Growing a pomegranate tree and cultivating it to produce abundant fruit takes quite a bit of skill. You can do it in your home garden with a little dedication and the right tools!
In this guide, we outline all you need to know to cultivate your pomegranate tree and help you find the best fertilizer for pomegranate trees.
Here’s what you can expect to learn from this guide:
- What type of fruit is a pomegranate?
- What does a pomegranate tree need to grow?
- How do fertilizers help pomegranates to grow?
- When do pomegranate trees need fertilizers?
- What is the N-P-K ratio?
- How do the types of fertilizers (granular fertilizers, foliar spray, liquid fertilizers, natural and organic fertilizers) differ?
- What is the best fertilizer for pomegranates?
Read on to find the best fertilizer for pomegranate trees!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Down To Earth Organic Fruit Tree Fertilizer Mix 6-2-4
Most Balanced:
Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Nut Granular Fertilizer 3-5-5
Best Overall
Down To Earth Organic Fruit Tree Fertilizer Mix 6-2-4
Some pomegranate trees need a substantial nitrogen boost provided by Down To Earth, next on our list of fertilizers for pomegranate trees.
It has relatively lower phosphorus and potassium proportions. The high nitrogen content will give your pomegranate tree an extra boost right before the fruiting season so that you can enjoy a higher yield.
Most Balanced
Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Nut Granular Fertilizer 3-5-5
You must get this pomegranate tree fertilizer if you’re sold on granular fertilizers.
Jobe’s Organics contains a relatively balanced nutrient ratio ideal for new plants, transplants, and established plants. It’s a balanced fertilizer supporting growth through all stages of your pomegranate’s life cycle.
The only drawback is that it doesn’t have adequate nitrogen to overcome severe soil nutrient deficiencies. Instead, it supports the beneficial organisms already in the soil.
This formula is perfect for gardeners concerned about their pets or children roaming near their gardens.
Dr. Earth 708P Organic Fruit Tree Fertilizer
Dr. Earth is the ideal fertilizer for pomegranate trees that will yield the most delicious fruit you’ve ever tasted. It is non-GMO and certified organic, so it will not compromise your soil health in the long term.
It has a five-five-two ratio that provides an additional boost of nutrients and keeps your plant well-fed for all its growth requirements. One pack should last up to two months.
Like Jobe’s Organics fertilizer, this is safe for your pets and children who might roam your gardens.
What Type of Fruit is a Pomegranate?
Pomegranates (Punica granatum) are berries that grow on small shrubs or bushes. They are hardy tropical to subtropical plants native to the Middle East, North Africa, and Mediterranean Europe.
Due to its origins, the pomegranate tree can tolerate dry and hot conditions very well. They can be cultivated in regions with moderate summers and cool winters. In the U.S., they grow as a perennial in plant hardiness zones 8 through 11.
The fruits of the pomegranate tree are smooth and hard on the outside, with tiny edible seeds inside. The pomegranate fruits grow between two to four inches in diameter on trees that may grow anywhere between six to 20 feet tall at maturity.
What Does a Pomegranate Tree Need to Grow?
These fruits are not heavy feeders, which means they can do without a pomegranate tree fertilizer. However, a bit of fertilizer will help if the soil lacks nutrients, is sandy, or the plant has a year-round active cycle.
Pomegranates need a lot of nitrogen to grow and develop, along with well-draining acidic soils with pH ranging between 5.5 and 7.2. To ensure that your plant gets all the nitrogen it requires, applying a pomegranate tree fertilizer will help.
How Do Fertilizers Help Pomegranates Grow?
Fertilizers provide nutrients and promote the growth of healthy fruits full of flavor that ripen correctly. When applied during the pre-fruiting period, fertilizers boost flower and fruit production in the coming season.
Using a pomegranate tree fertilizer may boost growth if your tree is stunted or growing too slowly.
Remember that fertilizer will only work if you use the correct amount and type. Too much fertilizer may cause excessive leaf production, hamper fruit growth, or cause the fruit to fall off prematurely.
