What kind of exotic on the windowsills of people who are keen on floriculture can not be found - tangerines, bananas, lemons. But surely not every plant lover thought about the possibility of growing a pomegranate from a seed at home. Not much is known about the cultivation of this amazing plant, because the king of fruits grows only in warm climates. But, as it turned out, the pomegranate feels great at home. And caring for a lush blooming tree is not difficult at all.

How to grow pomegranate from a stone at home

Pomegranate is an amazing plant in every way. Start at least with the fact that it blooms for a long time: from early summer to autumn. Following the blossoming flowers, more and more new ones appear. Those who have seen the blooming pomegranate will never forget this amazing sight. Against the backdrop of green foliage, the flowers look fabulously beautiful - a bright orange-red color and an unusual bell-shaped shape - and abundantly cover the plant. It is also surprising that on a pomegranate, you can simultaneously observe both flowering and fruit set.

On a pomegranate, you can simultaneously observe flowers and fruit set

In the East, this plant has long been considered the king of fruits. The flowers and fruits of the pomegranate symbolize longevity, fertility, wealth and abundance. Many Bible students believe that “ heavenly apple"Was actually a pomegranate. There is also a belief that the shape of the sepals of the fruit prompted people to create a crown. Well, it's not worth talking about the benefits of fruits. Everyone probably knows how many trace elements, vitamins and organic substances are contained in this fruit.

The sepal shape resembles a crown, which is probably why the pomegranate is called the royal fruit

Another surprising fact is that pomegranate can be easily grown at home from seed. If in nature the plant grows up to 6 m, then in indoor conditions a tree rarely exceeds a two-meter level. Thanks to this, the indoor pomegranate will be able to decorate any corner of the apartment and bring joy and well-being to the house. In general, dwarf pomegranate grows best in indoor conditions. It is decorative, has a miniature size and easily adapts to habitat conditions. Fruits are tied a little, and they are small - about 5 cm in diameter. But they have a pleasant taste and juiciness.

All purchased seeds are hybrid plants that are adapted specifically to indoor conditions. But many amateurs also sprout seeds from purchased fruits. True, it is best to collect material for sowing not from imported pomegranates, but from domestic ones. In Russia, the places where this exotic fruit few, but they are - Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, North Caucasus.

Indoor pomegranate is a small but very beautiful plant

Planting pomegranate seeds

So, the seeds can be purchased at the store or collected by yourself. Preparing seeds for planting is very simple:

To speed up seed germination, many sources recommend the following procedure:

Soil and capacity

As a soil for seedlings, you need to pick up a light and fertile substrate... Store-house universal soil is suitable, but you can prepare the mixture yourself. There are several options:

• mix in equal parts high-moor peat and sand;
• in equal parts, take turf and leafy soil, sand and add half of the humus.

Germination pots should be wide, at least 10 cm high, with drainage holes. The material from which the pot is made does not matter. At the bottom of the container, be sure to lay a layer of expanded clay, purchased drainage or pieces of foam plastic in such a way as to completely cover the bottom of the pot. Then fill in the soil.

Pick a wide pot for sprouting pomegranate seeds

Sowing seeds and germination conditions

The best months for sowing exotic plant seeds are November and February. But there is information that they can be sown in the spring.

Procedure:

Seedling care

When shoots appear, you need to rearrange the pot to the lightest window. The ideal place is the southern windowsill. But do not rush to remove the package. You must first harden the seedlings. Do this gradually, removing the cover for an hour at first, then gradually lengthen the time.

When shoots appear, the shelter is gradually removed.

Water as needed - do not overfill, but also do not let the soil dry out too much. You can spray, but do not overdo it.

Important. For watering and spraying pomegranates, use only settled water, the temperature of which is 2-3 ° C higher than room temperature.

The temperature in the room where the small pomegranate grows and gets stronger, it is advisable to maintain within the range from 18 to 25 ° С... The room must be periodically ventilated, but during this time the pomegranates must be removed from the draft.

Pomegranate seedlings grow very quickly if they are in comfortable conditions.

Picking

A pick is carried out after 3-4 true leaves appear on the seedling... For the procedure, choose only the strongest plants. It will not be possible to grow healthy trees from the weak. During the picking, the central root of the seedling can be slightly pinched. This will allow the plant to grow more suction lateral roots, due to which the ability to absorb nutrients and moisture will increase.

During the dive, you can slightly pinch the root

Will pomegranate bear fruit

Pomegranate grown from the bone can be called wild. But with proper care, it will bloom and bear fruit. Depending on what seed material will be used, the time of entry into the fruiting period will be different. If you plant hybrid seeds, then fruiting will come in 2-3 years a. And if you germinate the seeds of a purchased large pomegranate, then full flowering, and accordingly the first harvest, will have to wait a long time, sometimes up to 7 years.

Hybrid pomegranate varieties come into fruiting after 2 - 3 years

How to achieve abundant flowering and fruiting pomegranate

Abundant flowering of pomegranate is a guarantee of its fruiting. It should be noted that the pomegranate blooms willingly indoors. And if he is comfortable, then the first flowers can appear at a tree 10 months old. If the fruits are tied, they should be removed immediately, and such a ruthless procedure should be carried out for 2-3 years. Only after this period, when the tree gets stronger, can you count on a normal harvest. To stimulate flowering, a number of conditions must be observed.

By the way, most of the pomegranate flowers are sterile. They fall off without forming an ovary.

Lots of light

A pot with a growing tree must be kept on the southern windowsill. It is the abundance of light that affects the flowering and fruiting of the pomegranate. But in the summer, in order not to provoke a leaf burn, the plant should be slightly shaded at the moment of the greatest solar activity... Pomegranates growing in the shade will be weak and painful.

The abundance of light is the key to the good development of the pomegranate

Formative pruning

Flowers, and hence fruits, are formed at the tips of strong shoots current year and for 2-3 year olds. This means that the plant must be formed. Pruning is carried out immediately after harvest or before awakening - at the end of February.

If a young pomegranate has not started branching, having reached a height of 50 cm, then you need to help him. To do this, just pinch the top. This will shape the pomegranate into a tree. But you can also form a bush form. For this, the top of a young plant is pinched at a height of 15 cm.

The pomegranate tree needs to be shaped in order to acquire a beautiful crown shape over time

Formation rules

When pruning a homemade pomegranate tree, it is important to follow a few basic rules:

• up to 5 skeletal branches can be left on a home pomegranate;
• pruning is carried out over the bud growing outward;
• the crown should not be very thickened. All thin shoots and branches over 4 years old are subject to removal;
• the undergrowth growing from below is removed.

The indoor pomegranate has one feature - the foliage on the twigs and shoots may not wake up at the same time. If the pomegranate is almost all covered with foliage, but there are still bare branches, do not rush to get rid of them. First, lightly scratch the bark and check if the branch is alive or not. Only after making sure that the branch is dry, you can safely remove it.

In spring, green leaves on pomegranate appear unevenly

Pomegranate is very shapeable... To give even more decorative effect to an exotic plant, you can braid young trunks in a braid. To do this, during a dive, plant 3 of the strongest seedlings in one pot. After adapting them, start braiding right in the new container. Do not tighten the stems very tightly, you do not need to fasten with wire either - the branches will hold the stems together. As an alternative to the scythe, you can twist the trunks into a spiral.

Pomegranate makes great bonsai... To do this, the tree is grown in one branch, giving it the correct position and direction with the help of a wire. Shape the height and shape of your choice.

Pomegranate lends itself well to pruning and shaping, which means that in skillful hands, a real masterpiece will turn out from a tree

Pollination

On the pomegranate, 2 types of flowers are formed - with a short pistil and with a long one. It is on the second that the fruits are formed. But for this, the flower must be pollinated. The procedure is easily done with a cotton swab... It would be nice to have 2 grenades next to each other on the windowsill or balcony.

Indoor hybrid varieties already have a certain percentage of self-pollinated flowers. This figure ranges from 5 to 20%. But if you artificially pollinate the flowers, their number can be increased.

