General Description/History

• Leathery exterior skin, deep yellow or red/purple in colour
• Size and shape of an apple
• Contains hundreds of juicy sweet crimson kernels or seeds covered by red, gelatine like flesh – the edible portion of the fruit
• Sweet acid flavour
• The woody cap (calyx) remains attached to the stem end of the fruit.

This glossy-leaved, bushy tree is often planted as an ornamental shrub because of its beautifully shaped red flowers. The tree is usually in the vicinity of 4-5m, with stiff, angular but slender branches, which are likely to be spiny. It is sometimes deciduous, but in certain areas the leaves will persist on the tree. The blossom time is often prolonged from spring into summer.

Pomegranates with the best flavour are large, about 10 to 12cm in diameter, and heavy for their size. Select fruit that are smooth and well coloured (crimson, brownish red, or bright red). Regardless of size, all pomegranates have the same number of seeds, but the seed kernels in larger fruits are more fully developed and have more juice.

The edible portion of the fruit is the red gelatinous flesh covering around the seeds. Open the fruit by making a number of longitudinal cuts so the fruit opens like the petals of a flower, then scoop out the fleshy pulp. Once removed from the pulp, the seeds can be kept in the freezer. Pomegranate seeds can be used in desserts and salads or can be mixed with cream cheese to make a delightful appetiser. The bright red juice from the fruit can be squeezed and strained for use in fresh fruit drinks or other beverages. Grenadine is made by mixing equal parts of juice and sugar. Allow this mixture to stand for two days, then bring to the boil and simmer for five minutes. Strain into sterilised jars and seal. This is a delicious flavouring for sweets.

Pomegranate is a subtropical fruit. Good quality fruit is obtained where summers are hot and dry. The tree is deciduous, almost evergreen and in warm and mild winters has a low chilling requirement. It can withstand quite severe frosts when dormant. The tree will grow on all types of soil. It is fairly resistant to both alkaline and salty conditions.

Trees can be grown from seed, but the seedlings do not come true to the parent type. It is therefore best propagated by hardwood cuttings taken from mature one year old wood. As pomegranate sucker freely, rooted suckers or layered shoots can also be used for propagation. They require no pruning except a thinning of shoots towards the centre of the tree to allow light to penetrate and to renew the old branches.

Pomegranates have large, showy, red flowers carried at the end of short shoots at the outer rim of the tree. Blossoming is in the late spring and summer and fruit matures 5-7 months thereafter, in late autumn/early winter. High temperatures are essential during the fruiting period to get the best flavour.

The pomegranate was known to ancient people with evidence to show that it was cultivated during prehistoric times as well as being mentioned in the Old Testament and in Homer’s Odyssey. The name means, apple with many seeds or “grain apple”, which is an accurate description of the fruit.

The plant occurs, both cultivated and naturalised, over the whole of the Mediterranean region, and eastwards to northwest India. It is widely cultivated in India where there are many cultivars. Granada in Spain is thought to have been named after the fruit.

For centuries it has been connected with religious ceremonies and with religious buildings. The pomegranate motif is often found on temple carvings and in Chinese paintings as well as those of Egypt, Persia and Rhodes. It has been a symbol of fertility since the earliest times. It is supposed to have been the fruit given by Venus to Paris.

Nutritional Value

Pomegranate is a reasonable source of potassium and vitamin C. 280kJ/100g.

Storage/Handling

0°C and 90 -100% relative humidity.

Consumer Storage: Ripen at room temperature and store in the refrigerator crisper for a short time.

Season: Summer,Autumn

Botanical Name: Punica granatum (Punicaceae)

Alternative Names: 

Availablity: February,March,April,May

Growing Areas: 

QLD – Brisbane
VIC – Sunraysia
SA – Riverland
WA – Donnybrook, Dwellingup, Manjimup, Perth Hills
NZ