To determine whether you need to add fertilizer to your soil, you must do a soil test using a soil test kit.
When Do Pomegranate Trees Need Fertilizer?
Pomegranates do not need fertilizer in the first year of planting. Simple mulching with rotted manure, compost, or a layer of mulch will do. During this period, the tree’s needs will change rapidly, so avoid using pomegranate tree fertilizer, so the plant establishes itself on its own.
In the second year, you can add two ounces of nitrogen per plant in the spring. Moving forward, you can add an additional ounce every consecutive year.
Once your tree is five years old, you can add six to eight ounces of fertilizer in late winter or early spring, right before the new leaves emerge. Continue fertilizing the mature trees with this amount of fertilizer each year.
Do not apply more than eight ounces of fertilizers at any point in the pomegranate’s life cycle.
Before planting, check out these guides on growing pomegranates from seeds or plants!
N-P-K Ratio
The N-P-K ratio stands for the proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the fertilizer.
The ratio of these particular elements is crucial because they are the most important nutrients needed for the healthy growth of a plant. Additionally, they are often the ones lacking in soil.
Depending on the results of your soil test, you should choose a fertilizer with the best N-P-K ratio for your plants.
You must also consider the best type of fertilizer available in the market. Read on for the benefits of each type and how they can help you grow your pomegranates.
Types of Fertilizers
Choosing the best fertilizer for pomegranates is based mainly on the soil types, contents, and the surrounding environment.
You don’t have to opt for just one type, either. You can combine two or more different fertilizers to make the most out of the essential nutrients they contain.
Here are some commercially available fertilizers for pomegranate trees that will compensate for nutrient deficiencies in soil:
Granular Fertilizers
These popular fertilizers for fruit trees come in the form of granules that you can layer on top of the soil. A granular fertilizer for pomegranate trees is both economical and easy to apply, so take notes if you’re a beginner gardener or pomegranate grower.
This fertilizer must be applied to the soil, raked into the top layer, and then watered to dissolve the granules. Spread the granules using a circular application, moving under the canopy outwards. This way, the product will be spread to the entire root system.
The granules release nutrients at a relatively slow pace that spans multiple weeks or months. This reduces the risk of burning the roots and eliminates the need to re-apply extra fertilizer too often.
Foliar Spray Fertilizers
You can spray this type of fertilizer directly on the pomegranate leaves. It does not improve the soil health in any way but instead delivers nutrients directly to the pomegranate plant.
It contains trace elements that will complete the fruiting and maturation process in a timely manner.
Liquid Fertilizers
Another popular pomegranate tree fertilizer comes in liquid form. It is sold as a concentrate, so it must be mixed with water before application.
It is often sprayed on the soil. Unlike granular fertilizers, the liquid version must be reapplied consistently throughout the growing season.
Liquid fertilizers are great for delicate trees since they’re less likely to cause fertilizer burn. They are the best option if you’re growing young pomegranate shrubs.
Natural and Organic Fertilizers
If you live in a region without cold winters, you can use natural or organic compost options, such as peat moss.
Due to the year-round warm climate, plants don’t experience a dormancy period in these regions. They soak up nutrients throughout the year, which drains the solid much more quickly.
With a natural compost pile or nitrogen fertilizer, you can provide a boost of nutrients to your plant without harming its growth cycle. If you’re using organic fertilizer, you can feed the plant through mulching. This method ensures the slow release of nutrients into the soil and prevents fertilizer burn.
Natural fertilizer is also a fantastic option if you have sandy soil that drains too quickly.
Wrapping up the Best Fertilizer for Pomegranates
Studying the effect of and finding the right fertilizer for pomegranate trees can take a bit of time, especially if you have little experience with a backyard garden or home orchard.
This guide should answer all of your questions and help you pick the best fertilizer for your pomegranate tree.
Excited to learn more about this magical fruit? Then check out our pomegranate trees page for information on pomegranate planting, growing, harvesting, cooking, and more!
Shopping for your garden can get overwhelming, fast. So if you’re looking for advice on tools and supplies, then you’re in the right place!