Some pomegranates have wonderful color inside like this 'Wonderful' pomegranate |
A few are smaller and really red outside and really quite
red inside, but those are really bitter.
So the real question I am asking is - how do I figure out
when they are ripe?
A. If we were all growing the same pomegranates it would
be a lot easier. But not all pomegranates mature at the same time and they not
all look the same when they do.
Pomegranates can come in a wide range of colors |
They are
a great variety but they do not look nor are they as pretty to look at as the Wonderful
variety which is the most widely planted variety in the US. Some, like Utah
Sweet, have seeds that are soft and nearly edible and in some cases people do
eat them. Others, like Wonderful, have seeds which are hard.
Some pomegranates may tend to split when they are ripe |
Some
ripen by September while some ripen near Halloween.
Frequently
the fruit will separate from the tree with a gentle tug and twist when ripe. It
is true though that if you know which variety you have you can usually judge by
its color and time of year.
Another
way is the calyx end or the bottom where the “king’s crown” is. When it flares
outward it is a good sign it is close to being ready.
Splitting
of the fruit can be another indicator. If birds start to attack the fruit when
they split that can be another indicator. Ground squirrels may also attack the
fruit.
In any
case they are ready when you think they taste good. Start looking at them
around mid-September and pick a nice looking one and sample it. If it tastes
good, then look for some at the same stage of maturity and harvest. Harvesting
ripe off the tree can last a month because they are at different stages of
development.
If not
yet ripe, wait a couple of weeks and try another one. Keep going until you are
satisfied you have the right timing. Mark it in your calendar. Take pictures of
the mature fruit, send it to me and let me see if I can help you identify it.
Generally speaking, pomegranate trees will produce a reliable harvest two to three years after planting. Do Pomegranates Ripen off the Tree
ReplyDeleteFruit that ripens off the tree are considered "climacteric" fruit, such as apricots or peaches. All fruit must be close enough for ripening once it is picked. But pomegranate fruit is considered "nonclimacteric" in its ripening.
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