Unexpected ripe pomegranates in December.
We were storing all the lumber for the boys' swing set in the garage, so Dr. Wife has been having to park the van in the driveway. No one really ever parks in that space, so I've never really paid any attention to the fact that the pomegranates kind of lean in that direction. The other day Dr. wife was putting Boy #1 in his car seat, and when she shut the sliding door...SQUISH! An 'Unknown' pomegranate had become caught and was crushed by the door, squirting dark maroon juice all over the interior. Crushing a pomegranate with the door wasn't surprising, but discovering deep crimson color was very unexpected.
Back in late October, when one would have expected the pomegranates to be fully ripe (if not past they're prime), the arils were pale and fairly flavorless. The same pomegranates picked in mid-December were richly colored, with a great flavor. In Dr. Randall's book, he says that pomegranates are reliably productive in July and August. I even tasted several of his pomegranates at the GCFSG pear tasting this year, so I know at least some pomegranates are ripe at that time of year. All of my pomegranates seem to be ripening in November and December.
My trees had two flushes of blooms this year, one in the spring, and one in the summer. The large colorless/flavorless fruit I've described in previous posts was from the first flush, and these smaller, late ripening fruit we're getting is from the second round of flowers. I wish I had recorded the dates of the second flush, but I didn't. I remember commenting to Dr. Wife that I thought those flowers were too late, and probably wouldn't have time to develop into ripe fruit before the first freezing weather. Turns out I was wrong. I have no idea what triggered the second round of flowers, or why some fruits have colored and tasted great while others were pale and insipid.
I've always suspected that my Unknown is really a Wonderful, because it is the most commonly sold variety, and I got it from a disreputable dealer. Dr. Randall says that Wonderful pomegranates "can sweeten a bit if left on until Halloween." However, my Unknown pomegranates were sweet at Halloween, but they didn't have any color or flavor then. Now they're delicious, but the good tasting fruit is from the second bloom and fruit set. I may never figure out what variety it really is.
Everything seems to be ripening late in my yard this year, which is probably due to the rough weather we've had. For some unknown reason, it seems like my trees are behaving differently from everyone else's. I tasted fully ripened Republic of Texas oranges, ujukitsus, and kumquats at the Upper Gulf Coast Citrus Show while most of my fruit of the same varieties were still green. I guess it could be differences in fertilizer, water, times of application, or a million other factors. I don't know why my fruit is ripening so much later than others, but after this brutal summer, I'm just happy to get any fruit at all.
Back in late October, when one would have expected the pomegranates to be fully ripe (if not past they're prime), the arils were pale and fairly flavorless. The same pomegranates picked in mid-December were richly colored, with a great flavor. In Dr. Randall's book, he says that pomegranates are reliably productive in July and August. I even tasted several of his pomegranates at the GCFSG pear tasting this year, so I know at least some pomegranates are ripe at that time of year. All of my pomegranates seem to be ripening in November and December.
My trees had two flushes of blooms this year, one in the spring, and one in the summer. The large colorless/flavorless fruit I've described in previous posts was from the first flush, and these smaller, late ripening fruit we're getting is from the second round of flowers. I wish I had recorded the dates of the second flush, but I didn't. I remember commenting to Dr. Wife that I thought those flowers were too late, and probably wouldn't have time to develop into ripe fruit before the first freezing weather. Turns out I was wrong. I have no idea what triggered the second round of flowers, or why some fruits have colored and tasted great while others were pale and insipid.
I've always suspected that my Unknown is really a Wonderful, because it is the most commonly sold variety, and I got it from a disreputable dealer. Dr. Randall says that Wonderful pomegranates "can sweeten a bit if left on until Halloween." However, my Unknown pomegranates were sweet at Halloween, but they didn't have any color or flavor then. Now they're delicious, but the good tasting fruit is from the second bloom and fruit set. I may never figure out what variety it really is.
Everything seems to be ripening late in my yard this year, which is probably due to the rough weather we've had. For some unknown reason, it seems like my trees are behaving differently from everyone else's. I tasted fully ripened Republic of Texas oranges, ujukitsus, and kumquats at the Upper Gulf Coast Citrus Show while most of my fruit of the same varieties were still green. I guess it could be differences in fertilizer, water, times of application, or a million other factors. I don't know why my fruit is ripening so much later than others, but after this brutal summer, I'm just happy to get any fruit at all.
Pomegranates growing next to where Dr. Wife parks the van.
Squish!
Unknown Pomegranate in October 2011.
Unknown Pomegranate in December 2011.
Beautiful deep red arils with excellent flavor.
Boy #1 giving his seal of approval.
