for container culture but the cultivar most home growers in California actually grow. Source of nearly all supermarket pomegranates in the US. |
| Salavatski | open pollinated | 730 | Russian/Azerbaijani cultivar, hardy to -15C, the cold-tolerant variety that lets zone-7 growers fruit pomegranates outdoors. Pink-red rind, sweet-tart flavor. Standard size at maturity. |
| Nana | open pollinated | 730 | Dwarf ornamental variety, stays 60-90 cm. Bright red miniature fruit, edible but seedy and primarily ornamental. Fruits readily in 3-gallon containers. The realistic option for indoor or balcony culture. |
| Parfianka | open pollinated | 1095 | Soft-seeded cultivar from California breeder Greg Levin's collection, fruit can be eaten whole including seeds (the seeds are unusually soft for a pomegranate). Less common in nurseries but increasingly available. Standard size. |