Dormant period

Pomegranate is a deciduous plant. And if your handsome man at the end of autumn suddenly began to shed his leaves - do not worry. This is a natural process by which the exotic hints to you that the time of rest has come. In order for the winter to pass safely, and in the spring your pet blooms with renewed vigor, provide the plant with the necessary conditions:

• during the rest period, pomegranates need coolness. Ideally, the plant should be placed on a glazed loggia or balcony, where the temperature, even in the coldest winter month, does not drop below 5 ° C. Well, the most comfortable temperature in winter is about 7 ° С;
• watering is extremely rare. If the specified temperature regime is observed, the soil dries out very slowly, and watering is carried out only when the top layer of the soil is completely dry. On average, the frequency of moistening is once every 2 weeks (or maybe even less often, because having lost its foliage, the pomegranate practically does not evaporate moisture). Watering should be moderate, pomegranate should not be poured during this period;
• spraying is not carried out;
• pomegranates on vacation are not fed until February.

All of the above items apply only to cool wintering. If you leave the plant in warm room, it will continue to grow, and accordingly, you will have to take care of it. But a warm wintering will not benefit the grenade.

To fully relax, pomegranate sheds its leaves

Planting and transplanting

This is an important procedure for a pomegranate, especially a young one. During the first 5 years of growth, the young plant is transplanted annually. Adult pomegranate - once every 3-4 years.

Choose a new container wider, but not very deep, since the root system home pomegranate grows more in width than in depth. For example, a pomegranate at the age of 5–6 years is transplanted into a container with a volume of 3 liters. Too large a pot will negatively affect flowering and fruiting. Many experienced gardeners advise choosing clay containers. The presence of drainage holes in the pot is mandatory, regardless of the material of manufacture!

You don't have to be wise with soil mixture for a long time. You can safely use purchased universal soil, adding vermiculite or coarse sand to it for looseness.

Transshipment process:

A pomegranate growing in a tub is difficult to transplant. Therefore, in order not to torment the tree and yourself, you can replace the top 2–3 cm of soil with fresh, more nutritious soil once a year.

Potted pomegranate is difficult to replant, so change the top layer of the earth to fresh and nutritious

Caring for a pomegranate at room conditions

Home-grown pomegranate is unpretentious. But it is necessary to take into account even his most modest needs.

Watering and feeding

Watering pomegranates is necessary infrequently, but abundantly. The average moisture content of an exotic plant is once a week. But if it is very hot, the frequency of watering increases. To find out if you need to moisten the pomegranate or not, check the topsoil. If the soil has dried out to a depth of two cm, then the plant needs to be watered. For moistening, use settled water. room temperature.

It is best to drain the moisture that has flowed into the pan so that the roots do not suffer from excessive waterlogging.

For watering an indoor pomegranate, it is convenient to use a watering can with a long thin spout so that water gets into the soil, and not on the trunk

In order for the pomegranate to please not only with its decorativeness, but also with fruiting, it needs to be fed 1-2 times a month. For this, universal liquid fertilizers for indoor plants are used. But it is still better to acquire certain compositions that will support the pomegranate in different phases of its growth. In the spring, top dressing should contain more nitrogen in order for the plant to have the strength to build up green mass. During the flowering period, the pomegranate needs phosphorus. During fruit ripening and in preparation for winter - potassium.

If you grow pomegranate solely for the sake of fruit, then mineral fertilizers should be replaced with organic matter. For example, during the period of fruit filling, you can use chicken droppings... The watering solution should be weak - 1:25.

Any kind of fertilizer should be applied only after watering, so as not to burn the roots.

If you grow pomegranates solely for the sake of eating fruits, then after the formation of the ovary, feed the plant with organic matter

Humidity

Pomegranate loves humid air, especially during hot periods. You need to spray with soft water at room temperature. In the normal period, sprayed 2-3 times a week. In hot weather - more often.

Never spray a pomegranate at lunchtime in the summer, especially if it is on a south window or balcony in direct sunlight. This can burn the leaves. It is best to spray moisture over the plant early in the morning or in the evening.

Pomegranate is not particularly picky about humidity, but in a hot period it will be grateful for a light shower.

Where is the best place to place a grenade

Of course, near the south window, since the plant has a very high need for lighting. In the summer, the owners of balconies and loggias must definitely put a pot with exotic on Fresh air... But not in direct sunlight, but in diffused shadow. Well, if you have a private house, then the place of the pomegranate is in the garden, where the pomegranate will delight you with incredible flowering.

If the windows of your apartment face north, then, most likely, your pomegranate lacks lighting and grows poorly. Be sure to supplement the plant and it will immediately thank you with a mass green leaves and beautiful flowers.

In the summertime, the pomegranate is best taken out to the balcony.

Diseases and pests of home pomegranate

At home, with proper care, pomegranates practically do not get sick. But too much hydration can lead to undesirable consequences.

This will make the plant look lethargic, as if in need of watering. This is the insidiousness of the disease. A person with insufficient experience in caring for plants will immediately begin to moisturize the pomegranate, causing even more damage to the plant. But you need to act differently. Stop watering altogether until the soil is properly dry. If immediate action is required, it is best to remove the plant from the pot along with the root ball and wrap it in newspaper, which will instantly absorb excess moisture. If the plant does not recover after drying the soil, it should be transplanted into fresh soil.

To finally cope with the disease, you should prepare a solution of Trichodermin - 10 g of powder per 1 liter of water, and spill the soil with it. And the plant itself can be sprayed with Tiram (cook strictly according to the instructions).

During transplantation, you need to remove all damaged parts of the root and sprinkle the wounds with crushed activated carbon

A white powdery coating appears on the leaves, flowers and fruits. The disease first leads to deformation of the leaves, then the leaf blade dries up and crumbles. The flowers fall off without ever blooming. Shoots begin to stunted.

If the disease is detected immediately, a soda solution (5 g per 1 liter of water) will help to cope with it. For better adhesion to the sheet surface, you can add a little laundry soap.

A neglected disease will have to be treated with one of the fungicides:

• Topaz;
• Soon;
• HOMOM.

Powdery mildew immediately catches the eye due to the whitish coating on the leaves

After unsuccessful pruning or mechanical damage, although rarely, branch cancer can still occur. It manifests itself in the form of wounds with swollen edges. The branch dries up, after it the whole tree may die. The same ailment can form in case of frostbite. The disease is very insidious, and, unfortunately, chemicals against him, no. Even if you remove the affected branch and process the cut with garden pitch, the pomegranate may die.

To prevent the pomegranate from dying from branch cancer, try to prune with a sharp tool, and after the procedure, process the cut with garden pitch

With insufficient air humidity, pomegranates can suffer from pests. Whiteflies and aphids especially bother the plant. If the number of pests is small, then you can handle it manually. To do this, prepare a soap solution (20 g of soap shavings per 1 liter of water). The soil in the pot can be protected with a plastic bag before cultivation. Soak a sponge in the solution and wipe off the branches and leaves.

In advanced cases, it is best to use chemicals:

• Aktellik;
• Fitoverm;
• Spark;
• Karbofos.

Whitefly and aphids are more likely to infect pomegranates than other pests.

A beautiful and unpretentious pomegranate will not only decorate the room and treat with fruits (even small ones) - it is a symbol of prosperity and longevity adopted in the East. Moreover, it is very easy to grow this thermophilic plant in an apartment. A little attention and care, and now you are already admiring the gorgeous flowers! And there, you see, it's not far from the harvest.

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It is believed that the indoor pomegranate tree brings happiness and good luck to the house. That is why the plant is gaining immense popularity among indoor florists.

Pomegranate grown from seed is dwarf plant, reaching a height of about 100-110 cm. It blooms very profusely and for quite a long time with attractive bright red flowers.

At the same time, such a tree begins to bear fruit no earlier than four years of age. If you want to get fruits in the first year after planting, you need to plant special purchased dwarf pomegranate seeds.

Planting seeds (seeds) of pomegranate

Big ripe pomegranate without signs of rotting and mold, peel and extract the seeds. Those who have White color... A greenish tint indicates that the seed is unripe and will not sprout.

The pomegranates sold in supermarkets and bazaars are hybrids specially bred to produce high-value products. This means that the fruits grown from their seeds do not retain their parental qualities, including taste.

It is believed that freshly harvested seeds germinate better.

