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. Large container (30 L). EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.5 (tolerates alkaline conditions). Temperature: 15–35°C for growth; 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; a single tree produces fruit. Fruiting begins at 2-3 years from nursery stock. Each mature container tree produces 5-20 fruits. Harvest when the fruit is fully colored and makes a metallic sound when tapped. The fruit splits if watered irregularly (alternating drought and flood); maintain consistent moisture during fruit development. For pomegranate molasses: juice the arils, simmer the juice with a small amount of sugar and lemon juice until reduced to a thick, dark syrup. Pomegranate molasses is one of the most useful pantry ingredients in Middle Eastern cooking: sweet, tart, and complex.
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 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. |