How to grow the pomegranate in organic

How to grow the pomegranate in organic

The pomegranate (Punica granatum, L.) is a plant native to south-western Asia that adapts to almost all climates even if, in colder areas, you have to be careful to grow the plant in a sheltered and protected area from frost. Pomegranate is an arboreal species that does not need support irrigation, except during the first two years of growth. In fact it resists very well to drought periods and in dry climates the ripening of the fruits is more balanced.
For the type of soil we do not recommend the clayey ones (also because of the danger of stagnation) and the best ones are rich in nutrients and deep that, in dry areas, allow the roots to still provide the necessary humidity to the vegetation of the plant.
The pomegranate propagation can occur in different ways. The most common is the cutting using well-developed branches of at least one year or, still used, is the burial of the suckers. In this case it will go towards an enlarged bushy shape of the plant.

For plants of production type today we are going with already grafted seedlings, with sixths of 3.50 meters for 6. In these cases at the end of the first year of cultivation a “back support” is installed (Y supports at the sixth of 10) , 5 meters by 6) connected by wires in steels. We point out however that in these cases the excessive specialization lends itself to a condition in “biological”.
The pomegranate pruning varies depending on whether you choose to grow the bush, tree or controlled forms (type Y). In any case it must be taken into account that fruit formation occurs in the vegetative apexes, so we must go very light. On the other hand, cleaning is necessary Other pruning of dry, broken or otherwise ruined branches. For the tree shapes the plant should be addressed in the first years by choosing the main tree (s) and eliminating all the other suckers. It is right to point out, for those who believe that the rules of nature have a sense that the most energetically suitable form is the bushy one. Under these conditions the plant reaches its maximum well-being.
The pruning period, whatever the technique, is from November to January, when the plant is in vegetative rest.
The ripening of the fruits (pomegranates) occurs in the month of October and the external fruits will first ripen. Pomegranates tend to split in conditions of water and climate imbalance. In the most organic soils this phenomenon manifests itself less.
Being a very rustic plant, parasitic attacks are difficult; The only aids are the aphids. To reduce their virulence the measures to be taken are:

Absolutely avoid fertilization with nitrogen of chemical origin;
Ventilate the plants a little more in areas with mist and therefore less ventilated;
Insert and / or associate with plants such as clover, borage and others that disturb aphids or intercept them (such as roses).
It is therefore always a good rule, when you want to work in organic, to recreate as much as possible the original ecosystem in which we will introduce our plant to be cultivated.