These should be applied in a shallow circular trench below tree canopy not beyond a depth of cm. After application, fertilizers are covered with top soil and irrigated. First irrigation is provided in case of mrig bahar crop in the middle of May followed by regular irrigation till the monsoon sets in. Weekly irrigation in summers and that during winters at fortnightly intervals is recommended.
The check basin system of irrigation is usually followed. The average annual water requirement through drip irrigation is 20 cm. Plants are trained on a single stem or in multi-stem system. Since the crops trained on single stem training system are more susceptible to pests viz. Pruning is not much required except for removal of ground suckers , water shoots, cross branches , dead and diseased twigs and also to give shape to the tree. A little thinning and pruning of old spurs is done to encourage growth of new ones.
Inter-cropping with low growing vegetables, pulses or green manure crops is beneficial. In arid regions, inter-cropping is possible only during the rainy season, whereas winter vegetables are feasible in irrigated areas.
The main diseases reported are leaf spot and fruit rot. Application of Mancozeb 2g. Fruit cracking is a serious disorder. This physiological disorder observed in young fruits is due to boron deficiency and that in fully grown fruits is mainly due to moisture imbalances.
Tolerant varieties viz. Bedana Bose and Khog may be cultivated and in other cases spraying with calcium hydroxide soon after fruit set has been found to be beneficial. Pomegranate being a non-climacteric fruit should be picked when fully ripe. Pomegranate plants take years to come into bearing. Harvesting of immature or over mature fruits affects the quality of the fruits.
The fruits become ready for picking days after fruit set. The calyx at the distal end of the fruit gets closed on maturity. At maturity, the fruits turn yellowish-red and get suppressed on sides. Fruits are graded on the basis of their weight, size and colour.
The various grades are super, king, queen and prince-sized. Besides that, pomegranates are also graded into two grades- 12A and 12 B. Fruits of A grade are generally preferred in southern and northern region. Fruits can be stored in cold storage upto 2 months or 10 weeks at a temperature of 5 0 C.
The size of packages varies according to the grade of the fruits. Corrugated fibre board boxes are mostly used. In a single box, queen sized fruits, 12 prince sized and some of A and B grades may be packed. The white coloured boxes having 5 plies are generally used for export purpose, whereas red-coloured ones having 3 plies are used for domestic markets.
The red coloured boxes are cheaper than white coloured ones. The cut pieces of waste paper are generally used as cushioning material. Majority of the growers sell their produce either through trade agents at village level or commission agents at the market.
Major sources for technology are:. Excess water and soggy conditions can lead to a poor harvest. The fruit will also be more prone to splitting, increasing the chances of problems with pests and fungal diseases. They appreciate cool winters and hot, dry summers. They thrive when growing season temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Pomegranate trees are more cold tolerant than citrus trees , but the levels vary depending on the cultivar.
Some can cope with winter temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when they dip this low, it would be prudent to grow them in containers so they can be moved into a garage or other sheltered location to minimize the chance of frost damage occurring.
Fertilize in November and March for the first two years. Otherwise, not much fertilizer is usually needed in subsequent years. In fact, over-fertilization can result in a poor harvest. There are many cultivars to choose from, including some that are more cold hardy. Some of the popular types include:. It takes around three years for a pomegranate tree to produce a proper harvest.
You'll know the fruits are ready to be picked when the color has developed, they have a matte rather than glossy sheen, they change from a round to a more hexagonal shape, and they make a metallic sound when tapped. Use a pair of pruning shears to cut the stem above the fruit instead of pulling it off. They can be stored for a long time if kept between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Pomegranates are prone to producing suckers , so remove them as they appear.
If you choose not to prune your pomegranate tree, it will develop a wider spreading bushy, shrub-like form. Regular pruning of branches in the first few years especially will help to encourage healthy new shoot development and a more abundant harvest.
After the tree is established, it may be enough only to prune away any dead , damaged, or diseased branches. It is a good idea to thin out the fruits growing on the branches. This will ensure the pomegranates can grow to full size and reduces the chance of a limb breaking because of excess weight.
Propagation is best done through hardwood cuttings taken in winter as those grown from seeds may not stay true to type. Food: fruit flesh is full of tender, edible seeds that are easy to eat with a nutty flavour. The flesh itself is juicy and sub-acid; it is used as a traditional garnish for Middle Eastern food. Pomegranate juice is refreshing and can be used in soups, sauces, jellies, ices or made into a sweet syrup called grenadine that flavours drinks, ice cream, cakes and baked apples.
The dried seeds are used as a seasoning in dhal, fried samosa, stuffing and chutney. It is important to remove every piece of skin surrounding the seeds, as this is bitter. Hedge: plants have a suckering habit and can form a dense impenetrable fruiting hedge. Container Plant: useful grown in a tub as an ornamental. Dye: the rind of the unripe fruits and the flowers are used as a dye. Available seasonally as plants: Pomegranate plants.
We are happy to replace the seeds, give you a credit or refund, whichever you prefer. Other than our guarantee to the extent of the purchase price Green Harvest gives no other warranty expressed or implied. No liability will be accepted by Green Harvest, its owners or employees as to the accuracy of any information. No responsibility will be taken for damage to property or persons due to information given about a product or technique. No responsibility will be taken for the loss of a crop or income due to information given about a product or technique.
0コメント