Organic cultivation of the pomegranate plant
The pomegranate plant
The pomegranate plant (Punica granatum Linnaeus) belongs to the Punicaceae family, which includes only one genus and two species (P. granatum and P. protopunica). The lesser-known species, P. protopunica, was found on the island of Soqotra off the southern coast of Yemen. It can easily adapt to different types of soil and can withstand very harsh conditions, such as heat, drought, or lack of care.
The pomegranate (Punica granatum Linnaeus) is endemic to the region between Iran and northern India and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the entire Mediterranean basin up to India, where it is still cultivated today.
The pomegranate plant is either a deciduous and thorny shrub up to 1-1.5 meters high, or a small tree not taller than 5 meters. It has large solitary flowers, which come out either as a single flower at the end of the stems, or as clusters, usually in an orange-red or, more rarely, white colour, in the shape of a trumpet with folded petals. It has green, oval, glossy leaves.
The pomegranate is found in various forms, the main ones being those that yield sweet or sour fruits, while it also comes in dwarf form. The tree is strong and rarely affected by pests. It is propagated by cuttings or offshoots.
Pomegranate fruits are spherical, glossy, with a reddish or yellowish colour when ripe, filled with crunchy seeds covered with a juicy pulp.
Organic farming
European organic pomegranates, which are the basis for the production of pomegranate juice in Greece, are grown using organic farming methods that exploit the mechanisms of nature itself. Thus, using beneficial microorganisms, we create robust plants, with lush leaves and flowers and with reduced susceptibility. Like any other organism on the planet, a plant does not function independently. In its root system and on its leaf surface, microorganisms coexist that create a unique ecosystem.
The mycorrhizal fungi and PGPRs used in organic farming act as a shield against other pathogenic microorganisms and enrich the plant with trace elements and minerals. The healthy plant will be productive and yield safe fruits that retain all of their organoleptic characteristics. Organic pomegranates are cultivated using traditional cultivation methods that respect the land and the environment, without the use of phytochemicals and phytonutrient preparations of a chemical composition, at all cultivation stages. Organic farming aims to offer healthy pomegranates that retain their wonderful taste and vitamins, while ensuring the protection of consumer health and the environment.
