Pomegranate

[truthisouthere]

I always like to plant something I haven't tried before, this year it's Pomegranate seeds - took 2 weeks to come up, now 6 days or so after sprouting. (They don't seem too fussy about last year's compost either!). I hear they make a nice plant.



http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/IMG_1551.jpg

[angieh]

Wow! Well done - I'd love to hear how these little seedlings progress. That's something I've never tried.

What a bit of a coincidence actually, just reading a book that has Persephone in it!

[truthisouthere]

Wow! Well done - I'd love to hear how these little seedlings progress. That's something I've never tried.

What a bit of a coincidence actually, just reading a book that has Persephone in it!

Ahh, Persephone, daughter of Zeus, Queen of the underworld and goddess of springtime and the harvest, very ap't!
I'll post some more pics as soon they grow out of their current cress impersonation stage!

[angieh]

Did you buy your pomegranate seeds Truth, or use some from a fruit? I've been thinking about growing some myself, evidently the bush/tree is lovely and the plant has beautiful red flowers.

[truthisouthere]

I bought a fruit, swished each seed around in my mouth to nibble the flesh off, then poppped in a pot, plastic bag over the top and into the aring cupboard.

That's right, there are bushes and trees; the bushes have beautiful red flowers but you need the tree pomegranate to get a decent yield of fruit. You'll have to be patient tho', they say it can take anything from 3- 6 years to get any fruit. I have no idea whether these seeds are the tree or bush Pom', there was no name on the fruit, still, it's all part of the suprise to me to see how they turn out! You're very welcome to have any when they've grown a bit, but then..that takes all the fun out of growing them yourself doesn't it!

[angieh]

I found this Truth - price doesn't sound bad for 100 seeds! Perhaps if anyone else is interested, we could share???

http://www.greenfingers.com/superstore/product.asp?dept_id=200427&pf_id=LS4527D&co=fr&gclid=CJ6LqJ-aqrACFU4lfAodGnM4Ug

[truthisouthere]

Pom' seeds are always a gamble. There's no more %guarantee they'd fruit any more than the ones I've just planted. Trouble is a lot of the time the seeds don't come 'true' like the parent plant so you'd be much better off with cuttings or buying a tree of the genus such as 'Wonderful' that's already been proven to fruit if you're going to pay for one and make it worth your while.

..Oh, another seed's just popped up to say 'hi' to the world today! :) That's 8 out of 10 sprouted now, only 2 more to pop up.

[angieh]

That's better germination rate than my runner beans! You must have green fingers!!!

[truthisouthere]

I've had the luxury of my secret weapon for the previous 2 weeks..a nice warm, and dark airing cupboard! ;)

[angieh]

Ah .... that could well be the secret!

[Mags]

A member on OFF who lives in Spain posted this photo of a pomegranate bush/tree in flower ...... thought I'd share it with you ;) Wouldn't it be nice if your seedlings produced flowers like this ;)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/mzungu/2009/New%20photos%20for%202012/IMG_0916.jpg

[angieh]

That's gorgeous Mags - thanks for posting the photo. Makes me want to try and grow it now - perhaps I'll send for those seeds!

[truthisouthere]

That's how a Pom' should be Mags!
Ahh, but they've got the climate for it out there too. ;)
Poms can be grown here in the UK,..they just tend to grow a lot faster over there!

[angieh]

How are your seedlings doing Truth?

[yola]

Lovely picture Mags! I'd love to grow something like that but garden is too small and allotment to exposed. I'll follow Truth's 'Pomegranate Progress' instead :)

[truthisouthere]

Update on the little 'uns; 8 leaves on some now and a little taller..no exciting growth spurts I'm afraid ! The little loves are just growing at their own sweet pace. :)
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/pommie2.jpg
Yola there's no reason why in the future the Berkshire air and climate wouldn't nurture a Pom if you were to put it somewhere sheltered in your garden.

[angieh]

Now I'd be tempted to pot on ...... as you've got true leaves well grown.

[truthisouthere]

Update, (altho' they're now indoors), just a handful have survived the summer; the greenfly liked nibbling on them(!) and some have succumbed to a little over-feeding, or was it over watering, hard to tell! This one will need pinching out if it makes it through the winter.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/pomegranateplantaug2012.jpg

[angieh]

That's good growth ......... do hope it survives!

Mentioned you in the daily yesterday, how spooky is that?

[truthisouthere]

Update on my Pom plants, now 1 year old and branching out, slowly but surely.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/Pom2ndyr.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/Pom2ndyr.jpg.html)

[angieh]

Such good growth, truth! Well done young Pom.

Friends keep giving me plants of various sorts ...... I'm not that good with houseplants really. Now I have a lovely orchid to try and not kill!!!

[dinky]

Don't know much about planting, but drinking a small glass of pomegranate juice daily is said to be very good for losing tummy fat. Lots of people swear by it. Think I might get some as I have been pigging out lately with all the cold weather we've been getting.

[truthisouthere]

Growing..They all survived the winter. I put half of them in the conservatory and half on windowsill in lounge for the winter. Often plants can go into too long a dormancy period and just never come out of it in the spring, sadly, but happy to say these are ok this year, I think it helped giving them fresh, clean soil at the end of the summer, and just keeping them cool, (now very warm!).

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/pom%20100520152.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/pom%20100520152.jpg.html)

[angieh]

Wow, well done keeping them going. That looks to be a very healthy plant.