Pomegranate, Punica granatum L., Buah Delima, 石榴. Part 2

I tried germinating Pomegranate from seeds from the fruits that we ate last December. Click here for link. I waited for days, weeks & months, non germinated. I dare not weed the raised bed as I've not see baby pomegranate plants before. Afraid that I may pulled off the baby Pomegranate.

Brought in just before Christmas 2013.

Lucky for me I brought back a Israeli Pomegranate plant (propagated via marcotting). This plant had been growing very slowly. Had been toying with it, hoping to propagate more from it. Trying to ID this plant and I think it could be Israeli Ruby.

Initially I tried shoring up the earth and this managed to induce rooting on the smaller lower branches. Managed to get 4 small plants. Unfortunately 1 didn't survived. At least I got 3 new plants.

Shoring up to earth to make the smaller branches root.

I then tried propagating via cuttings. It failed as the stem taken may be too young & small. I shall try cuttings again when I have mature stems of sufficient size.

2 of the new Pomegranate.

Am trying marcotting at the moment. Did a couple on the Mother plant. I think it is rooting. I damaged 1 as I was taking it out for inspection. I potted it anyway, hopefully it shall survive. Another 1 has a tiny little root. Hopefully shall have 2 more plants.

Another marcotting under way on the new Pomegranate plant.

Have 2 more air layering which I think should root early October. 1 from the mother plant & 1 from the new plant.

Another marcotting under way on the mother Pomegranate plant.

We now have 4 plants & am targeting 10 plants before I transfer them to field planting. Pomegranate also falls in line with one of our objective of planting health beneficial fruits, but most importantly, my wife loves it.


Pomegranate

A compound found only in pomegranates called punicalagin is shown to benefit the heart and blood vessels. Punicalagin is the major component responsible for pomegranate's antioxidant and health benefits. It not only lowers cholesterol, but also lowers blood pressure and increases the speed at which heart blockages (atherosclerosis) melt away.

Health Benefits of the Pomegranate

• Most powerful anti-oxidant of all fruits
• Potent anti-cancer and immune supporting effects
• Inhibits abnormal platelet aggregation that could cause heart attacks, strokes and embolic disease
• Lowers cholesterol and other cardiac risk factors
• Lowers blood pressure
• Shown to promote reversal of atherosclerotic plaque in human studies
• May have benefits to relieve or protect against depression and osteoporosis

Many studies show that the pomegranate is one of the most powerful, nutrient dense foods for overall good health. These clinical findings clearly show a correlation between pomegranate compounds and their positive effect on both human and animal cardiovascular, nervous, and skeletal health. This is one fruit that you can't afford to exclude from your diet! So, let's plant more Pomegranate.

Rescue S. Avocado (Persea americana).

S. Avocado looking good.

Anothe S. Avocado looks great.

All of the S. Avocado looks good.

Checking on our members daily, with a break on Christmas.

S. Avocados looking strong.

The Israeli Pomegranate starting to bud.

Problem started after Christmas. Back from my Sandakan trip.

The scion of S. Avocado turned black, died.

It's spreading into the Avocado rootstock.

This got too bad that I had to give it up, as the scion had totally died and moving towards the rootstock. This #Avocado is a goner.

Sunday, 29th, as it was drizzling in the morning, I move the avocados to a dryer area in the nursery. Had them perch on some old wood like a parade.

Parading the S. Avocado for inspection.

As the drizzle is getting heavier, I sat there and check the Avocados. The Pomegranate had started to bud. My friend Edward had reported that his had signs of budding. Why are you gals not budding? Not happy, not comfy?

Fungus on the S. Avocado collar.

Collar rot, on the S.Avocado due to the sudden wet weather.

Too wet on the S. Avocado.

  As I was walking around, I saw signs of fungus. I immediately mix some fungicide and dose onto them. I then realized that due to the heavy rain every night, my friends maybe getting "wet feet".

Sudden change to too wet weather and insufficient drainage holes at the bottom of the poly bag, caused 'wet feet'.

