The 'Portugal' variety (pomegranate / Punica granatum) is a distinctive variety known for its exceptionally dark fruits.
Here are the key characteristics of this variety and specifics of its cultivation in Czech conditions:
? Variety characteristics
Fruit appearance: The fruits are large, with a very dark, mahogany-red to black-brown leathery skin.
Flesh and flavor: Inside are large, dark ruby to purple seeds (arils). The variety is renowned for its very sweet, balanced, and aromatic flavor with minimal acidity.
Uses: The fruits are prized both for fresh consumption and for pressing high-quality dark juice rich in antioxidants.
? Cultivation in the Czech Republic
The pomegranate tree is not fully frost-hardy (it typically tolerates frosts down to \(-15\) °C). Under our conditions, it is therefore most often grown as a potted plant.
Summer care: From May to October, it requires a sunny and warm location, ideally in a garden or on a terrace.
Winter care: For the winter, the plant must be moved to a bright or partially shaded room with a temperature between \(2\) and \(10\) °C. During the winter, keep watering to a minimum (keep the soil almost dry); the plant usually sheds its leaves.
Watering and Fertilizing: In summer, it requires regular watering and fertilizing (ideally with fertilizers for citrus or fruiting vegetables).
Harvest: The fruits ripen from late August through November. You can tell they are ripe by the metallic sound when tapped and the slightly wrinkled skin.