Fun Pomegranate Fruit Facts For Kids: Where Do Pomegranates Grow?

Abhijeet Modi
Oct 31, 2023 By Abhijeet Modi
Originally Published on Dec 02, 2021
Do you know where do pomegranates grow?

A pomegranate ( Punica granatum) is a bushy shrub that may grow to be 10-20 ft (3-6 m) tall and 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m) wide and can be trained as a single-trunk small tree or medium grown multi-trunked.

The jewel-like arils housed inside the leathery crimson peel of the pomegranate fruit, the stem in the shape of a flower, and seeds filled with sweet juice are this fruit's most famous features. Pomegranates are known to be associated with fertility, and the fruit has been portrayed in art throughout ancient history.

Arils can aid in keeping your body disease-free. Plus, they might be exactly what you are looking for to add a sweet taste to everything from your salad to your seltzer.

This fruit is noted for its bittersweet juice, hard pomegranate seeds, and exploding red color-puzzle-box-like appearance, which can turn kitchens into crime scenes! Flowers range in color from pink to deep orange-red and bloom from spring to mid-summer.

The rind is tough and brownish-yellow to bright red in color, forming a protective ball packed with papery chambers housing numerous soft seeds, each coated in the luscious pulp.

A sweet acid flavor pervades the seeds and pulp.

Pomegranates may grow from a 3 ft (0.9 m) tall dwarf shrub to a medium range of 20-30 ft (6-9 m) tree. The pomegranate (Punica granatum) was regarded as the 'fruit of the dead' in Greek mythology because it was thought to have grown from Adonis' blood.

The majority of pomegranates have 613 dark red seeds. The smallest seed discovered was also 165, with a range of over 1000 seeds.

A pomegranate fruit's amount of seeds is not predetermined. Pomegranates are typically associated with considerably warmer climates like the fall season, so you might be surprised to discover that these fruiting trees are very robust and can thrive in most parts of the UK if planted in a protected location.

Look for a location that is well-drained and has sandy loam soil when planting your pomegranate tree. This is ideal for pomegranates.

Your pomegranate tree should thrive as long as it gets proper drainage. Place your pomegranate tree in full sun for maximum growth and yield.

Most pomegranates are self-fruitful, which means they don't need another tree to cross-pollinate with because bees do it all. As the pomegranate tree becomes older, it will begin to produce fruit that will ripen on the tree.

Fruit will be available to pluck after around six or seven months on the pomegranate tree. When you tap ripe pomegranates multiple times, they emit a metallic sound.

Pomegranates come in different shapes and sizes all around the world. They can be sweeter, softer, or available in a variety of tastes and hues, such as pink, yellow, or even white, rather than the traditional red in the United States.

While pomegranate leaves, blossoms, stem and rind parts, seeds, and roots are all fleshy and edible, pomegranate trees are most commonly planted for their fruit, which is a sweet fruit with tart flavor juice with big dark red edible seeds.

If you like this article, you may find it interesting to find out where do pineapples grow, and where do strawberries come from here at Kidadl.

Where do pomegranates grow in the USA?

The pomegranate is a fruit that is native to the Middle East and portions of Asia. Pomegranates are mostly cultivated in the arid zones of California and Arizona in the United States, although they are also widely grown in Utah, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina.

Only a few locations in the United States are appropriate for pomegranate cultivation. Arizona and California's San Joaquin Valley are those areas.

This is due to the fact that the weather in California and Arizona is more conducive to the growth of pomegranates. Pomegranate trees are susceptible to root rot, meaning they cannot be grown in moist environments. They love arid climates similar to those found in the Mediterranean.

If you ask someone from Iran, India, Turkmenistan, or Spain who grows the best pomegranates, they will almost certainly reply Iran, India, Turkmenistan, or Spain. According to John Chater, a geneticist at the University of California, Riverside and a great pomegranate fan, people outside of the US would not think highly of a US pomegranate.

Where do pomegranates grow best?

Pomegranates are produced all over the world, although they are still mostly farmed in the same regions where they originated. India and Iran are still the world's top producers.

In warm climates like Arizona, it is preferable to plant trees in the spring or fall. Pomegranate trees have been grown in India, Asia, the Mediterranean, and Africa's tropical regions for a long time.

Pomegranates require a lot of shade from the sun to grow and produce fruit. Look for a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight every day.

A pomegranate tree requires good drainage, although it may grow in virtually any soil, including poor or alkaline soils. Pomegranates, which are more resistant to drought than drought-tolerant, benefit from a good watering every six weeks to induce prolific fruiting, especially on young plants, though they may survive without it.