Seed preparation:

1. Free the seeds from the pulp by rinsing in cold water.
2. You can wipe them off with a dry paper towel.
3. Put on a saucer and dry for 24 hours.
4. Soak in water with the addition of epin or zircon for 10 hours.

The soil for planting is prepared loose, including a large amount of coarse river sand. You can combine peat and sand in equal proportions. As a last resort, a ready-made universal soil mixture is used.

Seeds are distributed evenly, buried no more than 1 cm, lightly sprinkled with soil. After planting, be sure to water a little. The pot is placed in a warm place in the light and covered plastic wrap to create conditions close to greenhouse. Optimum temperature- 25-29 o C. Every day, the mini-greenhouse must be ventilated and, as it dries, watered.

Seed germination of this exotic tree ranges from 85-90%, but they hatch unevenly. The first ones can germinate after 2 weeks. Not finding sprouts after this time, there is no need to rush to throw away, individual seeds "sit" in the ground for up to 6 months.

If seedlings appeared in the spring summer period they have enough natural light on a sunny windowsill. Additional lighting is needed for seedlings in winter and autumn. Thin and damaged sprouts are removed, leaving a few of the largest ones.

After the formation of a pair of true leaves, pomegranate seedlings dive into pots with a diameter of 8-9 cm. As they grow, they are transferred into large containers.

Caring for a pomegranate at home

When trying to grow a pomegranate at home, it must be borne in mind that this plant is not particularly capricious and grows well in apartments. The main thing is to take into account the basic needs.

Lighting

Bright light without direct sunlight is desirable. In the midday heat, the plant needs to be shaded.

Temperature regime

The ideal temperature is around 20 ° C in summer and up to 15 ° C in winter. Does not tolerate too low temperatures (less than 5 ° C). It reacts positively to fresh air; in the warm season, pomegranates can be planted in the garden or, in extreme cases, taken to a loggia or balcony.

Priming

It is recommended to use breathable, loose soil. The composition requires coarse sand. It is permissible to use ordinary universal soil for indoor plants. Drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot.

Watering

For irrigation, use settled water at room temperature. Root system located in the surface layer of the earth, therefore, the soil should not be allowed to dry out. In hot weather it is watered every day and very abundantly. In winter, during the dormant period, watering is sharply reduced.

Air humidity

When growing this crop in stuffy hot rooms, spraying is carried out to avoid pest infestation.

Top dressing

Is it possible to grow pomegranate from the seed without using additional fertilizers? On the one hand, pomegranate, like all indoor plants, responds favorably to top dressing. It is better to give preference to fertilizers in liquid form. From the beginning of March to September, nitrogen and phosphorus should prevail in them: the first is responsible for the lush green crown, the second stimulates flowering. It makes sense to add potassium before the end of October to prepare for wintering.

On the other hand, if the purpose of growing pomegranates is to obtain fruits and eat them, then it is better to do without any chemistry.

Pruning homemade pomegranate

To maintain a beautiful appearance, it is not necessary to limit yourself to just removing dried leaves and buds. The pomegranate can and should be trimmed.

Flowers form at the ends of strong shoots of the current year, therefore, the main pomegranate haircut is carried out in February.

When forming a crown, you need to be guided only by your preferences. Do not be afraid to cut too much, the pomegranate will grow back in the spring. You can show your imagination and make a crown in the form of a bush or form a bonsai - it is perfect for this purpose. Thin and damaged branches are cut out completely, the rest at least by half. After the February haircut, the plant is brought into a warm room, and it is actively growing.

Transfer

Until the age of five, pomegranates require an annual transplant. The pot is selected a little larger than the previous one (by the size of the roots). Further - it is optional. Moreover, the tighter the pot, the more abundant the flowering.

You can periodically replace the topsoil with a new one, taking care not to damage the roots.

Potential problems: diseases and pests

How to grow a pomegranate from a stone at home so that it is not affected by pests and diseases? Regular inspection of the plant, periodically carried out preventive measures, timely processing will allow you to grow this exotic tree without any problems.

Major diseases and pests:

Powdery mildew

The most common indoor pomegranate disease. At the initial stage of infection, spraying with a solution of baking soda (5 g per liter of water) helps. In advanced conditions, you cannot do without the use of fungicides (Topaz, Skor).

Spider mite

Appears in hot dry air. The leaves become sticky with white cobwebs. Actellik or Fitoverm are used against ticks. You can try to process it with a folk remedy. 200 g of tobacco is infused in 2 liters of water for two days, then the plant is sprayed with this tincture.

Branch cancer

Weak, damaged specimens are especially susceptible to this disease. The bark cracks heavily on the branches. It is very difficult to get rid of this trouble, the main part of the crown is removed. But even such drastic measures do not always save, often the tree dies.

Aphids and whiteflies

If single malicious individuals are found, the easiest way is to collect them manually. Then treat the leaves on both sides with soapy water.

With a large number of insects, it is advisable to use chemicals: Aktara, Fitoverm, Actellik, Karbofos.

Answer to main question: whether a pomegranate grown from a seed will bear fruit primarily depends on the conditions of keeping and caring for it.

This is a long-lived tree in wildlife grows even on rocky slopes and salt marshes. Therefore, if these simple requirements are observed, it will delight you with delicious fruits for many years, even at home.

The process of growing pomegranate from seed

An entire episode of the Ukrainian program “All will be good” is devoted to the process of planting and caring for pomegranates. The presenters talk in detail about the main stages:

Pomegranate is a flowering and fruiting plant that belongs to the genus of shrubs and small trees... The peculiarity of the growth of shrubs is that they are prone to uncontrolled growth of branches and thickening. For proper development, fruiting and a well-groomed look, pomegranate pruning is required. The method and timing of pruning will depend on the conditions under which it is grown and what shape the grower wants to achieve.

Pomegranate needs regular pruning

Why cut a pomegranate

In nature, it grows well without pruning, but you need to cut the pomegranate, using this care technique you can:

• stimulate the growth of side branches;
• form strong skeletal branches;
• improve the shape of the pomegranate;
• avoid thickening;
• prevent damage by pests and diseases;
• stimulate intense flowering;
• increase the yield and quality of fruits.

Formation is essential for pomegranates cultivated both outdoors and at home. Therefore, pruning should be done correctly and regularly.

Pruning pomegranate: 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year

Types of trim

Depending on the purpose in agronomy, several types of pruning are distinguished:

• formative;
• sanitary;
• anti-aging;
• supportive.

All these types of pruning are used when growing pomegranates in different growing seasons. The purpose of formative pruning is to refine appearance plants to give the desired shape, it is carried out in the first years of cultivation. Pomegranate can be formed in the form of a bush, mini-tree, standard tree.

Sanitary pruning is carried out to cleanse old, weak, dried branches, to remove excess branches that thicken the bush and can cause gas exchange disturbances and damage by fungal diseases or pests.

The rejuvenating procedure is used to stimulate the growth of young branches if the bush begins to age and stops growth and fruiting. To preserve the already formed form of an adult pomegranate, a supporting pruning is done. It will allow you to maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance of the plant.

Pruning pomegranate in the garden

In the southern regions, this plant grows wonderfully outdoors. In the middle lane, you can also grow pomegranates in the open field using the covering method. Pruning a garden pomegranate has its own characteristics and technique. Form it in the form of a bush or tree. In the open field, seedlings are most often planted, grown from cuttings or purchased in nurseries.

Forming a seedling from a cutting

Such a pomegranate begins to form at the stage of cultivation even before the moment of planting in a permanent place. After rooting, a cuttings sapling grows in one stem or with several lateral branches. This will determine how to pinch.

When the cutting grows into one stem, then pinch the top. To form a bush, the pinching is carried out at a height of 10-15 cm. When the side branches grow, they are pruned again. This is how the main 5-6 branches are formed. If in the future it should be a mini-pomegranate tree, then the pinching is carried out at a height where the crown should begin to form. You also need to put a support to which to tie the future trunk so that it does not bend and is flat.

When the seedling initially began to branch, you need to remove the extra weak and low-lying side shoots, leave strong, well-developed, which will be the basis for the formation of a bush.

