Tuesday, 08 December 2009 19:10

Un-Fruiting Pomegranate

Written by 

Question: Hello,
I planted an Angel Red pomegranate last spring. Now the leaves have all yellowed, dropped and there's still no fruit. We're in the San Gabriel valley, LA county.
Please advise.  Janie

 

Answer: Hi Janie,

We started this nursery in San Gabriel back in 1944 and I spent my childhood there in the 50's & 60's so have fond memories of your area.  We moved the nursery to Visalia in 1965-66.

I think you are asking if there a problem with yours.  I am hoping that the yellowing / dropping leaves means it is going dormant as is normal for this time of year.  We are a little colder here in Visalia and all the leaves have already dropped after turning yellow on our Angel Red Pomegranates.

20091114-_dsc2404-smaller

November 14 photo of Pomegranates going dormant

 

Assuming it is going to sleep for the winter, you can stop watering it until it leafs out next spring.  Then you then should see new growth, orange-red blooms and fruit next year.

From your written question, I cannot make a definitive answer to whether you have a problem.  Did you get new growth this year after you planted it?  Any flowers?  If you received no new growth, then I would be concerned about the health of the plant.  Nurseries usually prune the pomegranate hard when transplanting them and it may be slow to get growing until the roots get re-established.  Pomegranates are very water sensitive and the roots will rot if over-watered.  They like desert-like climates.  So, extra watering to "help it along" does not help at all and often hinders growth or kills the plant.