Q. I planted a pomegranate tree two years ago and this
year it produced six fruit. One was of decent size while the others are on the
small side. When the large one split I picked it only to find the inside was
light pink. The seeds were well developed but not the expected red color.
year it produced six fruit. One was of decent size while the others are on the
small side. When the large one split I picked it only to find the inside was
light pink. The seeds were well developed but not the expected red color.
What can I do to improve the fruit on this tree?
 |
| This is what we expect to see inside a pomegranate because we are used to seeing only Wonderful variety of pomegranate |
A. The key question will be how sweet the fruit was. Some
pomegranate varieties will have fruit where the insides, the arils, never
develop a dark red color. Some of them can be quite pale and anemic-looking in
color.
pomegranate varieties will have fruit where the insides, the arils, never
develop a dark red color. Some of them can be quite pale and anemic-looking in
color.
.JPG) |
| This is Ambrosia pomegrante. The arils are pale, nearly white. This fruit is ripe and ready for picking. However, I was not very impressed with the taste of this variety when freshly picked. It improved alot if kept in cold storage for a couple of weeks. Harvested in September in southern Nevada. Still a variety I would not recommend for our climate. |
You
would not expect this on a pomegranate variety such as Wonderful, which has
dark red outer skin while the fruit inside, the arils, are also dark red.
Because this type of pomegranate represents probably over 95% of all our
pomegranates planted, everyone thinks a pomegranate has to be dark red on the
outside and dark red on the inside.
would not expect this on a pomegranate variety such as Wonderful, which has
dark red outer skin while the fruit inside, the arils, are also dark red.
Because this type of pomegranate represents probably over 95% of all our
pomegranates planted, everyone thinks a pomegranate has to be dark red on the
outside and dark red on the inside.
This is
not true. There are several varieties of pomegranate which do not. Pomegranate
rind or skin can vary in color from lemon yellow through all shades of pink and
red all the way to purple. The insides can be nearly white to dark red or even
purplish red. The key to whether they are ripe is the taste.
not true. There are several varieties of pomegranate which do not. Pomegranate
rind or skin can vary in color from lemon yellow through all shades of pink and
red all the way to purple. The insides can be nearly white to dark red or even
purplish red. The key to whether they are ripe is the taste.
 |
| This basket of pomegrantes will give you an idea of the wide range of colors that pomegrantes can come in. (Picture from Acta Horticulturae, publication of ISHS). |
If you
have one of these varieties which are not red, you will never get dark red on
the inside or the outside no matter what you do. A good example is a fairly
common variety that we call locally Utah Sweet. You will find quite a few of
these growing in the Las Vegas Valley.
have one of these varieties which are not red, you will never get dark red on
the inside or the outside no matter what you do. A good example is a fairly
common variety that we call locally Utah Sweet. You will find quite a few of
these growing in the Las Vegas Valley.
When a
pomegranate is ready for harvesting the insides will become sweet tasting. The
amount of “pucker” or tanins or bitterness will vary as well from
extremely “pucker” to very sweet with very little “puckery” flavor depending on
the variety. But the key to when it is ready is how sweet it is, not
necessarily colors.
pomegranate is ready for harvesting the insides will become sweet tasting. The
amount of “pucker” or tanins or bitterness will vary as well from
extremely “pucker” to very sweet with very little “puckery” flavor depending on
the variety. But the key to when it is ready is how sweet it is, not
necessarily colors.
 |
| Here is a pomegranate I found for sale in a village in northeast Tajikistan. Very unique. Yellow on the outside with very beautiful dark red arils on the inside and very tasty. |
If your
variety of pomegranate is the darker red type, just wait longer and leave it on
the tree. If it is a variety that will never turn dark red, then look for the
fruit splitting and begin to start sampling for sweetness.
variety of pomegranate is the darker red type, just wait longer and leave it on
the tree. If it is a variety that will never turn dark red, then look for the
fruit splitting and begin to start sampling for sweetness.
Depending
on the variety, pomegranates begin to ripen in September and can last well into
November. Wonderful pomegranate, the most common variety in the Valley, is
usually ready right around Halloween.
on the variety, pomegranates begin to ripen in September and can last well into
November. Wonderful pomegranate, the most common variety in the Valley, is
usually ready right around Halloween.
I live in Southern California and have a tree that was on the property when I moved here 40 years ago. It was a twig entwined in another big tree of another variety (not pomegranate) When that tree had to be cut due to disease the pomegranate flourished and produced nice fruit. It is hard for me to tell when they are ripe so I just wait until they pop open. This outside of these are pale yellow with a little blush to them. Inside is very red and sweet. Some got sunburned this year and the inside on the sides where they burned stayed colorless. I was wondering if you could tell me the variety of pom that I have?