Punica granatum Provence - Pomegranate

Punica granatum 'Provence' is an ancient cultivar, vigorous and hardy, which ensures a staggered harvest over a long period between late September and November depending on the climate. It produces abundantly large, round fruits, reaching up to 600 grams, 8 to 12 cm (3.1 to 4.7 in) in diameter, with thick and shiny skin, deep red, washed with yellow and brown when ripe. The inside of the fruit is divided into several compartments that contain a juicy and tangy red pulp, containing numerous seeds. These seeds bring the characteristic bitterness of the pomegranate. The hardness of the seeds can make them difficult to swallow. The fruits can be consumed as soon as they are ripe and can be stored for a few weeks to several months in a cool place. Pomegranates provide a very refreshing and thirst-quenching juice, low in calories and rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In summer, the flowering is remarkably decorative and particularly attractive for pollinating insects. Provence is a cold-resistant variety but requires a long and hot summer to allow the fruits to ripen properly. Preferably plant in spring when the climate warms up, in any deep and well-drained soil, even relatively dry.

Punica granatum, commonly known as Pomegranate, is a small fruit tree belonging to the family Lythraceae (previously included in the family Punicaceae). Born in Persia over 5000 years ago, the pomegranate has been found throughout history in Egypt, Greece, Africa and then in 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 was discovered by the Romans in Carthage, where it was named the Apple of Carthage. It is a species with a long lifespan, able to live up to 200 years.

The Provence variety is originally from the Mediterranean region, where it has been cultivated for many years. It is a very productive variety, with abundant and regular fruiting, but it takes 5 to 7 years to start bearing fruits. Provence initially forms a clump of thorny and tangled branches in its youth, showing fairly rapid growth until maturity, which does not occur before the age of 5-6 years. The mature plant develops at a much slower rate, forming a small tree at least 4 m (13 ft 1 in) tall and 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) wide, with a spreading and rounded habit, after a few years. From a clump it can become a tree with a trunk that has twisted shapes, reminiscent of olive trees, if pruned. Its deciduous foliage is composed of small ovate, 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) long and 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) wide, shiny, bright green leaves. They emerge bronze to purple in spring and turn to beautiful autumnal shades of golden yellow to orange-red before falling in autumn. The pomegranate is a monoecious plant, meaning that it bears both male flowers that produce pollen and female flowers that will give fruits. Flowering occurs in June-July, and sporadically continues throughout the summer. The flowers measure about 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter. They are composed of crumpled, beautiful orange petals tinged with red, emerging from a thick waxy calyx that already evokes the future pomegranate. This variety is known for its good cold resistance, tolerating temperatures around -15°C, however, late frosts in April-May are a problem. The pomegranate is self-fertile, with male and female flowers pollinating each other. It does not require a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another variety of pomegranate nearby will increase production.

The harvest takes place from late September to mid-November. The fruits can be consumed as soon as they are ripe. The pomegranate is ripe when the skin is bright red and cracks. Do not wait for the fruit to burst. Another indication of ripeness is when the small petal-like appendages at the end of the fruit are turned or curled inward. The fruit's skin consists of a hard and red outer skin, and a thick, spongy and whitish inner skin. The inside of the fruit is divided into compartments. Each compartment contains a transparent and sticky envelope called "aril" which contains numerous seeds. The seeds and aril are edible. The pomegranate can be eaten fresh with a small spoon, or used as a garnish for fruit salads or as a sauce to accompany meat or fish. Processing it into juice allows you to enjoy all the benefits of this "superfruit". The seeds, on the other hand, yield a good oil for cosmetics. It is important to harvest the fruits only when they are ripe, as they do not ripen further after harvest.

Rich in water, the pomegranate refreshes and quenches thirst. It can be consumed fresh as soon as it is harvested, or transformed into juice, as 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, fibre, and 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).

In the Grenadier category, the Pomegranite Provence is appreciated both for its fruit qualities and its decorative aspects with its generous and long flowering period and the autumnal colours of its foliage. Easy to grow and resistant to diseases, it will thrive wherever olive trees and fig trees can grow. However, good development and fruit ripening require sufficient sunlight and warmth. It is a magnificent plant to be planted either in isolation on a lawn, in a flower bed or in a mixed hedge, or near an orchard. In warm locations, it can be planted alongside other Mediterranean fruit trees such as the Fig tree, Olive tree, Loquat tree, Jujube tree, etc.