A very common problem for the pomegranate tree is the splitting of the fruit, those who have this plant in their garden have probably experienced this at least once: the damage ranges from a simple crack along the surface of the skin to true cracks, which reveal the interior and practically reach the division of the fruit.
It is not a disease of plants, but a banal physiopathy that is, a problem due to unfavorable environmental conditions.
The causes of the rupture of the outer shell can be multiple, in most cases due to bad weather or the presence of water in the ground. Let’s try in this article to better understand why pomegranates sometimes still open on the plant.
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Normally, fruits break due to excess water or too much humidity. Also, lack of water can cause cracks in the skin of the ripening pomegranate, but this is more rare.
On the other hand, this fruit tree in the wild would be found in areas with a hot climate, moving it north to cultivate it in Italy, especially in the northern regions of our country, we subject it to cold and wet autumns it would not be suitable, which could cause problems due to the weather.
Prevent split grenade
When the heavy autumn rains arrive, it is not always possible to run for cover to prevent the pomegranate trees from cracking: the trees being outside, there is no way to put them shelter from the rain. Fruit also cracks due to air humidity and stagnation, so there are two trivial tricks that can reduce problems:
- Make sure the soil is well drained . If the orchard is on a slope, rainwater generally runs off naturally, otherwise you have to think of drainage channels to prevent it from stagnating in the ground under the plant.
- Be careful with watering. If the plant is wet, it should be done carefully, only in dry soil and preferably with a drip system. However, the soil must be moistened so that it does not completely dry out.
those who cultivate potted pomegranates can obviously carry the plant to shelter in times of heavy rains and to control the water supply by irrigation, in this way the problem of cracks is often solved.
Other than that, there’s not much you can do to protect the pomegranates in heavy rain. Fortunately, cracking the skin does not compromise the goodness of the inner fruit, for cu broken pomegranates can be eaten no problem. If the breakage of the skin is limited, you can try to bring them to maturity on the tree, if the cracks are important it is better to catch them, otherwise they end up rotting or becoming the prey of insects and birds.