Growing pomegranates in Texas
Pomegranates can produce in much of central, southern and southeastern Texas, but cultivar cold tolerance and local freeze exposure matter. Choose a variety for the site and market, provide full sun and good drainage, and plan water, pruning and harvest around the actual block rather than assuming one Texas-wide schedule.
Scope: Texas commercial and small-farm production guidance from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Cultivar performance and cold risk vary by site; this source does not establish a reliable statewide yield or profit forecast. Updated 2026-10-07.
At a glance
- More favourable production context
- Central, southern and southeastern Texas; northern trials remain cultivar-specific1
- Site requirement
- Full sun and good internal drainage across soil types1
- Plant spacing reference
- 3.7–4.6 m (12–15 ft) in-row × 4.6–6.1 m (15–20 ft) between rows1
- Irrigation reference
- Established plants about every 7–10 days; adjust for soil and weather1
- Harvest period
- September for early cultivars through October for later cultivars1
Perennial growth and climate in Texas
A perennial planting remains in the field for multiple years. Establishment is a long-term investment; flowering, fruit development, harvest and plant care recur as the planting matures. Follow the named cultivar and production system.
Establish a long-lived planting1
Pomegranates remain in the field for multiple years. Select cultivar for local winter exposure, full-sun access, drainage, water supply and intended market. The extension source does not establish a single statewide planting month.
Management: Split young-tree nitrogen only to the source schedule and field need1
Texas A&M lists February, May and September as possible split application months during establishment. Treat this as a source example, not an automatic fertilizer prescription; use tree age, soil tests and local recommendations.
Management: Record freeze injury, bloom and fruit cracking1
Follow the block through winter and flowering. The crop may tolerate cold while dormant yet suffer at different temperatures by cultivar, and fruit splitting near maturity is a recurring Texas concern.
Harvest: Harvest by cultivar maturity1
Texas A&M describes early-ripening varieties maturing in September and later varieties continuing through October. Fruit does not ripen after picking, so confirm full maturity and cut fruit from the branch.
Historical monthly climate
Reference period: 1996-01-01 to 2025-12-31. ERA5-Land monthly mean soil temperature at 0–7 cm, air temperature and frost days at the regional reference point (31.5, -99). Select a month to inspect its historical conditions.
Month tiles show mean air temperature.
February historical conditions
- Mean topsoil temperature
- 12.2°C
- Mean air temperature
- 12.3°C
- Mean frost days per month
- 4.4 days
Use this monthly history to assess winter exposure, seasonal heat and water planning. It does not calculate cultivar chill hours, flowering dates, frost damage during bloom or fruit maturity. Topsoil at 0–7 cm describes shallow soil context, not the full root zone. Harvest periods follow the production evidence above.
Climate source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather APIScreen winter exposure and field drainage
- 1
Map winter exposure
Cold tolerance varies by cultivar; central, southern and southeastern Texas are the established production context.
- 2
Select cultivar
Compare cold hardiness, maturity, fruit type and buyer demand before ordering trees.
- 3
Check drainage
Good internal drainage is the consistent soil requirement across Texas soil types.
- 4
Confirm water and handling
Budget irrigation, harvest labor and a market route before expanding the block.
- Do not use one cold threshold for every cultivar
- Texas A&M reports that some varieties tolerate temperatures as low as 10°F while others can be damaged at 18°F. Dormancy, tree condition and cultivar change injury risk; use the hardiness information as a screen, not a guarantee of crop survival.1
- Separate established regions from northern trials
- The extension guide says many fruiting types survive typical winters across central, southern and southeastern Texas. Work on northern varieties is described as ongoing, including Al-sirin-nar, Salavatski and Russian 18; treat that as trial context rather than a blanket north-Texas recommendation.1
- Drainage is more important than a single soil type
- Texas A&M describes pomegranates on moderately alkaline South Texas soils and slightly acidic East Texas soils, provided internal drainage is good. Test new ground for nutrients and salinity before setting a fertilizer and water plan.1
Choose a cultivar for cold, maturity and market
| Cultivar | Regional note | Maturity reference |
|---|---|---|
| Russian 18 | Cold hardy; adapted over a wide area; bears early | Not specified in the table |
| Salavatski | Good cold hardiness | Mid-October |
| Spanish Sweet | Cold tolerant; productive | Mid-October |
| Al-sirin-nar | Promising in Texas trials | Late October |
| Wonderful | Main commercial type; splitting and cold hardiness concerns | Variety-specific; verify locally |
Sources1
- Balance hardiness and buyer preference
- A cold-hardy tree may be useful at the site but still need to meet the intended market for taste, seed texture, color, size or processing. Check actual buyer specifications before making a large planting.1
- Spread harvest only if the outlet can handle it
- Texas varieties range from early September maturity through October. A wider maturity range can distribute labor, but only if packing, storage and buyers are available across the season.1
Lay out rows for canopy light and field access
Between rows: 4.6–6.1 m (15–20 ft) · Within the row: 3.7–4.6 m (12–15 ft)
Texas A&M gives 12–15 ft between plants and 15–20 ft between rows; avoid crowding because insufficient light reduces growth and production. Schematic, not to scale.
