What is the best climate to grow pomegranate?
Most pomegranate cultivars are suitable to grow in 12° Fahrenheit, with the harder types surviving without damage down to 7° Fahrenheit. The majority of pomegranate varieties do not require winter chill hours, with the exception of a few cold-hardy cultivars. The tree is most resistant to the cold in the winter months and tends to be more susceptible to frost damage prior to reaching full "dormancy" in the fall and at bud break in the spring. It is during these periods that the bark is most susceptible to damage from frost, which usually occurs first on the south side of the tree closest to the ground. If frost damage is a problem, a possible solution is to paint the bark white with flat latex paint in order to reduce fluctuations between day and nighttime temperature extremes.
Pomegranates are extremely heat-tolerant and perform best when temperatures are above 85° F for at least 120 days a year. The trees are also drought-tolerant; however, supplemental irrigation is necessary during tree establishment and is critical for commercial fruit production. Without irrigation during prolonged periods of drought, fruit production will be lost, and substantial injury to young trees is likely.
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