Pomegranate Variety Trial in Southern Arizona

Pomegranate fruit have become popular in recent years for culinary use and for their potential health benefits. Thirty-two cultivars of pomegranates (Punica granatum) were planted in three locations in Southern Arizona to determine their growth performance and potential as fruit crop when grown at different elevations and climatic conditions. Field sites were established in Yuma, Tucson, and Bowie at elevations of 50 m, 700 m and 1124 m, respectively. Twenty-seven cultivars are grown for their fruit and five cultivars for their ornamental value. Cultivars were propagated from stem cuttings and were grown in containers until transplanting. Plants were transplanted into the field from Spring to Fall 2012. All pomegranates planted in Yuma and Tucson survived and established by Spring 2013. In Bowie, transplant success was 74%. Bud break in Spring 2013 started first in Yuma on February 12 and within one month all plants showed new leaf growth. Anthesis began in Yuma on March 15 and by April 1 about 80% of all plants had open flowers. In Tucson, bud break started on March 5 and by March 19 almost all plants had started to grow new leaves. First anthesis in Tucson was recorded on April 1. In Bowie, plants were dormant until the middle of March. About 50% of the plants showed new leaf growth on March 23 but no flower buds were observed at that time. The time of bud break and onset of flowering differed by location and cultivar. Growth habit of the ornamental and fruit cultivars differed. Ornamental cultivars have a light canopy in a tight upright vase shape dominated by primary and few secondary branches. The other cultivars have a dense canopy with wider canopy diameter, somtimes weeping branches, and larger numbers of secondary branches.