A seedling is planted from the cutting into the ground when it reaches a height of 50 cm. The next pruning is carried out in the first spring after planting. In the garden, they continue to shape plants to shape, and also do sanitary pruning and remove weak, dried branches.

Pruning a purchased seedling

In nurseries, they sell already grown plants, ready for planting in the ground, they already have a partially formed crown. These shrubs require supportive and sanitary pruning each spring to form the crown of the pomegranate. If necessary, pruning can be done in the fall after harvest.

Regardless of how the pomegranate is formed by a bush or mini-tree, the basic rules for pruning must be followed:

1. There should be no more than 6 main stems.
2. The middle of the crown should be visible and ventilated.
3. The undergrowth growing from below is removed.
4. Weak old and dry branches are removed.
5. Use a disinfected instrument.

The pomegranate has the peculiarity of growing and bearing fruit for a very long time, about 100 years. For this, rejuvenating pruning is carried out every 25-30 years. The bush is cut off completely, leaving branches of 20-30 cm, the cuts are covered with garden var. Across a short time young branches grow, and form a bush from them. This garden technique allows you to rejuvenate old pomegranate orchards.

The undergrowth should be removed from the bottom

Pomegranate pruning

Many flower growers have this plant grown from a stone on the windowsill. For home grown pomegranates, crown formation plays an important role. A seedling from a stone grows with one stem and has no decorative effect without pinching and pruning. Flowering and fruiting of such a pomegranate comes very late, it will take many years to wait.

First of all, you need to pinch the top, this is done at different heights. By doing this at a level of 5-12 cm, in the future you can get a beautiful branchy bush.

If there is a desire to form a mini-tree, then the pinch is done higher, in the place where the crown should be formed. As new branches grow, they continue to pinch until the desired shape is achieved.

For pomegranates that grow on a windowsill, the same pruning rules apply as for garden pomegranates. After cutting the indoor pomegranate from the cuttings, you can grow new plants by rooting the cuttings in loose soil or placing them in water until the roots appear. With this method of reproduction, plants completely inherit the qualities of the mother bush.

Young pomegranate sprouts should be pinned

Pomegranate bonsai

Pomegranate is a crop that easily tolerates pruning, and branches and stems can easily take on different shapes. These characteristics allow you to create true masterpieces of floral art. Using this feature of the plant, bonsai-style pomegranates are formed. It is laborious and time-consuming, but the result is worth the effort.

To turn a pomegranate from a seed, it must be already grown up, and the strongest stem must have a thickness of 2.5 cm. The following steps must be taken:

1. Remove all unnecessary branches.
2. The trunk is cut at a level of 20-25 cm.
3. Bend and give the desired shape, fix with wire.
4. Form a crown from overgrown branches.
5. Shaped by fixing with a fishing line.
6. Cut the crown as it grows.

When the main formative actions have been done, they take care of them like an ordinary pomegranate, water them, and feed them. Transplants into fresh, loose soil as needed. In this matter, it is important to be patient, and a small pomegranate bonsai will delight you with its beauty and intricate shape.

Graft

In addition to pruning and grooming, seed-grown pomegranates must be grafted to grow a healthy tree. This will allow:

• accelerate flowering and fruiting;
• give the fruits varietal qualities;
• improve the appearance of the plant.

Pomegranate grown from the seed rarely has the qualities and characteristics of the variety from which the seeds were taken. Fruiting will have to wait about 5 years. The fruits grow small in size with low taste characteristics. In order for the fruits to have varietal characteristics, they are grafted with cuttings from fruiting bushes. This will allow you to get the first pomegranates within a year after vaccination.

Also, with the help of grafting, you can add decorativeness, for this, cuttings are grafted from varieties that have necessary qualities... By grafting the Nana variety, you can get a dwarf pomegranate with small decorative fruits and beautiful leaves.

If you plant cuttings of Socotrian pomegranate, the bush will be decorated pink flowers, and the fruits will delight you with their size and taste.

If the goal is getting decorative plants, then a terry pomegranate is planted, it does not bear fruit, but its flowering is magnificent. Among the methods for grafting pomegranates are used:

• simple copulation;
• in the side cut;
• into cleavage.

For those who have had vaccination experience fruit trees, there will be no difficulties with inoculating a pomegranate, but it will not present any particular difficulty for a beginner either. It is possible to plant a seedling from seeds when the trunk or branches of the crown already have a thickness of 0.5 cm. Vaccination is done in the spring before the start of active growth.

For the procedure to be successful, you need to understand how to vaccinate correctly.

Socotrian pomegranate after grafting gives large fruits

Simple budding

This is the easiest and most common method of vaccination. It can be carried out on seedlings already in the second year of cultivation, so that the branches have the required diameter. The stalk should be the same thickness as the branch to which it needs to be grafted, have 4-5 developed buds, up to 5 cm long. To stimulate fusion, the cuttings can be soaked for 8 hours in Kornevin's solution. On the scion and inoculation, an oblique cut 2.5-3 cm long is made at an angle of about 30 cm, the cut should fit snugly.

The junction is covered with garden varnish and wrapped with electrical tape or garden bandage. The winding is left until the moment of complete splicing. Using this method, several varieties can be grafted onto one plant.

This method is practiced if the cuttings have a smaller diameter than the rootstock branch. The stalk is cut at an angle of 30 cm from both sides, forming a peg. The rootstock branch is split from the side so that the cutting can be tightly inserted. Having connected the branches in this way, the junction is tightly wrapped with electrical tape. You can remove the winding after 2-3 months.

Side section grafting scheme

An easy way to vaccinate if you need to completely replace a variety. When a plant grows from the seeds that does not meet its characteristics, it can be used as a stock for another variety. For this, the plants are cut completely, leaving only 20-30 cm of the main stem. It is better to use a shank of the same diameter. The graft is cut on both sides at an angle of 45 degrees, it will look like a flat peg. The rootstock is split in the middle. The rootstock is combined with the scion. The junction is covered with pitch and tightly wrapped with a garden bandage, thick fabric tape or electrical tape.

Important vaccination rules that increase the percentage of established cuttings:

1. Keep cuttings fresh and healthy.
2. The instrument is disinfected.
3. The fit of the scion and stock is tight.
4. Do not overload the bush large quantity vaccinations at the same time.

Having done such a simple manipulation, you can get not only early fruiting, but also a varietal pomegranate tree on the windowsill.

Cleavage grafting scheme

Conclusion

As with every living plant, the pomegranate needs proper care. With the help of pruning, you can create not only a beautifully shaped plant, but also ensure its healthy development, high-quality and long-term fruiting. An important process in the cultivation of pomegranates is also grafting, which will help in creating a magnificent bush with tasty fruits.

How to grow a real pomegranate not only in an apartment, but also in a garden

Pomegranate or Pomegranate tree (Punica) is a genus of shrubs and small trees of the Lythraceae family. The fruits of plants from this genus are called pomegranates.

The origin of the generic name lat. "Punica" from the Latin word "punicus" - Punic, Carthaginian, according to the wide distribution of the plant in this country (modern Tunisia). The Russian name "pomegranate" comes from the Latin "granatus" (granular). The history of the origin of the name of this fruit is very interesting in itself. V Ancient rome this fruit had two Latin names - malum punicum and malum granatum.

The first literally meant "Punic apple"; the Romans called Punians the Phoenicians who migrated from Asia Minor to North Africa in the XII-VII centuries BC e. and founded a number of colonies there: Carthage, Utica, Leptis Magna and others. At that time it was believed that the best pomegranates grow in Carthage. The second name, literally meaning "granular apple" - malum granatum, formed the basis for the names of this fruit in other languages: in German - Granatapfel (Apfel - apple), Italian - melograna (mela - apple), Swedish - Granatapple, Spanish - Granada, French - Grenade and English - pomegranate (from Latin pomum - fruit).

Pomegranate is cultivated not only for the purpose of obtaining fruits, it is grown in the garden as hedges with flowers of various colors (pink, fiery red, white, cream, light yellow), used for cutting. At a young age, the pomegranate has very flexible shoots, allowing you to create any shape of the crown and trunk, which is ideal for bonsai.

