When you plant a pomegranate tree, Punica granatum, you’re most likely hoping that it’ll be productive for a long time to come.
It’s necessary to have patience, as it can take a few years before the plants begin to produce fruit.
Each season, you’ll be waiting at least six months from the time they set fruit in spring or summer until they’re ready to harvest, typically in late summer or fall.
While you’re playing the waiting game, there are several factors that not only affect how the fruit matures, but that can impact how successful the yield will ultimately be in terms of quality as well.
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Some of these factors can lead to an unfortunately common outcome: cracked or split fruit. What was once a semi-round, leathery globe is suddenly a mess of exposed, decaying arils, still attached to the limb.
Why does this happen? How can we prevent it? Let’s take a closer look.
1. Water StressPomegranate trees or shrubs prefer to grow in semi-arid to arid conditions, where humidity is relatively low for the majority of the year. Obviously, regions that have an arid climate have little average annual rainfall.
When the plants are blooming and producing fruit, which occurs simultaneously between spring and fall, they typically require more water.
It’s necessary to provide one inch of water per week to maintain healthy fruit production in the absence of rainfall.
Overall, pomegranates require about 45 to 60 inches of rain per year. A rain gauge can help you to track how much precipitation your garden receives.
If the plant doesn’t receive enough water, especially during periods when
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