Pomegranate dies suddenly (forum)

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Our healthy pomegranate tree (height 2m), which was planted before winter (dormant during winter), seems to have died suddenly after a couple of very cool snaps during a (also sudden) early warm start to this spring. All of many new leaves as well as the few flowers suddenly withered, although larger branches still seem to have green inside. I wonder if anything to do with it being subjected to about a week of flooding last autumn? Pomegranates are described as pretty hardy - is it likely one would die suddenly like this? Would appreciate any opinions about this - Cheers.

Time: 20th October 2012 11:53am

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Sydney (Campsie) NSW
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VF says...
You may have had some light frosts which has burnt the young growth. Tree is possibly affected by root rot too, if it got flooded just before going dormant - they do come from more arid climes. If there's still green you have hope though cos they're a resilient plant, and truly are tough as nails once established. Not much you can do expect maybe water with a mild seasol solution if needs watering, and a light application of sulph.of potash to help root development. If it's an area prone to flooding though, first thing I'd do is move the plant.

Time: 22nd October 2012 10:21am

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About the Author VF
Wongawallan
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Pomegranate dies suddenly says...
Thanks very much for your advice, VF. The cold snaps that seemed to affect the tree were not frosts (rare where we live) which actually burnt the tree, but a couple of cold shocks during very warm start to spring on top of roots affected by flooding months before could have set the tree back. About a week ago we pruned it heavily and the branches have remained green inside, so hoping it will revive.

We have a few potato plants growing around the pomegranate and the leaves of a couple of these near to the tree went yellow about the same time as the tree died back (but the potatoes themselves were fine), while the other potato plants' leaves remained green. This caused us to wonder if the sudden demise of the pomegranate tree may have been due to poisoning by our neighbour (who previously attacked one of our trees). We are hoping this wasn't the case and the fact that the branches seem to have remained green would make poisoning seem unlikely?
Cheers and thanks again for advice. Steve

Time: 29th October 2012 8:00pm

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About the Author Pomegranate dies suddenly
Sydney (Campsie) NSW
#UserID: 7347
Posts: 2
View All Pomegranate dies suddenly's Edible Fruit Trees