Last summer, I took over the care of some pomegranate trees that had been rather neglected. I started watering them, and watched the fruits grow in size. But when they were still tart, fruit after fruit split open, and birds feasted on the ruby-red seeds.

What caused the fruit to split like this? “Inconsistent watering,” says John Begeman, horticulture agent with the University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension. Splitting is a common problem with pomegranates in our hot, dry climate. When the trees are watered in an inconsistent pattern, or their watering cycle is suddenly changed, then splitting is more likely to occur, says Begeman.

The optimal watering cycle for pomegranates is once a month in the cooler time of year. Once daytime temperatures are consistently above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, then the trees need watering every 10-14 days, says Begeman. A good deep watering needs to wet the soil at a depth of two to three feet.

To find out how far down water is going, use a soil probe. While the cooperative extension sells soil probes, Begeman recommends simply purchasing a piece of 3/8” concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) from a home supply store. After watering, push the rebar down into the soil around the tree. It will push easily through moist soil, and stop when it hits dry earth. If water is not penetrating as deeply as needed, in­crease your watering time.

Other than consistent watering, pomegranate trees do not need a great deal of care. Begeman recommends applying a nitrogen fertilizer in mid-March. Pruning can be done at any time of year. As well as cutting out dead wood, Begeman recommends pruning crowded branches.

Neither color nor size of fruit is a good indicator of ripeness. Pomegranates may be ready to pick any time after the monsoon rains start here. Just sample until fruit are at the desired sweetness, says Begeman. A little bit of tartness adds to the taste sensation; when fruit stays on the tree overly long, the acids break down and the fruit may be rather bland.

When transplanting a pomegranate tree, choose a location with full sun. The sapling doesn’t need any soil amendments, says Begeman. But make sure to give the tree adequate water. The optimal times to transplant trees are in March or October. If you transplant in warmer weather, water the tree daily for the first few weeks, and then gradually taper into a 10-14 day cycle.

Both the “Wonderful” and “Sweet” varieties produce good fruit. If you don’t have room for a full-sized tree, the dwarf “Nana” can be grown in a container, and produces small ornamental fruits, says Begeman.

Pomegranate is one of the seven agricultural species of plants for which the land of Israel was known in biblical times, and is commonly grown in Israeli gardens today. The fruits are ready for Rosh Hashanah, and are often used to decorate the booths during Sukkot. The many seeds of the pomegranate are said to represent the 613 mitzvot found in the Torah.

At the Tu B’Shevat Seder, pomegranate is one of the fruits that may be eaten to represent assiyah, which means doing.  We eat fruits and nuts with a hard outer shell as a reminder that God protects us, both our bodies (outside) and our souls (inside).

In Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, pardes refers to a mystical orchard or garden.  The image of an apple orchard is most common, although traditional sources also speak of the  pardes rimmonim, or pome­granate orchard. When Moses ben Jacob Cordovero, a rabbi of Safed in the 1500s, produced his systematic presentation of basic kabbalistic concepts, he named his book Pardes Rimmonim.

Pomegranate flowers were embroidered on Aaron’s priestly robe (Exodus 28:33-34). They are frequently used as the design for the decorative tops of the Torah rollers, as well as in a wide variety of Jewish artworks. Art may also be produced by using pomegranate juice as a natural red dye.

Pomegranate juice is sold bottled in health food stores, because it contains high levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent or reduce damage from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that have an uneven number of electrons. When free radicals encounter other molecules in your body, they may try to “steal” an electron, and damage a molecule you need for healthy functioning. Free radicals are associated with a variety of health conditions. Anti­oxi­dants bind with the free radicals before they can cause damage.

Making her own juice is a ritual for Tucsonan Linda Rosenfield, an artist and avid gardener. “I remove the seeds from a pomegranate in a deliberate, meditative way,” says Rosenfield. She cuts the skin off by making six cuts into only the outer skin. Then she pulls the fruit apart to release the seeds from the white membrane. Next, she puts the seeds into a potato ricer, a strainer-like tool with a blade and a handle to turn the blade. It’s also possible to use a food mill, which leaves the seeds trapped in the mill. If the pomegranate sections are run through a juicer, she says, the seeds will impart a bitter taste.

Rosenfield drinks the juice, eats it as ices, and uses it as a sweetener in seltzer water. The taste? “Indescribable,” says Rosenfield.

Growing pomegranates — and the rest of the seven biblical species of plants

Deuteronomy 8:8 de­scribes the land of Israel as “A land of wheat, and barley, and [grape] vines; of fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and [date] honey.” At Shavuot, only offerings of the first fruits (bikkurim) of these species were brought to the Temple in Jerusalem, even though many other plants grew in Israel.

Since our climate is similar to parts of Israel, we are able to grow the seven species here. To learn more, see these previous articles in the AJP:

“Chaverim Shavuot harvest teaches adults and kids charity, gratitude,” June 24, 2005. http://www.jewishtucson.org/content_­display.html?ArticleID=155760

“Desert harvest: Growing the fruit of the vine in Tucson,” Aug. 12, 2005. http:// www.jewishtucson.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=160818

“Tucsonan’s fig tree a source of healing and inspiration,” Oct. 21, 2005. http://www.jewishtucson.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=165943