Pomegranate Growth After First Pruning

Nearly three weeks ago, I pruned my pomegranate sapling from 12 inches down to 6 inches. Over the next few days, six buds began to swell, five low on the trunk, soon to become branches, and one at the top to take over as the main trunk (called the leader). 

Notice the two buds swelling just above where the bottom two leaves connect to the trunk. 

There are another two buds sprouting from the same spot, seen here on the left side of the stem. 

A small bud beginning to grow halfway up the main stem. 

This bud will take over as the main trunk, called the leader. 

After a week, the buds had tripled in size! I was surprised that there were so many buds lower down on the trunk, as opposed to how avocados grow more buds higher up closer to the pruning cut. 

The buds have tripled in size!

I stopped taking so many pictures because I got busy with work and school, but I got a chance to take some this afternoon. Look at how grown up it looks now! 

So now here's a shot of just the bottom portion. I can really start to imagine how it's going to look as it continues to fill out. 

New baby branches! 

Like I've said before, I plan to try to keep this little tree as compact as possible while I'm still in college and not settled down yet. I'm thinking, pruning-wise, every 12 inches in height, I'll cut her back six. Then for the branches, every 6 inches they grow, I'll trim back three. I may revise this as she continues to grow, depending on what works and what looks best. For now things are going well!

I'll post again about her when it's time for her next "haircut."

Until next time, 

- Jess

First Pomegranate Pruning

In the time that has passed since my last post about my pomegranate seedling (about a week), it has grown another two inches in height, bringing it to a full foot tall! This means that it is time for me to prune it back to six inches.

The reason I want to prune my pomegranate while it is still so young is so that I can keep it small. Pomegranates are very forgiving when it comes to pruning and shaping, and I plan to take advantage of that. I don't have a lot of room for large fruit trees; my one avocado is large enough! Right now my pomegranate is in a 4-inch pot, and I intend to keep it in that little pot for as long as I can.

Here are a couple photos of it, with a ruler for scale:

   

Here you can get another view of the growth pattern of its leaves. They grow in pairs, on opposite sides of the stem.

A part of me doesn't want to cut it down, because it's worked so hard to get to the height that it is now. But on the other hand, I have to remind myself that pruning is essential if I want to keep this little guy healthy in such a small pot. Plus it'll be exciting once the branches start growing.

And here we go! She's already much sturdier.

Now what to do with the part I cut off? I may just stick it in my nursery pot and see what happens. I'm not sure if pomegranates will grow roots from a stem like that but it's worth it to experiment!

I'll post again in a few weeks once she's begun to grow her branches.

Until next time,

- Jess

Growing Pomegranate from Seed

Last April, I planted a bunch of seeds from different tropical fruits to see which ones I could grow. This included pomegranate. I think I planted two or three seeds, I got two sprouts, and one has survived and is about 10 inches tall now. 

This is what it looked like as it was first sprouting. It was the first seed to germinate in my nursery pot, where I planted all the tropical seeds. I wasn't sure which plant it was at this point, but I knew I'd never seen a baby like this one. 

Above is a shot of my nursery pot in early June. At the top is the pomegranate with its first set of true leaves. They're long and skinny and really pretty! There's another pomegranate sprout about halfway down the photo, but unfortunately this one never sprouted any true leaves. I was disappointed, but that is what happens when you grow things from seed. Not everything works out all the time. The other babies you see are lemons. I'll get around to posting about all my citrus babies soon! 

Once it had a few sets of true leaves, I transplanted my pomegranate into its own pot. The pot is 4" in diameter, which is plenty big for this guy for now. 

Based on what I've read about growing pomegranate online, they are very forgiving in terms of growth pattern and size. Naturally they grow as a shrub with multiple trunks, but they can be trained into a traditional tree shape with one main trunk, they can be kept at a dwarf size, they can be trained as a topiary, and I've even seen them trained as bonsai. It is funny to see a tiny tree with one giant pomegranate hanging onto it. 

I'm not sure exactly how I want to train mine, but I know I want to keep it as an indoor plant. Being in a transitional period between living with my parents and living on my own, I don't have my own yard. Besides, pomegranates don't grow naturally up north. The winters are too cold. 

I took this photo in the middle of July, I believe. It just keeps growing steadily upward! 

I took this photo today, with a ruler for scale. Its stem is about 10 inches tall. It's crazy how much it's grown in just one summer! (Please ignore the mess in my room... I'm still moving in to my apartment.)

There are little buds at the base of each leaf, which is where branches will eventually grow. I don't know how tall pomegranates grow before they start branching, but I don't have the space or the patience to find out. Once it reaches 12 inches tall, I will prune its height back to six inches. This will not hurt the plant. It will force it to branch out. Also, it will help the plant from becoming leggy and floppy. The trunk/stem has grown a little thicker since it sprouted, but not thick enough to fully support its height. Right now I have it leaning up against the window so it grows nice and straight. 

I will post updates as things change. 

Until next time,

- Jess