We took these photos a few weeks ago, but between all the projects, events, distractions and glorious rain, it slipped on the “publishing schedule”. As if I have a schedule… Anyway, we had some nice pomegranates this past autumn. We didn’t harvest tons of them this year, but a fair harvest for our own use.

So, according to the useful temperate plants database, Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a deep-rooted but slow-growing, spiny, deciduous shrub or small tree that has an open canopy and a crown that branches from low down. It can reach a height of around 5 metres. A multipurpose tree, it is particularly valued for its edible fruit, but also has medicinal properties, is a good source of tannins and has many agroforestry applications.

So ours don’t grow that slow – they seem to grow faster than the feijoas and the citrus. Right now our biggest one is only a tad smaller than 2 meters tall, and we have a few smaller, younger ones. During the last two weeks of ripening we had to stop the chooks free-ranging on our side of the fence, as they started pecking them open. Must be we’re not only ones enjoying their fruits.

So what do we do with pomegranates? At this stage, we just enjoy them fresh, that’s what!

But of course you can do much more with them – juices, jams, deserts. Maybe we will do some of that next year.