- Treat spacing as an extension starting point
- The Texas A&M range is a broad planting reference. Adjust for bush form, cultivar vigor, equipment, harvest method, soil, water and the space needed for canopy light and air movement.1
- Prepare and mulch the tree row
- Prepare the soil before planting, relieve compaction where needed and control perennial weeds. Texas A&M describes organic mulch or weed-barrier fabric to reduce moisture loss and competition around young trees.1
Manage irrigation, nutrition and the perennial canopy
- 1
At planting
Water thoroughly and remove competing weeds near the young tree.
- 2
After leaf-out
Use the source’s weekly establishment reference and adjust to soil and weather.
- 3
During years 1–3
Increase nitrogen gradually only when growth and soil tests support it.
- 4
Bearing years
Prune annually, manage suckers and scout fruit through maturity.
- Use irrigation intervals as references, not automatic runtimes
- Texas A&M says to water at planting and again after 2–4 weeks, begin weekly watering when trees leaf out and water established trees about every 7–10 days. Actual run time and amount depend on soil, rainfall, emitter setup, tree age and weather.1
- Scale drip emitters with the tree
- The Texas guide gives one 1-gallon-per-hour emitter per tree for the first year or two, increasing gradually to at least four emitters by ages 4–5. Check wetted root volume and local irrigation advice before copying the equipment schedule.1
- Prune to keep productive structure and remove suckers
- Texas A&M describes pomegranates as bush-forming plants. Select three to five main trunks as growth begins, remove extra shoots and annually thin interior growth and damaged wood while retaining the main scaffold branches.1
- Avoid fertilizer by calendar alone
- The extension source suggests light nitrogen for young plants and lists February, May and September as possible split dates. Use soil tests and observed growth; excess or poorly timed fertilizer is not a substitute for diagnosis.1
Harvest fully mature fruit and manage splitting risk
- 1
September
Early-ripening cultivars begin to mature.
- 2
October
Later cultivars continue through the month.
- 3
Check maturity
Fruit does not continue to ripen after picking.
- 4
Cut and handle
Cut fruit close to the branch to avoid stems rubbing nearby fruit.
- Harvest by variety and maturity
- Texas A&M places early cultivar maturity in September and later types through October. The guide says fruit does not ripen after picking, so do not use a calendar date alone to determine readiness.1
- Watch splitting and wet-period disease
- Fruit splitting near maturity and fungal problems during wet bloom or ripening are described as Texas production concerns. Record affected blocks and work with local extension on current diagnosis and management.1
- Build a local commercial budget
- The source provides horticultural references but no dependable statewide yield or profitability model. Include tree establishment, irrigation, freeze losses, labor, sorting, packing and buyer specifications in the farm budget.1
Frequently asked questions
- Where can pomegranates grow in Texas?
- Texas A&M says many fruiting varieties survive typical winters in central, southern and southeastern Texas. Northern sites need careful cultivar screening; reported northern varieties are still described in trial terms.
- How far apart should pomegranates be planted in Texas?
- The Texas A&M reference is 12–15 ft between plants and 15–20 ft between rows. Adapt it to cultivar, tree form, equipment, drainage and harvest access.
- When are pomegranates harvested in Texas?
- Early cultivars mature in September and later cultivars through October. Confirm maturity in the orchard because fruit does not ripen after harvest.
- How often should pomegranate trees be watered in Texas?
- Texas A&M gives about every 7–10 days for established plants as a starting reference. Adjust interval and runtime to soil, weather, rainfall, tree age and irrigation equipment.
- Which pomegranate varieties are cold hardy in Texas?
- Texas A&M names Russian 18 as cold hardy and adapted over a wide area; Salavatski and Spanish Sweet are also described as cold hardy or tolerant. Local winter exposure still needs to be checked.
Regional pomegranate guides
Local dates, soil-temperature history and sources for specific regions:
Sources and image credits
- 1. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Pomegranates: Texas Fruit and Nut Production (E-613) — February 2013. Texas cultivar descriptions, climate and soil, spacing, irrigation, fertilizer, pruning, pests, disease, harvest and storage. The source does not establish a statewide commercial yield or profit forecast.
Figures are published averages or study assumptions for the places named, not guarantees for your field. Check current local recommendations and product labels before acting.