When to Plant Pomegranate in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide

Plant June to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is June.

This Pomegranate guide is written for the Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Pomegranate

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Tough, drought-tolerant, heat-loving deciduous tree/large shrub from the Middle East. Produces fruit with jewel-like arils (seed sacs) packed with sweet-tart juice. Thrives in hot, dry climates with cold winters. Perfect for inland and mediterranean Australia. Self-fertile. Tolerates poor soil, drought, and neglect once established. Beautiful ornamental with orange-red flowers and yellow autumn foliage. Underplanted in Australian gardens.

Best Planting Window for Warm Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - P P P - - - -

P = Planting window

Plant bare root June-August.

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How to Grow Pomegranate in Warm Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Plant bare root June-August.

Soil
Extremely tolerant. Grows in sand, clay, limestone, even slightly saline soil. Prefers well-drained but adapts to most conditions. One of the least fussy fruit trees regarding soil.
pH Range
5.5-8.0 (remarkably tolerant of alkaline soil)
Sunlight
Full sun, maximum heat. The hotter the better for fruit sweetness.

Companion plants: Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, lavender, thyme)

Avoid planting near: Nothing specific, very adaptable

Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Pomegranate

Recommended Varieties

  • Wonderful
  • Elche
  • Ben Hur
  • Gulosha Rosavaya

Key Challenges

  • Fruit may not fully ripen in cool autumns

Pro Tips

  • Good zone. Western Sydney with hot summers is excellent.
  • Against north-facing wall for maximum heat.

Harvesting Pomegranate

When ready: Skin colour deepens (variety-specific red/pink). Metallic 'tink' sound when tapped (vs dull when unripe). Skin starts to look slightly angular (arils pressing against inside). Calyx flattens.

How to harvest: Cut with secateurs. Don't pull. Stem can tear skin.

Where to next

What pomegranate costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the warm temperate zone this September: Ginger, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

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Common Questions About Pomegranate

When do you plant pomegranate in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.