Pomegranate
Punica granatum 'Wonderful'
fruitWonderful is the gold-standard pomegranate, the most-planted commercial variety in the US, with large red-purple fruit and ruby-red juicy seeds that have a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Bred for productivity and flavor over a century ago, Wonderful is the variety behind the worldwide pomegranate juice boom and the easiest pomegranate to find in nurseries.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 5 days
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Harvest
~24 months
to first harvest
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Difficulty
medium
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
10-12 ft apart
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Planting Depth
Same depth as nursery container
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Soil pH
5.5-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 7 – 12
When to Fertilize
Early spring before bud break
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10 once established
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant in full sun on well-drained loam in zones 7 to 11; mature Wonderful tolerates brief dips into the upper teens F. Set at nursery depth. Wonderful is self-fertile and needs only about 150 to 200 chill hours, low enough to fruit reliably in mild-winter climates. Train as a multi-stem shrub or single-trunk tree (8 to 12 ft tall). Prune in late winter; pomegranate fruits on new wood, so light annual pruning keeps the framework productive.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Oct 7 · Year 3
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Lavender — Drought-tolerant Mediterranean partner
- Comfrey — Mineral-mining mulch returns potassium
- Yarrow — Attracts beneficial parasitic wasps
- Marigolds — Suppress nematodes in the root zone
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Hand-pick adults in the morning when sluggish; trap with cucurbit volatiles
Maintain even soil moisture, especially as fruit approaches maturity; sudden water after dry spells causes splitting
Train for light shade over the fruit; in hottest zones whitewash exposed fruit with kaolin clay
Blast with water, encourage ladybugs
🌾 Harvest & storage
Wonderful ripens in mid to late fall (September through October). Wait for the fruit to develop deep purple-red color; the sides flatten slightly and the rind sounds metallic when tapped. Unlike most fruit, pomegranate does not ripen further after harvest, so do not pick early. Cut from the tree with pruners. The fruit keeps 2 to 3 months refrigerated. Score the rind in quarters and submerge in cool water to free seeds without staining yourself.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 83 calories per 100 g (seeds) with 4 g fiber, 10.2 mg vitamin C, 236 mg potassium, and exceptional levels of punicalagins (unique pomegranate polyphenols) and anthocyanins. Pomegranate juice has been studied extensively for cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and prostate health. The seeds also supply unusual fats (punicic acid) studied for anti-inflammatory effects.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.