Description of pomegranate

Socotra pomegranate (Punica protopunica) is endemic to Socotra Island. It is quite rare in nature. The plant grows on limestone and stony plateaus at an altitude of 250-310 m above sea level, often among croton thickets.

This is not high evergreen tree, 2.5-4.5 m high, with rounded or elliptical leaves. It differs from common pomegranate in smaller pink (not red) flowers, raised on pedicels, the structure of the ovary, smaller fruit, lower sugar content in fruits, and a number of other anatomical and morphological features.

Pomegranate care

Lighting. Pomegranate prefers bright light, can do without shading, is suitable for growing near south-facing windows, but in summer you should still shade the plant from the midday sun.

In the summer, it is advisable to take the plants to open air, in a semi-shaded place (until September). If the long period of bright days was few, then with an increase in illumination, the plant should be gradually accustomed to direct sunlight in order to avoid sunburn, and the acquired plant should also be dealt with. V winter period place the plant in a bright, cool place.

Temperature. During the growing season, the pomegranate prefers an air temperature in the region of 20-25 ° C. The temperature is lowered in autumn.

Pomegranate has a pronounced rest period in winter time(from November to the end of February). It must be kept in cool conditions with little watering. The leaves of the pomegranate for the winter can fly around completely or partially. Plants overwinter well in cold, light rooms at a temperature of 5-10 ° C. If the pomegranate overwinters at temperatures above 15 ° C, frequent spraying is necessary. It is permissible to keep it at a higher temperature, but if in winter the pomegranate is in a cool room, then in the spring it will bloom and bear fruit better.

The plant needs fresh air.

Watering. During the growing season, the plant is watered abundantly, with soft, settled water, as the upper layer of the substrate dries up. A plant with fruits can be watered twice a day. From the end of August, watering of the pomegranate is reduced and feeding is stopped so that the shoots ripen, after the leaves have fallen off, they are watered extremely moderately, at the same time, preventing the earthen coma from drying out and excessive moisture.

Humidity. Air humidity does not play a significant role for the plant.

Fertilizer. Pomegranate takes fertilizer well. In spring and early summer, nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers are applied, and at the end of summer - fertilizers with a high potassium content.

Bloom. For lush bloom it is important to form the crown correctly. In the spring, dry branches are removed, and the young are trimmed, leaving 2-3 pairs of leaves. During the summer, excess growth that forms in the lower part of the stems is regularly trimmed. And once every 5 years, pomegranates are rejuvenated by removing one of the old trunks and leaving a strong young shoot in return.

Pomegranate is a cross-pollinated plant. This means that flowers of different types are formed on one plant: flowers with a short pistil do not form fruits, and flowers with a long pistil, being pollinated, set fruits. If the fruit is more important to you than the pomegranate bloom, the flowers of the first type, which take a lot of energy from the plant, can be removed. Beautifully flowering varieties (most decorative terry), as a rule, only bloom and do not form fruit.

Transfer. Pomegranates are transplanted in the spring after the end of the dormant period: young plants - annually, adults - every 2-4 years. Pomegranate does not need large pots, this is due to the fact that it blooms well when the roots are a little crowded. Therefore, there is no need to increase the volume of the dishes when transplanting. The substrate should be nutritious and loose (turf, humus, leafy soil, sand (1: 0.5: 1: 1). Good drainage is provided at the bottom of the pot.

Reproduction. Plants are propagated by seed, cuttings and grafting.

Reproduction by seeds. Pomegranate seeds are sown in autumn ( better in autumn) or in the spring. The composition of the earthen mixture: turf soil with sand in a ratio of 1: 1. Germination can be accelerated by maintaining the soil temperature at 22-25 ° C. Seedlings dive one at a time into 5-7 cm pots. The composition of the earthen mixture: turf - 1 hour, sand — 1 hour. Water abundantly. In winter, watering is limited, especially after the leaves fall. In spring, young plants are transferred to 7-centimeter pots. In the early years, plants grow slowly. Flowering occurs in the 5-8th year (with a pot culture).

Propagation by cuttings. In February-March, cuttings are cut 10 cm long (from ripe shoots) and planted in a distribution box, or mini-plate. Rooted cuttings are transplanted into 7-centimeter pots. The composition of the substrate: sod land - 1 hour, humus - 0.5 hours, leaf - 1 hour, sand - 1 hour. Cut also in the summer with semi-ripe cuttings. Garden varieties propagated by grafting; seedlings serve as stock. Flowering occurs in the 3-4th year.

Possible difficulties

The pomegranate does not bloom. Common pomegranate blooms in 5-7 years. Dwarf pomegranate blooms in 1-2 years. Flowers form at the ends of the shoots, so crown formation during the growing season can interfere with flowering.

The leaves turn yellow and fall off. Pomegranate is a deciduous shrub. In winter, he needs to be provided with a cool place. Leaves may not completely fall off.

Leaves are covered brown spots and fall off during the growing season. The pomegranate was dry. Observe the correct watering regime, new shoots will appear.

Branches break. The branches of the pomegranate are thin and flexible; under the weight of ripening fruits, they can break. Use support sticks, tie bending branches to them.

The fruits are cracked. During the period of fruit ripening, the soil should not be excessively moistened - this causes the fruits to crack.

Seeds do not germinate. Only freshly harvested seeds are used for planting. Do not allow them to dry out.

There are many flowers, but few fruits are tied. Fruits on a pomegranate form only flowers with a long pistil. The rest wither and fall off.

Gets damaged

Spider mite, aphids, scale insects, whiteflies.

Tips from the site * Garden and vegetable garden *

When growing a common pomegranate, keep in mind that the first generation flower buds bloom at the same time as the leaves, and the second generation flower buds appear after bud formation on one-year-old annelids that appear on two-year, main shoots.

It should also be borne in mind that, although for the most part two-year pomegranate shoots easily tolerate cold to -20'C, some flower buds frost can die, therefore, at such and lower temperatures, pomegranates require shelter, this is important, since recently gardeners have been trying to grow cold-resistant pomegranate varieties in more northern regions- Moscow region, Central Russia, to the climatic conditions of which he is not accustomed.

Pomegranate yields depend primarily on the number of full-fledged flowers preserved after flowering.

A full-fledged flower of a pomegranate has a thickened base with a long column covered with a capitate stigma, on which, when pollen hits it, a thick liquid is released, which preserves the pollen and promotes its rapid germination.

The already mentioned short-pistillate flowers are bell-shaped, smaller, and underdeveloped ovary. These flowers will fall off one way or another and they do not yield a harvest, although they bloom very luxuriantly, because there are more of them than normally developing, so do not be discouraged to see that the harvest is not as large as expected after flowering - this is a normal process.

Pomegranate is self-pollinating, pollination occurs within the flower, so take note of this for those who want to try to grow pomegranates in greenhouses.

But the main condition for obtaining a harvest of grants is its thermophilicity, therefore, when caring for it, the main condition must be observed - the sum of positive temperatures cannot be less than 3000 degrees, we note that on Black sea coast In the Caucasus, it often reaches 4700-4800 degrees Celsius.

High humidity for pomegranate it is not a problem, it is cultivated in regions where, according to their climatic conditions, the amount of precipitation is over 500 millimeters, not such a rarity.

It is also undemanding to the quality of the soil, but for it successful cultivation well-drained crushed stone soils, as well as lime or loam with good water permeability, are better suited, but when it comes to the latter, they must be rich in nutrients.

Moisture will be retained in the ground better if mulch annually trunk circles straw or weeds, green manure. the soil around the pomegranate tree will also help to grow it successfully along with organic application - it is very responsive to this.

I know that some gardeners from the northern regions of Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region, Stavropol Territory and Astrakhan grow pomegranates in gardens and dachas as a covering culture, that is, when winter comes, the bush is bent to the ground, just as they do with bushes of thermophilic grape varieties, and then sprinkle with earth starting from the top of the bush.

Landing

When planting a pomegranate, it must be borne in mind that for a covering form, the plants are planted with a slope of 45-60: towards the south. Other gardeners pull pomegranate branches with sacking for the winter. Considering that this plant is deciduous, frost-resistant, it is still easier to cover with burlap.

