Pomegranate (Punica granatum) NIKITSKI CHERNY

Pomegranate variety bred in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden in Crimea. Exceptional for compact growth, high frost resistance and large dark burgundy seeds with original taste and pleasant aroma.

Vigour: moderate to strong, grows to a height of 3 - 4 meters. Forms a compact, naturally branched deciduous shrub. Lives to old age, even several centuries. In wine-growing regions, we recommend planting the pomegranate tree in open ground. Can also be grown as a container plant in a large pot.
Site requirements: the ideal site for pomegranates is a sheltered sunny spot in the garden or patio. Pomegranate is undemanding to soil, but grows and produces better in deep, loamy soils rich in organic matter with a light, permeable subsoil.
Blossom: bright orange flowers bloom gradually from mid-May to late June. The variety is self-pollinating.
Fruits: medium to large, weight 230 - 300 g, round to slightly oval with a narrow base. Skin crimson red, thin. Soft seeds do not interfere with consumption.
Juice: dark burgundy, excellent sweet and sour taste with a pleasant aroma
Harvest season: depending on the location and climatic conditions, the fruits ripen gradually during October. They can be stored for 3 - 4 months.
Yield: high. Yield onset in the 3rd - 4th year after planting.
Disease resistance: pomegranate shrubs are one of the easier fruits to work with since they are not usually affected by pests or diseases. Suitable for organic or no-spray culture.
Frost resistance: it can withstand frosts down to -23°C without damage. We recommend providing winter protection to young plants, for example an 8 - 10 cm layer of mulch, which will help protect the roots during winter.
Usage: juicy pomegranate seeds are consumed fresh, used to press the juice as well as to make the wine called Grenada. Pomegranate concentrate is used as an ingredient in salad dressings. Boiling pomegranate juice with sugar creates grenadine syrup, which is used as an ingredient in cocktails. In terms of taste, the pomegranate combines sweetness and acidity in an exotic way. That's why pomegranate seeds are ideal for refining desserts, meat and vegetarian dishes.

Pomegranates are not grafted onto a rootstock, but are grown on their own roots, so if the above-ground part of the plant is damaged during the winter, the roots remain undamaged and in the spring the pomegranate sprouts new shoots.