Moon Fruit: Pomegranate
Summer is over and autumn harvest is about to begin. The first plant this season is a packed pomegranate antioxidant! This amazing fruit has just begun to become brilliant red so watch and harvest as can be!
Background and History
The pomegranate is one of the oldest recorded fruits. It is mentioned in the Old Testament and is a large part of Egyptian food and preparation ceremonies. The pomegranate is a symbol of prosperity, abundance, fertility, gifts, and eternal life for many cultures. The name is derived from the French word "pomme garnete" which means "seeded apples."
Pomegranate comes from Iran and Mediterranean regions in Asia, Africa and Europe. In 1769, Spanish settlers brought pomegranates to California. Currently, commercial pomegranate farms are located in Tulare, Fresno, and Kern counties.
Types and Characteristics
The pomegranate is a pine bush and pine or small tree. The fruit is usually 2-5 inches wide with flower petals protruding at the base that resembles a crown. The skin is rough and hard with pink or crimson. The skin can change color or become brown and rough when exposed to too much sun. The inside is full of seeds surrounded by an aqueous pulp. The seed is embedded in the wall of the white membrane.
The tree reaches an average height height of 12-16 feet well inside the container. Its branches are rigid and often prickly. The trees can live for a long time and some have been known to live for over 200 years.
Harvesting and Storage
The fruit is ripe 6-7 months after flowering. The fruit is ready to be harvested if it makes a metallic sound when tapped. Look for fruit that is heavy for its size. It is important to harvest the fruit properly as it matures because the skin can open immediately. Skin is more susceptible to cracking when it rains. Never choose fruits but use garden scissors to bend as close as possible to the base of the fruit to remove the stems.
The fruit can be stored for a long time and the quality of the fruit actually increases in storage. Although the fruit is not ripe from the tree, the juice becomes sweeter the longer the fruit is stored. The fruit can last up to 7 months of storage!
Propagation and maintenance
Pomegranate grows with semi-dry temperature and is very drought resistant. Pomegranate is susceptible to cold temperatures and fruits can be damaged by frost. It is recommended to prune if the tree is about 2 feet tall. Crop to create a balanced and balanced tree consisting of 4-5 branches that are at least 1 foot from the ground. Remove all suckers. Fruit grows at the tip of new growth. Therefore, for the first 3 years prune branches every year to encourage new shoots. After 3 years, just take off the limb and sucker.
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