A late word on Pomegranates

My mother in law sent me this quick, but informative piece of information on pomegranates from "Cooperative Living" a magazine she receives as part of her electric co Op. It has some fun information about the pomegranates history as well as brief info on growing the plant itself. Working in gardens I see people all the time who have never seen a pomegranate plant, and had no idea that any type of pomegranate could grow here. They are always stunned by the beauty of the flowers as well. Pomegranates have been in the grocery stores for a few weeks now, but for those willing to put in some effort there are varieties of pomegranates that produce edible fruit here in Va. These fruits will not be the grand grapefruit sized types that you find at the supermarket, (more the scale of a smallish orange), but grown as a spectacular ornamental with the added bonus of beautiful edible fruits these plants are great.
According to this article by Paula Brown pomegranates are " packed with vitamin C, calcium, potassium, iron and compounds known as phytonutrients that help the body protect against heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. Pomegranates’ potent antioxidants also help retard aging and can neutralize almost twice as many free radicals as red wine and seven times as many as green tea. Some researchers suggest the crunchy seeds even help flush fats from the digestive tract. "
Pomegranates are available nationwide, with most commercial production in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California. Areas with hot summers and cool winters are ideal, since after flowering the fruit requires six to seven months to ripen, and cannot be ripened off the tree. Throw in the condition that pomegranates do not fruit well in humidity and Virginia would not normally seem a prime spot to tinker with this crop. However, pomegranates were grown in Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace Garden as a delicacy for the landed gentry, where they were planted with figs and espaliered pears. Thomas Jefferson, ever in search of exotic specimens, received starts from George Wythe and planted them at Monticello, where he tricked these and other tender trees by creating favorable growing conditions in his hillside orchard, terracing with a southeastern exposure, lengthening the season."
This short article is well worth the read with information on best siting in the landscape as well as good varieties and growing instructions.