Pomegranate shrub in south FL (10A/B border)

[Chronobae]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to plant a pomegranate shrub in my backyard alongside a mango tree, banana tree, and a few Hawaiian pineapples. I've been discouraged by a few people including some nursery owners in the area that pomegranate shrubs are not a good idea. I've been told even if they produce any fruit, I'm likely to see very little as pomegranates dislike humidity. I've also been told that fungus is problematic here for them. The only two varieties that I could find to potentially work down here are the Vietnamese and Christina types but from what I understand, they are inferior to store-bought Wonderful poms.

Does anyone have any experience growing poms this far south? If so, do you mind sharing the variety and where you purchased them? Also have you noticed any difference in taste when picked off the tree vs store bought?

Thanks!

[wonderfruit]

Yes i didn’t like to believe it but it is true. They don’t grow well in south Florida. I tried in the ground and container. At least my xperience

[johnb51]

If I'm not mistaken, Lara Farms in Homestead sells one that does well here (not saying the quality of the fruit is great), but personally with so many great fruits that thrive here I wouldn't waste my time on pomegranate.

[Chronobae]

Thank you guys. Bummer

[roblack]

Growing Vietnamese Red, Parfianka (both in ground), and Desert King (pot).



Parfianka a few months in ground. V. Red, maybe a year or so.

V. Red has flowered a few times, and holding its first fruit. Not expecting much flavorwise.

[Chronobae]

Growing Vietnamese Red, Parfianka (both in ground), and Desert King (pot).



Parfianka a few months in ground. V. Red, maybe a year or so.

V. Red has flowered a few times, and holding its first fruit. Not expecting much flavorwise.

How is the Viet in terms of flavor?

[roblack]

Waiting on 1st fruit. Heard it was "very good" from a seller, LOL

[johnb51]

Growing Vietnamese Red, Parfianka (both in ground), and Desert King (pot).



Parfianka a few months in ground. V. Red, maybe a year or so.

V. Red has flowered a few times, and holding its first fruit. Not expecting much flavorwise.

How is the Viet in terms of flavor?

[johnb51]

Waiting on 1st fruit. Heard it was "very good" from a seller, LOL

[Chronobae]

Waiting on 1st fruit. Heard it was "very good" from a seller, LOL

Bazaar tactics. "everything here is good.. I wouldnt sell it if it wasnt"

[Chronobae]

Growing Vietnamese Red, Parfianka (both in ground), and Desert King (pot).



Parfianka a few months in ground. V. Red, maybe a year or so.

V. Red has flowered a few times, and holding its first fruit. Not expecting much flavorwise.

How is the Viet in terms of flavor?

Didn't see that there. My reading comprehension is 0/10 today.

[johnb51]

Waiting on 1st fruit. Heard it was "very good" from a seller, LOL

Bazaar tactics. "everything here is good.. I wouldnt sell it if it wasnt"

Yup, but that sounds typical for most businesses.  And funny how we take their word!

[TheGivingTree]

I bought a pom from fastgrowingtrees and was my first fruit tree. It looks Wonderful since going in the ground in zone 10. No flowers..

[roblack]

Had to try. If its decent, will be happy. Grows like crazy with no care. Grafted DK on VRed and its growing well, and will add Parfianka to see if that helps with chill hour requirements.

[Fygee]

Here in Vegas, my grandmother has a tree that's about 25 years old and produces a stupid amount of fruit every year. Thrives on neglect. All it gets is sprinkler runoff from the lawn, and some pruning every few years.

They're meant for hot and dry environments, but there are some varieties that are more tolerant to humidity.

[sapote]

I'm looking to plant a pomegranate shrub in my backyard

Why shrub but not a tree with single trunk and scaffolds? Leave it alone it tends to become shrub but it's easily trained to a handsome tree by keeping one strong trunk and cut off all others, periodically.

[gnappi]

Yup, the one I had was sickly, and the fruits stayed white and got a fungus. I wish I had the advice you had... I pulled it long ago.

[manfromyard]

South Florida doesn't have a lot of chill hours (pomegranates need some chill to produce fully). And the fungal diseases are bad in the southeast. In a study by UGA, the ones that did the best with humidity (least fungal infections) and high production were Salavatski and Kaj acik-anor. Kazake also did well, but most other varieties will either have low production or get rot on the fruit.