Pomegranate Fruit Tree Guild

July 1, 2024

My biggest project this spring was working on my pomegranate trees. I purchased a small pomegranate tree (bare root) in January 2021. I kept it in a pot inside for the first year, then moved it to a new location outside on the East side of my front yard. In February 2021, I planted a few pomegranate seeds to see if I could grow one of my own. Now pomegranates do not need another for fertilization purposes, but they do produce more when they can cross-pollinate. As I grew these babies from seed, there is no telling what variety I would get, but since the point is pollination and I know that the purchased one was a "Wonderful Pomegranate", it did not matter. I managed to grow many babies, of which I chose the strongest, and in 2022, I planted it outside on the opposite side of the driveway. It is now about 1 ½ feet tall and growing well! Once the "Wonderful Pomegranate" was planted and established for one year, I took the opportunity to prune the tree over winter. I chose to take the multi-stem approach, but am growing it in the shape of a tree, not a bush.

In the Spring, I wanted to take advantage of the idea of fruit tree guilds and companion planting. I cleared the grass and mulch for several feet and stacked two levels of landscaping bricks to build up the soil around the pomegranate. I first added an inch-thick layer of shredded paper (not glossy). Over that, I placed organic raised bed soil and finally earthworm castings. I let the soil settle for a few weeks and then added lavender, creeping thyme, dill, marigolds, and crimson clover to the area around the tree, keeping everything at least 4 inches from the base of the tree. I was rewarded this season 2024 with the first flowers and pomegranates! The tree was covered in brilliant scarlet colored blooms in the spring and I currently have 4 pomegranates growing on my tree!

Fruit guild notes: This "Wonderful Pomegranate" will be my midstory plant (I am skipping the overstory because of the location). I have planted a "Swamp Sunflower" between the "Wonderful Pomegranate" and a 6-foot privacy fence. Each year I will add to the fruit guide until it is functioning as I want it to. This Fall I plan on adding 4 blueberry bushes (that have been growing in pots for a year). I have three different varieties including pink lemonade blueberries. A "Red Gem" goumi and a "Tilamook" goumi bush for added produce and as a nitrogen fixer. In addition, the entire area will be planted with 1. Lavender- an attractor, repeller, and suppressor, 2. Comfrey- an attractor, repeller, suppressor, mulcher, and a dynamic accumulator, 3. Crimson clover- an attractor, suppressor, mulcher, nitrogen fixer, and dynamic accumulator, 4. Marigolds- an attractor, repeller, and dynamic accumulator, 5. Thyme (creeping)- an attractor, repeller, and suppressor, 6. Other herbs and flowers as needed (Black-eyed Susans, Borage, Calendula, etc.).