Pomegranate is globally recognised as a ‘super-food’ owing to its nutritious characteristics and demand is seeing a world-wide rise.
At present, almost all the world’s pomegranate production and consumption take place in the Northern Hemisphere. With limited shelf life, there is a window of opportunity for countries in the Southern Hemisphere to provide fruit to these markets in the counter season.
Fruit from early ripening cultivars will mature from February, and late ripening cultivars in April.
RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS
SMITH (Angel Red ©)
The Smith Pomegranate (Angel Red ©) is one of the world’s earliest ripening cultivars and ripens up to four weeks earlier than California’s leading commercial cultivar, the Wonderful. This heavy bearing, cold hardy cultivar has a distinctive and very attractive deep red colour, very soft seeds and a high juice content. The Smith pomegranate is protected by a Plant Patent issued in the USA and a grower license should be signed with Citrogold upon placing an order.
EMEK
The Emek Pomegranate, bred in Israel, has shown extreme potential as a sweet, early ripening cultivar with soft seeds. This medium-size trained tree has a vigorous growth habit and good productivity with attractive deep red fruits. The Emek pomegranate is protected by a Plant Patent issued in Israel and a grower license should be signed with Citrogold upon placing an order.
WONDERFUL
The Wonderful Pomegranate, originally produced in Florida 1896, is the oldest and most common commercially available cultivar. It is a late ripening cultivar that produces large fruit, with a tough protective outer skin and a distinctive sweet flavour.
TREE AVAILABILITY
Du Roi Multiplant propagates the Smith, Emek and Wonderful pomegranates on order.
Field-ready plants are delivered in 2L bags.