The size landing pit- as for other fruit crops. The top layer of soil is poured onto the bottom of the pit, then about a bucket of old rotted manure mixed with earth.

During the period of active growth, the ground around the tree is periodically not deeply loosened and moderately moistened, maintaining in this state the entire growing season.

On depleted and poor soils, already in June, pomegranates are fed: 8 g of potassium, 15 g of phosphorus, 10 g of nitrogen. In autumn, phosphorus and potassium (25:15) are introduced when loosening the soil.

Pruning pomegranate and shaping the crown of the tree

The most convenient form of a pomegranate tree for care is, of course, a bushy one - 5-6 trunks.

If the growing season is successful and the pomegranate grows well, receiving timely care then these branches begin to age, as this process is being replaced with fresh ones. Rejuvenating pruning is carried out quite rarely - no more than 25 years old, if with rejuvenating pruning you cut off the entire part of the tree that is above the soil, then the pomegranate, if these conditions are met, can grow and bear fruit with good yields up to 100 years, so the grandchildren will get it.

Formative pruning of pomegranate differs little from the same type of pruning of other garden shrubs and short trees. It is done after harvesting from the tree and in the spring. First of all, dry and fatty shoots are cut out, as well as unnecessarily thickening ones. Pomegranate shoots and root offspring should be removed regularly from the pomegranate.

Reproduction of pomegranate.

Pomegranate propagates both by seed (in breeding) and vegetatively - that is, by ordinary cuttings.

Photo 2: Seed pomegranate

Slightly lignified cuttings about 23-25 ​​centimeters long are harvested from annual shoots of the best healthy mother bushes, including shoots.

The soil for the cuttings must be well fertilized, breathable, well-drained, not in the "wet" place of the site

When planting, the cuttings must be buried so that there is only one internode on the soil.

Planting of pomegranate cuttings begins at a time when the earth warms up at a depth of 10-12 centimeters to 12 degrees, no less, all the same, the plant is southern, thermophilic.

You can also successfully propagate pomegranate with green cuttings (end of May - June). The method of growing green cuttings is the same as for other easily rooted crops.

In room conditions, cuttings about 10 cm long are cut. The soil temperature (20-25 degrees), air humidity (it is possible in a plastic bag tied on top), illumination - sufficient, but not direct sunlight (the temperature rises sharply, which leads to the death of cuttings ).

Many people saw the fruits of the pomegranate, let's just say about their biological characteristics.

Pomegranate is nothing more than a false berry, with many seeds (their number in different varieties can be from four hundred to seven hundred and fifty). The fruits are surrounded by a very dense, slightly drying peel, it is thanks to it that the pomegranate has excellent transport performance and "reaches" the season to the most northern latitudes the same as if it had just been plucked from a tree.

Pomegranate varieties

Wild pomegranate is much smaller than its cultured counterparts. In cultivated varieties, the fruits are usually very beautiful, large, reaching a mass of even one and a half kilograms.

Most large varieties grenades Kazake, Ak-don, Achik-don.

Pomegranate has many varieties that differ in color and size, as well as ripening times, cold resistance, sugar content, number of seeds (by the way, among the varieties there are those that do not have seeds at all, the so-called seedless pomegranates, and those that have soft seeds).

So, for example, the following zoned varieties are preferred for the Kuban.

Variety "Pink Polosha".

Semi-shrub. The crown is semicircular. The fruits of the "Polosha" are large, oval in shape, with a pink skin and large, rich cherry-colored grains. Very aromatic sour juice.

"Gyulosha red".

The tree is thorny. Fruits are greenish, creamy, round, spotted, with very large grains. The juice is sweet, sour, very tasty.

Nikitsky early.

Low shrub. Very large grenades. The grains are medium in size, the juice is also sweet but sour.

Productivity, fruit size depends on agricultural practices. The plant can be formed in relation to the conditions of the area: large or dwarf, taking into account the shelter for the winter or not.

There are dwarf decorative varieties up to 30-50 cm in height, constantly blooming in the room and giving small (with Walnut) fruits. These shapes are extraordinarily beautiful.

Dwarf pomegranate

Let us dwell separately on the dwarf grenade.

This type is good for everyone, except, of course, the size of the fruits, which, incidentally, does not negate their excellent taste. Fruits at the very better care rarely exceed the weight of 70 grams, but taste indistinguishable from large-fruited varieties.

The height of the dwarf pomegranate bush reaches no more than a meter, but very quickly, even when this pomegranate propagates by seeds, it can "throw out" flowers already in the first year, although it barely reached 20-25 centimeters. By the way, it blooms for six months (from May until the first frost), and flowering is one of the most beautiful that I have ever seen in nature. If a dwarf pomegranate is grown at home, indoor conditions, then New Year you will come across a flowering tree.

This type of bush has a regular pyramidal shape. His flowers are large and beautiful, orange, but they can also be bright red, grow directly in the axils of the leaves, which are much smaller than those of their large-fruited counterparts in the genus. The leaves are shed for only two, less often three months.

The ovary is formed by a few flowers. On one bush, about ten to twelve fruits grow and ripen, of the most varied colors - more often red, less often yellow or greenish-cream. The pulp of the fruit is very juicy and sweet. Pomegranates ripen indoors, at home they can even in December - they are in no hurry.

The fruits of the dwarf pomegranate have very useful properties, for example, anthelmintic. Brew 45 grams of twigs or roots with 400-450 milliliters of boiling water, evaporate to half the volume and strain. You need to take in small sips for 60-70 minutes little by little, then take a laxative and forget about the worms. The prose of life, but someone will come in handy.

Second folk recipe from pomegranates is useful for those who have inflammation digestive tract, diarrhea, dysentery, dysbiosis after taking antibiotics, and gum disease.

Prepare half a liter of boiling water, and pour 1 tbsp. a spoonful of pomegranate tree bark, boil for 10-12 minutes, then let it brew for at least 2 hours and strain well.

Take for the above problems three times a day, one hundred milliliters before eating. It helps very well.

The use of pomegranates - medicinal and beneficial properties of fruits

Pomegranate fruits, characterized by an excellent variety of taste and many useful and even medicinal properties, are consumed both fresh and processed. The main food component is juice, which is contained in fruits (up to 75 percent). It is considered to be one of the best fruit juices.

Pomegranate juice (especially made at home, with your own hands - the factory is a factory) contains up to 20 percent sugars, 3% fat, up to 1.5% protein, up to 4% acids, of which the main one is citric, and many vitamins.

Juice can be of a wide variety of colors, moreover, if pomegranate juice is bottled, then the color primarily depends on the good faith of the manufacturer, while pomegranate juice prepared at home from fruits grown on its site is most often dark ruby, with the exception of only varieties of pomegranate with light pink grains.

According to the taste of the juice, the varieties are combined into 3 main groups: sour, sweet and sour and sweet.

How useful is fresh pomegranate juice in the heat, in case of fatigue! It is perfect for use in the manufacture of soft drinks and food preparation.

The fruits are used for scurvy, chronic stomach diseases. Pomegranate juice lowers the temperature, improves digestion, quenches thirst, is a prophylactic against neoplasms, improves qualitative composition blood.

Pomegranate seeds, with 20% starch and at least 20% fat, are used to obtain oil and.

The peel of the pomegranate fruit contains tannins and tannins, so it is used in both the dyeing and tanning industries.

In the countries of the East, high-quality, natural persistent paints are made from pomegranate bark, as well as from the roots of the plant: black, yellow, brown, pink, purple - for dyeing fabrics. These dyes are significantly superior to synthetic ones.

Citric acid is obtained from small pomegranate fruits.

The flowering of the pomegranate is very lush and very, very beautiful, since it is long enough for many to plant pomegranates not only for harvesting, but also for simple aesthetic enjoyment of its flowering tree.

Pomegranate is grown everywhere: from the South to the Far North. If in the greenhouses of small North Iceland there are so many bananas ripening that there are enough of them for all the inhabitants of the country, then a much more seasoned pomegranate can grow in every exotic lover who loves nature, with which we are all inextricably linked.

Growing pomegranate outdoors in practice - tips and tricks

When I started growing pomegranates, at first I tried many ways to hide bushes, but in the end I chose the best of all - I created my own method, which I consider to be simpler and more affordable.

