The Pomegranate is a small, multi-stemmed tree with glossy, bright green leaves and globose fruits. The seeds have a hard seed coat that contains several chemicals which keep the seeds dormant. The seeds need to be pretreated to break the dormancy of the seeds so that they will germinate. If the seed coat is not treated, the germination of the seeds is slow, erratic and irregular. The seeds can be easily treated so that they will germinate. The seeds are scarified so that water can enter the seed. The seeds are scarified by nicking or sanding the seed coat. Then they are soaked in water so that the seed coat softens and the seed can absorb water.
Growing Instructions for the Pomegranate
The seeds have a hard seed coat that has to be treated, or scarified, in order for water to enter the seeds so that they can sprout. 1. Scarify the seeds by nicking or sanding the seed coat. The seeds can be sanded with sandpaper, a nail file or an emery board. 2. Soak the seed in water for 24 hours. 3. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet. 4. Put the seeds on the soil. 5. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. 6. Water the seeds. 7. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun. The seeds take 1-3 weeks to germinate. 8. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.