Pomegranates should be planted in a hole twice the depth of the nursery pot and twice the width. Pomegranates should be grown near a south-facing wall or in a big container that can be relocated to a safe area during the winter in cold environments.

Pomegranates thrive in hot, dry climates. Their natural growing range is from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India, and these trees are often grown in Mediterranean climates.

Cultivars should cultivate pomegranate trees in a greenhouse where the lowest temperature does not fall below 50 F (10 C) in cold climates. Pomegranates thrive in hot, dry environments. Pomegranates should be grown in well-drained soil, preferably deep loamy soil.

Pomegranates can thrive in a variety of soil types, from sandy to clay. The ideal soil pH range is 5.5- 7.5.

These fruits should be planted in full sun and away from the wind. The fruit will get sweeter as the heat builds up.

Pomegranates may not be the ideal choice if you are searching for a tree that yields fruit quickly. It takes two to three years for a pomegranate tree to yield more than a few fruits.

Once it bears fruit, it takes five to seven months for these fruits to mature to the point where they are edible. However, if you are prepared to wait, some say that each pomegranate is well worth the wait.

Hardwood cuttings obtained at the right time are required to grow a pomegranate tree from cuttings. Pomegranate tree cuttings should be taken in late winter.

Where do pomegranates grow in South Africa?

Pomegranates are mostly grown in the Western and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. There is roughly 2471 acres (1000 ha) of commercially farmed pomegranates in the nation, with Pomona accounting for 261 acres (106 ha) or nearly 10% of the total supply.

Pomegranates may be cultivated in a variety of soils, however, this fruit favors cold areas with a pH range of 5-7.5. Start four to five months before planting with soil preparation, such as correcting the pH to at least 5 using limestone and adding phosphorus if soil testing suggests it is needed.

Having your soil tested is crucial.

The pomegranate 'Wonderful' ripens late and is the most extensively produced in South Africa. Pomegranate production in South Africa began in the early '00s and has since increased to slightly over 2298 acres (930 ha) in 2018.

Pomegranate fruit production in South Africa began in the early '00s and has since increased to slightly over 2298 acres (930 ha) in 2018. Initial problems with disease-infected (black spot) plant material imported from India in 2003 were rectified, and the pomegranate industry in South Africa was growing by 2005.

The Western Cape accounts for 80% of large fruit production in South Africa, with a small tree in the Orange River area, Limpopo Province, and the Southern Cape.

South Africa is currently one of the four leading suppliers to foreign markets from the Southern Hemisphere (S.H) Peru (74 % of S.H. exports), Chili (14 %), and Argentina are the main competitors (4% ).

How can you differ if a pomegranate flower is male or female?

Perfect red flowers from the plant, which have both male and female components and yield fruit, or non-fruiting male blooms can be found on pomegranates. Hermaphrodite or perfect flowers have a bulge at the bottom, that is, the ovary, whereas male blooms have a narrow base.

When deciding if a second pomegranate plant is required to yield fruit, the blossom structure is critical. Some cultivars have double-flower structures, but these cultivars do not set fruit, therefore if you want pomegranate fruit, you should establish a second shrub with single flowers.

The pomegranate's red or white blossoms may reach a diameter of 1 in (2.54 cm). They can grow in clusters of up to 5 in (12.7 cm) or individually.

Pollen from male flowers or parts can be used to pollinate the female portions of hermaphroditic blooms on the same plant. This is known as self-pollination, and it doesn't require pollen from a second pomegranate.

When bees or hummingbirds transport pollen from one pomegranate plant to the blossoms of another, this is known as cross-pollination. Although wind is an efficient pollen carrier for certain fruit trees, pomegranate bushes do not benefit from it.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Fun pomegranate fruit facts for kids: where do pomegranates grow?

Then why not take a look at Do you know: how tall is Mummy Pig from Peppa Pig? Cartoon facts for kids or Do you know: how old do chickens live? What is the lifespan of a chicken?

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Written by Abhijeet Modi

Master of Computer Science

Abhijeet Modi picture

Abhijeet ModiMaster of Computer Science

An experienced and innovative entrepreneur and creative writer, Abhijeet holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Computer Application from Birla Institute of Technology, Jaipur. He co-founded an e-commerce website while developing his skills in content writing, making him an expert in creating blog posts, website content, product descriptions, landing pages, and editing articles. Passionate about pushing his limits, Abhijeet brings both technical expertise and creative flair to his work.

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