I start by landing. I set aside a sunny place for landing, I dig a trench. I throw the earth out of the trench with a shaft to the edges, then in the trench itself I dig a hole for planting 40x40x40 cm in size.

To provide a seedling for the first time good food, I mix the earth from the hole with humus or compost and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1.

I plant seedlings in a row at a distance of 170-200 cm with a slope of about 40-50%. The slope is directed towards the sun. I bury a post near each bush, which serves as a garter. The pomegranate bush itself is usually in 3-4 branches. After planting, in the process of growth, shoots form at the base of the seedling, which I use to create the number of shoots I need. Usually in the fall I leave 2-3 best shoots from the coppice shoots to create new branches. If I don't need shoots, I remove them as they grow.

According to my observations, the pomegranate blooms in the 2-3rd year. But the first full-fledged fruits are obtained in the 4th year. I think this is primarily due to the fact that by this time the pomegranate already has a large supply of wood and begins to bloom in late May - early June, and the fruits have time to ripen. When the bush is young, it blooms late - in July-August. The fruits do not have time to ripen at such a time.

The pomegranate bloom is very abundant. It blooms from May to August, but only a fifth of the flowers are female, and only on them the fruits are tied.

Pomegranate flowers are very large, bright red, beautiful. When it blooms, it surprises and fascinates with its flowers, many who see the bloom say: if it is not possible to grow the fruits, we will grow because of the flowers.

Keeping a pomegranate with a bush is also advantageous because when the branch becomes large, it is difficult to cover it, I remove this branch. But by this time I am preparing a new one from the growth.

If you leave six or more branches, the fruits become smaller, and the bush itself develops worse.

The most optimal: 3-5 fruiting branches (these are those that are 4 years old or more) and 3-4 branches that are not yet bearing fruit, but are needed for replacement. For example, a five-year-old bush should have 3-4 fruiting branches and 2-3 needed for replacement.

I do the pruning in two steps - in the fall, before the shelter, I remove those branches that are poorly located in the crown of the bush and which will interfere with the shelter, and those that I cannot bend down for shelter. I do the second pruning in the spring - after opening, this is about April. At this time, I cut off the broken off, rotten branches and make sure that there is no thickening in the bush. After opening, I tie it to a post, raise it from the ground and evenly distribute the branches.

The most laborious part of growing a pomegranate, I believe, is a shelter for the winter. My pomegranate variety can withstand temperatures down to -18 C, then it starts to freeze. Therefore, in order to facilitate the shelter, I plant a seedling in a trench, since the seedling is located in a recess, it is enough to untie it from the post, and it falls into the prepared hole itself, it remains only to sprinkle it with earth.

From my own experience, I realized that 10-15 cm of soil on top of the bush is enough for the plant to overwinter. With ours warm winters and with an excess of moisture, in order to prevent the branches from drying out, I put an old slate or sheet of iron on top of the bush.

For fifteen years, during which pomegranate grows with me, I have not observed any pests or diseases. Although amateur gardeners still recommend after overwintering, sprinkle with a 3% Bordeaux liquid before budding.

Watering the grenade is essential. I water mainly as needed, but I noticed: if you don't water, flowers shedding is observed in drought.

My pomegranate variety is not as red as on the market, but it is in no way inferior in sweetness.

In summer, when you look at the bush, at its narrow, elongated leaves, unlike any other flowers in shape and color, it seems that you need to include pomegranate in the ranks of your favorite fruit crops grown in the open field. Let the harvest be not so much, but the pomegranates will always seem tastier and more aromatic than those imported from the southern regions. And with what pride you take in your hands a pomegranate fruit grown by your own hands!

Growing from a bone

Garnet. Growing from a bone

A very ripe fruit is suitable for planting, only without rot and mold. Ripe, viable seeds have a dark color Ivory they are very hard to the touch. Soft greenish seeds will not sprout, as they are unripe.

Before planting, it is useful to soak the seeds in a solution of epin or zircon - this will disinfect them and activate them for germination. For this, water is poured into a shallow bowl or saucer on the bottom of the water, so that the seeds are about half filled, and two or three drops of epin or zircon are dripped into the water. The seeds should not be completely covered with water - without oxygen, the germination process will be ruined. They need to be left soaked in this liquid for about 10-12 hours, and during this time there should be enough water. The swollen bones left without moisture will begin to dry out, crack and die.

They are sown no deeper than a centimeter. The first shoots appear in about a week. The germination rate of the pomegranate is close to 100%, but it is stretched out in time - after six months, a seed may germinate for no apparent reason, which everyone has forgotten about.

The emerging seedlings practically do not require leaving, the pomegranate is not the most capricious plant. But in order to grow a fluffy tree, you need to carry out some manipulations.

When the first pair of true leaves appears, the seedling needs to be transplanted into a deeper container; along the way, when transplanting, it will be useful to dive it, so it will stretch less. Then, after waiting for the third pair of true leaves, the fourth is pinched, thus stimulating the pomegranate to grow with two tops.

In the future, these two branches are also pinched at the phase of the third pair of leaves. Without this, the pomegranate from the stone will grow upward in one twig and there will be little beauty in it for a long time.

The first bloom can occur at the age of 10 months, if the pomegranate has enough light. It is easy to determine this - a plant that has enough light does not stretch, and its new branches almost immediately begin to build up bark, they are reddish, the leaves grow wide and dark green, with brown veins on the wrong side.

When there is not enough light, the distances between the pairs of leaves are large, the branches themselves are light green and very thin, the leaves are also light green, transparent, narrow, without veins. If the sprout begins to stretch, and there is no way to add lighting, it is better to pinch all new shoots under the root and reduce watering, it is just as good to place the pomegranate in temperatures lower than usual, up to 10 degrees.

Pomegranate is one of those plants that shed their leaves every fall and rest in the winter for a month or two. But for this he needs low temperature... As soon as the temperature rises to 15-20 degrees, the pomegranate will begin to grow leaves and branches again.

The soil for a room pomegranate grown from a seed is the same as for citrus fruits, for example, you can take ready-made soil for lemon in a store.

Pomegranate - in Latin "granular". In the wild, it has been known since the days of Carthage. In cultural horticulture, two autonomous species are grown - the Common and the Socotran, although there are many wild pomegranates. Traditionally, pomegranate groves are part of the Mediterranean landscape. To grow this exotic tree in our latitudes country garden unreal. But if you really want to get pomegranate from the seed, growing at home will be a good way out. Moreover, it is not difficult at all, and there is a special third type indoor plant- Dwarf pomegranate.

This deciduous subtropical plant in culture rarely reaches two meters in height. In the wild, it can grow up to six meters. In indoor cultivation, its growth is unlikely to exceed 80-100 cm, but its low growth will not affect the fruiting of a tree.

By the way. The dwarf pomegranate is popular, along with lemons, oranges, other citrus fruits, home cultivation of pineapple and coffee tree.

The fruit of the plant is a berry, which consists of 6-12 sections, arranged in two rows and filled with more than a thousand seeds. It is from these seeds that the pomegranate is grown.

By the way. Pomegranate begins to bear fruit in the garden from the age of three, and with careful care it can continue to bear fruit for up to forty years. A dwarf pomegranate is able to bear fruit in the second year, but this will last for a maximum of seven years. And there is a high probability that the fruits will not appear at all.

Nevertheless, the cultivation of any indoor exotic, which is impossible, due to the inconsistency of climatic conditions, to have in the garden at the dacha outside Moscow is an exciting activity.

Landing

Seeds of the pomegranate tree are on sale today, they can be purchased, packed in a beautiful bag with a bright realistic picture, on the Internet or when visiting a store. But it is better for sowing to take fresh seeds of the fruit of another indoor pomegranate.

Important! The fruits that are sold in the market can have excellent taste qualities... But, unfortunately, they are all hybrids, which means that plants grown from their seeds will not retain their maternal qualities. Most likely, they will not bear fruit at all, although decorativeness will remain high.

The process of planting a pomegranate step by step

Removing the bones is simple. They need to be peeled from the pulp and carefully examined. Only hard grains of light cream color are suitable for sowing, if they are green and soft, it is not worth planting.

