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Fruit & Orchards

Pomegranate dropping fruit, need advice

15 years ago

Hi, this is my first time on this fruit forum. I have a dwarf pomegranate that makes the flowers & produces the beginnings of fruit. After about 2 weeks, the small fruits drop off. It is potted on my balcony facing East. It is kept evenly moist, temperatures in the low to mid 90's, sheltered from intense direct sun light. I have not fertilized it for some time (maybe a couple months), but the tree seems to be growing quite well. I have orchids and sometimes have problems with thrips damaging flower spikes, could that be a possible cause? Are there any other factors that you can think of? I appreciate any advice you might be able to share!

-Ray-

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Comments (5)

Scott F Smith
15 years ago
Ray, according to what I have read, pomegranates have a hard time setting fruit in very humid climates like south Florida. Too much fertilizer can actually lead to fruit drop so I think you are OK there. Some varieties do much better in humid climates. The Just Fruits and Exotics nursery in the panhandle sells several such varieties.

One other potential reason is several of the dwarf pomegranates are ornamental only, they never set fruit. Now that I think about it, that is probably a more likely reason.

Scott
ray_ratliff
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the feedback Scott. I called Michigan Bulb (the company I ordered the Pomegranate from) and asked them if I read the ad correctly, that it did indeed produce fruit that could be consumed. They told me that the dwarf tree I purchased should bear fruit. So perhaps it is humidity like you suggested? Any other ideas or suggestions?

-Ray-
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Scott F Smith
15 years ago
Ray, unfortunately Michigan Bulb is an unreliable nursery and what they say is unreliable as well. Look them up in Garden Watchdog to see. They are one of the "Gardens Alive" nurseries these days -- all of them are pretty marginal. I would say its 50-50 on whether the problem is humidity or that they sent you an ornamental dwarf. I would strongly recommend looking up future places you order from in Garden Watchdog first.

Scott

Here is a link that might be useful: Michigan Bulb in Garden Watchdog
ray_ratliff
Original Author
15 years ago
:::Sigh::: Well I guess it is a cute little plant, even if it doesn't produce fruit for me. You know, while I have your attention, have you ever seen dwarf carambola (something that is sort of hedge sized) that produces fruit? Thanks for the watchdog link! I have to share that one with mom, she's ordered several plants and time after time, they are broken up or completely dead! Thanks again!

-Ray-
Scott F Smith
15 years ago
Ray, I know nothing about carambola since I can't grow it here. You can try to post it as a separate question. There is also a tropical fruits forum here. Please do tell your mom, most of the mail-order places are pretty good but there are at least a dozen big places which are horrible.

Scott

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