Pom needs a haircut.
Pruning apples and peaches are relatively easy as there are simple methods to follow, such as the "modified central leader" method, or "parallel V" method. However, there really isn't such a method recommended for pomegranates. A good-old-boy at a nursery once told me that if I wanted pomegranates, all I had to do was "prune 'em up and feed 'em."
Pomegranates fruit on the ends of branches, so the trees should be pruned to create as many side branches as possible. My trees tend to put out really long droopy branches that I try to keep trimmed. Pomegranates also send up suckers like crazy, and I remove these throughout the year. According to the Texas A&M website, annual pruning isn't really necessary, but I'm trying to maximize fruit production while keeping the trees at a reasonable height for picking.
Since I was pruning the trees, I decided to try to root some cuttings to share. I have been told that cuttings root very easily. I used the same method I used to root the fig cuttings. First I took an approximately 12-inch long terminal cutting, and abraded the bark of the lower 6 inches. I then dipped the cutting in powdered rotting hormone, and placed it in plain potting soil. I wound up potting four cuttings: Sharp Velvet, Pink Satin, Garnet Sash, and what I was told was a Red Silk.
I got the Red Silk pomegranate from Growquest, a mail order nursery with a terrible reputation and terrible service. They are infamous for taking your money and not shipping you a plant. I didn't know this when I ordered the pomegranate of course. After threatening them for awhile, they finally sent me a sad little pomegranate crammed in a cardboard box. There was no label on the plant, but the word "Grenada" was written on the inside of the cardboard. So I don't know if it is a Grenada or a Red Silk. What I do know is that it is a vigorous growing pomegranate that puts out some tasty fruit.
I'm happy to share pomegranate trees with anyone that wants one. First come, first served until they're gone. Email me if you want one. I can meet people at Plants for All Seaons, or at the City Hall Farmer's Market.
Pomegranates fruit on the ends of branches, so the trees should be pruned to create as many side branches as possible. My trees tend to put out really long droopy branches that I try to keep trimmed. Pomegranates also send up suckers like crazy, and I remove these throughout the year. According to the Texas A&M website, annual pruning isn't really necessary, but I'm trying to maximize fruit production while keeping the trees at a reasonable height for picking.
Since I was pruning the trees, I decided to try to root some cuttings to share. I have been told that cuttings root very easily. I used the same method I used to root the fig cuttings. First I took an approximately 12-inch long terminal cutting, and abraded the bark of the lower 6 inches. I then dipped the cutting in powdered rotting hormone, and placed it in plain potting soil. I wound up potting four cuttings: Sharp Velvet, Pink Satin, Garnet Sash, and what I was told was a Red Silk.
I got the Red Silk pomegranate from Growquest, a mail order nursery with a terrible reputation and terrible service. They are infamous for taking your money and not shipping you a plant. I didn't know this when I ordered the pomegranate of course. After threatening them for awhile, they finally sent me a sad little pomegranate crammed in a cardboard box. There was no label on the plant, but the word "Grenada" was written on the inside of the cardboard. So I don't know if it is a Grenada or a Red Silk. What I do know is that it is a vigorous growing pomegranate that puts out some tasty fruit.
I'm happy to share pomegranate trees with anyone that wants one. First come, first served until they're gone. Email me if you want one. I can meet people at Plants for All Seaons, or at the City Hall Farmer's Market.
All trimmed.
Base of cutting abraded on concrete paver.
Cutting dipped in rooting hormone.
Potted cutting.
4 Pomegranate Varieties
All pruned up.
