The Pomegranate in ArizonaPropagation, Cultivation, Pests, Challenges

Surinam cherry

Date palm

Mango and papaya

Passion fruit

microclimate

Arizona Rare Fruit

Growers

2008 Pomegranate Trial Planting

AZRFG initiated planting of 20 varieties of pomegranates for public observation.

Pomegranate Shucking8 hours of shucking, truckload of fruit, 40 varieties from California,

Texas, and Arizona.

Sin Pepe Eversweet

Purple Heart Wonderful

2011 Arizona Pomegranate Taste Trial

Planting a pomegranate

Training your Young Tree

Espalier methods are also successful, and

allow one to cover the trees for insect, solar,

and bird protection

Bush method provides more shade, which

reduces sun burn on the fruit

Irrigation

Water your pomegranate tree every two weeks to a depth of 18”.

In summer, you can water once a week, alternating between deep watering and

shallower watering.

Never wet the fruit, as this may introduce heart rot and damage the fruit interior.

In Fall, water lightly the third week of the month, from Mid October until fruit harvest.

Water heavily after fruit harvest.

Do not irrigate during winter, as winter rains usually suffice and trees are dormant.

Fertilization

Manures and compost are an acceptable way to fertilize your pomegranates.

On an biannual basis, provide 2- 15 gallon pots of composted manure to tree.

Place under a heavy litter of straw, grass, leaves, or tree trimmings mulch.

Provide amendments in Early February and in June or July.

Ammonium Sulphate is an acceptable source of nitrogen as well.

Propagation

YOUNG ROOTED POMEGRANATES

ROOTS IN 2-3 MONTHS

FULLY DEVELOPED PLANT

FROM CUTTING 6 MONTHS

Citrus thrip damage

Leaves curl in in on themselves

Stunts new growth.

Temporary problem on new growth in early spring only. Affects

young plants more than older ones.

Solution: spray with a dishwater solution containing soap and

greasy water early in the morning or late evening.

Leaf Footer Bug

species Leptoglossus zonatus . A true bug

Adults bore into fruit, injecting enzymes which

cause internal rotting and/or brown seeds.

Adult insectsOften seen in clusters

If you shake the tree they fly off like bees

Hard shell protects them from most organic

Insecticides.

NymphsOften seen in bunches.

Can be controlled with soapy water, or kaolin clay.

Leaf Footer Bug DamageFruit develops soft spots and falls from the tree in October

or November.

seeds.

To protect fruit, bag for a few seasons. This will reduce the insect population.

Trees with bagged fruitNotice Kaolin clay on trees. This study is to provide some

observations on sunburn and leaf footer bug damage.

Bagging a Pomegranate

Step One: spray with kaolin

Bagging a Pomegranate

Step Two: Prep limb to penduncle

Bagging a Pomegranate

Step Three: paper bag and twine

Bagging a Pomegranate

Step Four: slip bag over fruit and

tie

Bagging a Pomegranate

Step Five: tie branches together

to prevent fruit from swinging

Variety: Purple Heart

Red skin. Does not need as much temperature

swing to develop as much red color as other

varieties. Dark Red arils with soft seeds. Sweet

Tart Variety.

Ornamental Variety: Whitton

Large carnation like flowers, brilliant red with white

striping. Shy bearer of green, hard seeded white

aril seeds.

Variety: Gissarski Rozovyi

Pink skin. Ripens Early. Pink arils with very soft

seeds. Large size fruit. Tree medium sized. An

excellent variety for the Phoenix Area.

Variety: Desertnyi

Pink/redskin. Ripens December. Dark arils with

very soft seeds.Medium/ Large size fruit. Tree

medium sized. Excellent tart sweet flavor.

Variety: 15/4 Paymati Rozanova

redskin. Ripens December. Dark arils with soft

seeds. Large size fruit. Tree medium sized. Flavor

more sweet than tart. Dwarfish sized tree.

Variety: Wonderful

Most Common Variety found in Nurseries. 99% of

pomegranates sold in USA are of this type.

Hybrid. redskin. Ripens December. Dark arils with

Medium seeds. Large size fruit. Large Tree

Variety: Wonderful

Most Common Variety found in Nurseries. 99% of

pomegranates sold in USA are of this type.

Variety: Sweet

The first pomegranate to ripen in Late August!

Old Variety: small fruit. Green skin with red russet.

Arils white, with relatively soft seeds.

Other varieties of pomegranates available in Arizona

Heirloom Arizona Varieties

Herbert ( Seedling variety found Longview Neighborhood of Mid-Town Phoenix) Red Fruit, flat shoulders with square shape. Arils

color extremely well. Red skin. Reliable. Smaller than Wonderful

Josefina Tucson Heirloom Variety with 80 year history in the Old Barrio. White, Early ripening fruit

Sosa Carillo Tucson Heirloom Variety growing near the Tucson Museum of Art. 100 year+ old tree with red fruit.

Ruby: Old variety growing in wash near an abandoned mining camp.

Papago: Variety growing at a natural spring in Saguaro National Monument. Believed to have been in existence for over 150 years,

and a descendent of pomegranate brought into Sonora by Padre Kino and the Franciscans

Standard varieties:

Wonderful: Sweet: Nana (dwarf) Angel Red

Utah Sweet: Granada Red Silk Kashmir blend

Pink Satin (AKA Sin Pepe) Ambrosia ( Fruit splitting trait) Garnet Sash

Varieties more difficult to find

Saveh Eversweet Golden Globe Parfianka

Black pomegranate Sakerdze Ink Mae

Palermo Toyosho Crab White Flower

Cloud White Canna Phils Sweet

Rosa Mia Fleschmans Egyptian White Balegal

Phoenicia Kara Bala Muirsal Giant Russian Kaim Anor

Gissarski Rozovyi ( One of the Best Varieties for taste. Pinkish skin and light pink soft arils. Excellent taste)

Paymati RosaNova agat Vina King

Nikitsi Ranni Kazake Cranberry 32/30