The prepared bones are left in water for 12 hours by adding a few drops of the Epin biostimulator. It is necessary to have a little water - it should not cover all the bones, since they will need oxygen.

The substrate is being prepared. It becomes loose, soft and fertile. Although the plant is unpretentious in terms of soil structure and composition under normal conditions, it will need additional nutrition in the house. You can buy universal seedling soil at the store, or you can make it from peat, sand and leaf turf. All ingredients in equal amounts.

Growing capacity may be small. When the seedling develops and outgrows the pot (this will happen in a year or two), it will need to be transplanted into a large container. You can read about how to make seedling containers yourself in

After soaking in a solution, the seeds are well dried and buried in a moistened substrate. Planting depth is about 1.5 cm.

Advice. It is immediately recommended to sow several seeds in one pot. After the emergence of seedlings, it will be clear which of them are strong and have a high growth potential, and which ones are best removed immediately so that they do not consume nutrients from the soil. If all seedlings good quality, they can later be simply planted in individual pots.

Crops are thoroughly watered and covered with glass. The pot is placed on a windowsill, where the sun is for the maximum number of hours.

By the way. If the planting was carried out at the very beginning of spring, and there is enough light, the seedlings can hatch in two to three weeks. Sowing at other times may take months for the seeds to germinate.

Seedling care

A room grenade needs special comfort and the best possible conditions. Care for seedlings begins as soon as they appear from the soil.

Table 1. Stages of caring for pomegranate seedlings.

Parameter	Description
	You will need a room with a stable temperature of about + 25ºC. Saplings need clean air, but ventilation should be done carefully so that the plants do not fall into the draft zone. Humidity is maintained at a fairly high level - about 80%. To achieve this indicator, you can place wide containers of water near the heating devices, use a humidifier and regularly spray pomegranate leaves from a spray bottle. The spray water must be warm.
	This plant is very light-requiring. Sapling pots must be sent to the sunniest windowsill. The grenade needs direct rays of the sun for at least two hours daily. If the seeds are sown in winter, there will be insufficient lighting in any case. You will need additional supplementary lighting for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening before daylight hours increase.
	A pomegranate does not need a large amount of moisture in the soil. It is enough to water it twice a week with a small amount of warm water, which has settled in the room for at least two days. In a pot with a seedling, there must be drainage holes, and at the bottom there is a drainage layer of expanded clay so that the roots can breathe. After each watering, for better aeration of the soil, it is necessary to loosen its top layer.
	The procedure for removing the tip is mandatory. For the first time, pinching is carried out when three pairs of leaves have formed on the seedling. It will not allow the tree to stretch too much and will give the two tops the opportunity to develop. In the future, a pretty lush crown will form from them. The branches will be thicker, the fruits will not break off. After a while, it is necessary to trim the tops again. And do this for six months after every three pairs of leaves on each shoot.
	When the first true leaves are formed and the seedling is formed, you can transplant it, or plant it if several seedlings of equal quality have grown in one container. When transplanting, the root is shortened by a third. The root cut is sprinkled with crushed coal. Each pot should have drainage and fresh nutrient soil. After transplanting, the seedlings are not exposed to direct sun for a week.
	Organomineral complexes will do. It is also good to fertilize seedlings with infusion of mullein or droppings, any organic matter. But it is worth remembering that an excess of nitrogen will give a rapid formation of a leaf mass to the detriment of fruit formation. Therefore, in everything you need to observe the measure.

Taking care of an adult tree

It may take a pomegranate about eight months from the moment of germination to become a mature indoor tree. After that, it can already be treated like an adult plant.

1. Transfer to a room with a temperature of + 20ºC, that is, a tree can live in any room at normal room temperature.
2. It is advisable to keep the light intensity and the amount of direct sunlight, at least until the plant blooms.
3. The pomegranate still needs regular ventilation.
4. Watering can be reduced to once a week.
5. To see the pomegranate bloom, he will need top dressing.
6. In winter, the pomegranate should shed its leaves and have a dormant period.

Winter rest

The tree can bloom nine months after germination. It starts and continues in the summer. Flowers are produced in two varieties. The one that looks like a jug is bisexual and sets a fruit. Bell-shaped is sterile.

After flowering, if the fruits are set, they will ripen during the fall. Then the tree will definitely shed its foliage, signaling that it is time for it to dive into peace.

Advice. Do not stimulate the growth of pomegranate in winter. It is necessary to create for him comfortable conditions for relax. Otherwise, the plant will quickly deplete and eventually die.

To give the grenade a rest, in winter it should be moved to a room where the temperature does not rise above + 12ºC. Watering is reduced to twice a month. All feeding is stopped. The tree should be at rest for two months.

The fact that the dormant period is over, the pomegranate will make it clear with the appearance of new leaves. After that, it must be returned to its original premises, intensively watered and fed with organic matter.

Watering features

When watering, it is necessary that water is delivered only to the root. Better to use a small, narrow-nosed watering can.

Important! Watering decreases during the flowering period of the pomegranate, increases when fruits begin to form and ripen, and decreases at rest.

Water is always two degrees warmer than the air in the room. You need to defend it for at least a day.

If the room is dry, the humidity rises by spraying the leaves with non-cold water, preferably boiled water.

Fertilization rules

An adult tree over one year old is fertilized every two weeks with a complex organomineral composition. An exception is the dormant period, during which no additional feeding is applied.

If the pomegranate is not grown as decorative tree, but for fruits that will be eaten, mineral fertilizers it is fed only until the flowering period. As soon as the tree blooms, feeding with slurry or chicken droppings diluted in water begins.

By the way. Manure and droppings - not the best fertilizers for plants that are grown in the apartment - their smell may not like the rest of the residents. For feeding, you can take out the pomegranate every two weeks for several days on the balcony, especially in the summer.

Transplant features

From the time of the first transplant of the seedling to the second, a year should pass. It is necessary to consider the following - the larger the pomegranate pot, the more sterile flowers will form on it. The capacity should be chosen tight. It is time to replant after the first year, when the root of the tree braids the entire earthen ball, filling the pot.

By the way. With each subsequent transplant, the capacity increases in diameter, first by two, and then by three centimeters.

After four years, they stop replanting the tree, but every year they remove about five centimeters of the top layer of the substrate in a pot and replace it with a new one.

Pruning

This plant bears fruit on young shoots of the current year. Pruning is an important part of pomegranate care. Its crown must constantly be shaped so that it grows in the form of a lush bush or tree with three to five skeletal branches.

On each first branch, branches of the second order are laid - up to five pieces. On them, the third order of branching is formed, where the formation of fruits occurs.

Advice. Be sure to cut the shoots at the root if they appear in the pot. Also remove all fat branches and shoots in the inner direction of growth.

After three years, you can start cutting off old branches that are no longer involved in fruiting.

Healing pomegranate

This tree has a lot of pests in apartment conditions. The most serious diseases are root and branch cancers.

Table 2. Methods for the destruction of pests.

Pest type	Destruction methods
Aphid	Processing with tobacco infusion. 40 g of tobacco powder is poured with a liter of eighty-degree water. After two days of infusion, dilute in half with water and dissolve four grams of grated laundry soap in the infusion. The method of processing is spraying. Quantity - three times with an interval of two days.
Scale insect, whitefly	This group of pests can be destroyed all at once by treating the plant with infusion of garlic or onion peels. They take 20 g of it and immerse it in a liter of water. For five days, the husk is infused, filtered, and daily spraying begins until the pests completely disappear.
Moth	There is no safe and non-toxic way to get rid of the moth. For prevention, you need to carefully collect all fallen leaves and pomegranate fruits from the surface of the pot soil. If the fruit is affected by a pest on the tree, it must be removed and discarded.
Mealybug	You can't get rid of this pest either. in a safe way... When it is found, it will be necessary to spray the tree with Aktara, Confidor and analogues three times every five days.
Spider mite	Destroyed by drugs "Aktellik" and "Fitoverm".

Diseases and other problems

Most often, the pomegranate tree is threatened by cancer of the roots or branches. It manifests itself on the bark by cracking or swelling. If the degree of damage is strong, shoots, branches and even the top of the trunk may dry out.