Growing a Pomegranate Tree in a Spanish Mediterranean Garden

The pomegranate, Punica granatum L is native to the Middle East, the Himalayas and Northern India but has been grown in the Mediterranean region for centuries. The fruit is favoured for its healthy vitamin content and flavour and absentee gardeners love it because it is drought resistant.

In Spanish, the fruit is known as a granada, which is the name of the city in Andalucia. The city’s name comes from the Moorish name Gharnatah, meaning red palace. The famous Puerta de las Granadas in the city is adorned with the pomegranate symbol and it can be seen on ceramics and signs all over Granada.

The Costa del Sol and the Costa Tropical of Granada are almost sub-tropical and it is in these temperatures that the pomegranate thrives happily.

An Ornamental Pomegranate Tree is Ideal for Patios and Courtyards

An ideal choice of tree for a patio or courtyard is the pomegranate which grows well and looks attractive planted with fig, lemon, orange and even peach trees. It is a small tree that can grow to between 20 and 30 feet but it can be kept much smaller and more manageable in the form of a shrub to about 15feet. It is deciduous and the foliage is bright green.

Large pretty bright red flowers appear from late March and they take about 6 months to turn into a large fruit containing the sweet edible seeds. The skin of the fruit turns from cream to a dark red as the fruit ripens and is quite tough.

Pomegranate Fruit

The fruit is very unusual and is made up of segments separated by a thin white membrane each containing tiny deep-pink juicy fruits. The fruit begins small and green and then changes to cream and finally ripens during the autumn usually remaining on the tree until late-October.

The fruits grow to a diameter of between 3 and 5 inches, depending on the variety and growing conditions. The skin is quite thick and tough but if grown in a country area it is no match for rats who can easily climb the trees and chew through to get at the sweet juice.

Growing Conditions for a Pomegranate Tree

This tree doesn’t require any special soil conditions and it will withstand drought and heavy rain – both quite common in Andalusia. However, regular watering will help the fruit production while heavy watering will cause it to split. They will produce more fruit in a sunny spot but will grow perfectly well in semi shade, such as a patio or courtyard, but produce less fruit. New trees should be planted in late winter – February and March – as the soil begins to warm.

The tree should fruit between 2 and 3 years old. If space is limited then the pomegranate can be grown in a well drained container but will require a good soaking every week or so.

Caring for the Pomegranate Tree

The branches are spiny and care should be taken with any at eye level. There will also be suckers from the base. Until the tree is about 3 years old, pruning should always be light and the suckers around the tree base removed. After this time, suckers and dead wood should be removed annually. The tree will benefit from a dressing of amonium sulphate around the base of the tree before the flowers appear.

The tree is easy to manage and ideal for the absentee gardener as it is a tough species, drought resistant and not attractive to the usual garden pests – except for rats! Overwatering can cause the fruit to split so it’s best to keep the tree on the dry side.

Propagation by Seed or Cutting

Cuttings of year old wood about 12inches long can be taken in the autumn using rooting powder and kept in a warm place. It is said that seeds from the fruit – and there are many – will grow true. Why not try a few seeds as well as cuttings and see what develops?

What to Do With Pomegranate Fruit.

Besides the thrill of seeing the fruit gradually form from the bright red flower there is the pleasure of eating the flesh and savouring that sweet juice. The easiest way to eat is just to cut into pieces, take off the hard outer skin and enjoy!

Seeds can also be sprinkled on salads and other dishes and juice can be extracted easily using a simple orange juice extractor. The whole fruit has many health benefits containing vitamins B and C, calcium and other minerals. As well as being an excellent antioxidant it is said to be good for the circulation.