Punica granatum Mollar de Elche - Pomegranate

Punica granatum 'Mollar de Elche' produces abundantly medium-sized, round fruits, weighing up to 450 grams, with a diameter of 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in). The skin is thick and glossy, yellow-orange, with a reddish hue when ripe. The fruit's interior is divided into several compartments that contain a voluminous and sweet, juicy pink pulp, and a few tender seeds. Almost seedless, the Mollar de Elche is enjoyable when picked. It is refreshing and thirst-quenching, low in calories, and rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. To ensure proper fruit ripening, this variety requires a long, warm summer. Its limited growth is suitable for small gardens, and its particularly decorative orange flowering is attractive to pollinating insects. It is best planted in spring when the climate warms up, in any deep and well-draining soil, even relatively dry.

Punica granatum, commonly known as Pomegranate or Balaustier, Carthage Apple, Punic Apple, or Pomegranate, is a small fruit tree belonging to the Lythraceae family (previously included in the Punicaceae family). Born in Persia more than 5000 years ago, the pomegranate has been found throughout history in Egypt, Greece, Africa, and then Spain. It is cultivated from Asia to Europe. The city of Granada, a crossroads of Arab and Andalusian civilizations, located in southern Spain, owes its name to the presence of the pomegranate, brought by the Moors and widely planted in the mythical gardens of the Alhambra palace. This tree also adorned the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Romans discovered it in Carthage, naming it the Carthage Apple. It is a long-lived species, capable of living up to 200 years.

The variety Mollar de Elche originates from the area around the city of Elche, in the province of Alicante, in southeastern Spain. This region, with its fertile soil, has an ideal climate for this variety, where it has been produced for many years. It is a highly productive variety, with abundant and regular fruiting, but it takes about 5 to 7 years to start bearing fruit. Mollar de Elche initially forms a cluster of thorny and tangled branches with relatively rapid growth until maturity, which does not occur before the age of 5-6 years. The adult plant develops at a much slower pace, forming a small tree at least 4 metres (13 feet 1 inches) tall and 2.50 metres (8 feet 2 inches) wide, with a spreading and rounded habit. From a cluster it becomes a tree with a twisted trunk, reminiscent of olive trees, if pruned. Its deciduous foliage is composed of small ovate leaves, 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) long and 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) wide, shiny, and bright green. They emerge bronze to purple in spring and turn beautiful autumn shades of golden yellow to reddish-orange before falling in autumn. The pomegranate is a monoecious plant, meaning it bears both male and female flowers on the same plant. The male flowers produce pollen, while the female flowers develop into fruits. The flowering occurs in June-July and sporadically throughout the summer. The flowers are approximately 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter, composed of crumpled, orange-red petals emerging from a thick waxy calyx that already resembles the future pomegranate. It is quite sensitive to cold, capable of withstanding temperatures around -10°C (14 °F). Late frosts in April-May can affect flowering and hinder fruit production. The pomegranate is self-fertile, with male and female flowers able to fertilize each other. It does not require a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another variety of pomegranate nearby will increase production.

Harvest takes place in October, depending on the climate. The fruits can be consumed as soon as they are picked. A pomegranate is ripe when the skin is shiny red and begins to crack. It is important not to wait until the fruit bursts. Another indicator of maturity is when the small petal-shaped appendages at the end of the fruit turn inward or curl. The fruit's skin consists of a tough and red outer layer and a thick, spongy, whitish inner layer. The interior of the fruit is divided into compartments, each containing a transparent and sticky envelope called an "aril," which contains numerous seeds. Both the seeds and the aril are edible. The pomegranate can be cut in half and consumed fresh with a small spoon, or used as a garnish for fruit salads or as a sauce to accompany meat or fish. Extracting the juice allows for the full benefits of this "superfruit" to be enjoyed. The seeds yield a good oil for cosmetics. It is important to harvest the fruits only when they are fully ripe, as they do not ripen further after picking.

Rich in water, the pomegranate is refreshing and thirst-quenching. It can be consumed fresh as soon as it is picked or transformed into juice, especially since the health benefits are higher than those of the fruit itself. Known for its high antioxidant content, it is also rich in vitamins A, C, and E and fibre, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, folic acid, and potassium. The fruits can be stored for a few weeks to several months after harvest, in the refrigerator, at a temperature of 1 to 3°C (33.8 to 37.4 °F).

The Mollar de Elche Pomegranate is appreciated both for its fruit qualities and its decorative value with its generous and long flowering period and the autumn colours of its foliage. It is easy to grow and resistant to diseases, thriving wherever olive trees and fig trees can establish themselves. However, proper fruit development and ripening require sufficient sunlight and warmth. It is a magnificent specimen to plant both in isolation on a lawn and in a flower bed or mixed hedge or near an orchard. In warm locations, it can be planted alongside other Mediterranean fruit trees such as Fig, Olive, Japanese Medlar, Jujube, etc.