Dig out 1 and got a confirmation. Immediately got to work, transferred all of them to the "pot", that I made out of pail. Since I'm at it, put some rooting hormone powder to their roots.

There wasn't much need roots growth on the S. Avocado.

The Pomegranate shows pretty much root growth.

To dry them off, I transferred them to the shed with roof, side afternoon sun about 1 pm onwards.

Grafted my Avocado on the dead S.  Avocado. Bye bye to S. Avocado.

The plant that I had to give up, I grafted my Avocado to the rootstock.

ICU for S. Avocado.

At my ICU. More patients coming in due to the bad weather (wet).

More are coming in. Avocado ICU.

This is what I'm worried about.

Daily heavy rain, too wet for the Avocados.

1 of the weaker plants was not seal off properly and caused some dehydration.

Note the edge, it wasn't seal properly.

Note the edge, and how the brown section spread from it. Re-seal it with more wax. Didn't work, died after a few days.

Grafting tape removed on the S. Avocado.

I noticed that they were tied at localized high pressure, causing the deep 'cut'. Is this more effective, as I do it differently, spreading out the pressure more evenly.

I feel the it looks ugly, but if it works, why not? Must try this out 1 day.

I didn't like the wat that the graft were tied, had it removed today. It's causing too much constriction. Had it wrap with cling wrap (keep fresh) and shall remove in a week or so.

Had some relieve today as I noticed the bud is growing on the stronger ones. Thank you. Guess it should flush in a week or so.

 Ten days had past, no changes. Watering them slightly every 3 days, just to keep the soil moist.

 Inspection day this morning. Watered with EM, fiolar spray. Gave them a bath with Tiram (fungicide). Notice more buds. Now just have to wait for them to push and flush. Decided to seal off more areas with wax to prevent dehydration and infection.

New buds, twins on S. Avocado.

New growth at the tip of the S. Avocado. The pouch is just to aid focusing.

The buds of the S. Avocado, were there previously, but now more green.

 Thank goodness, I almost lost faith there. What a joyous day. Now waiting for them to flush. Shall have more feedback after my Chinese New Year holidays.

 I name them Cat, Betty & Anne.

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014.

2013 was an eventful year.

Universal Studio, Singapore.

Koh Samui, Thailand.

Krabi, Thailand.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.

Had a couple of very memorable vacations with my love ones. Singapore, Koh Samui and Krabi, in Thailand and Sandakan.

 Night view of KLCC, Kuala Lumpur.

Took 4 months off and spent it with my loving wife. Strengthening our relationship, learn and care more about each other. One very important lesson learned is to always seek second medical opinion. Our deepest gratitude to Dr. Azis Yayha and Dr. Loh Chit Sin. This event made use closer and I find that I'm falling in love, all over again with my wife Alice. Thank you for loving me.

Read and started to practice some self improvement. Improving mostly my mental well being in a holistic approach. Adapting to our different life style as am passing 50 hence need to do things in a certain way. Came on a couple of very great books.

My bike.

Bought a per-owned motorcycle, had been wanting to for a long time. Event though it's not my wish bike, it's still a bike I like and I can use this in our farm (with some mod).

Double Rainbow over my little farm.

Finally, the time had come to say goodbye to my little farm. Decided not to resist the involuntary take over. Arrangement had been made for my helper. Am grateful and happy for him as through our discussion I learn that he is moving up to a higher plane. Wishing him good success.

Looking back, set up this farm back in February 2011 and was a tourist farmer then. Had to take over on October 2011 due to some turns of event. I was a newbie with no farming experience and this was when my Farming Quest started. It was a big challenge with 3 helpers and all of us no good farming experience. My little farm had taught us lots of valuable experiences in a relatively short time of 2 years. It took me from growing very short term vegetables to caring for long term fruit trees. Had also learn about weed & soil management, pest & disease control, germination & grafting. My little farm also gave me some valuable data on care of fruit trees like Avocado, Breadfruits, Jackfruit and Soursop. Most of these, I do not know until I came in contact with them. Thank you, thank you and thank you to my little farm.

My little farm had also gave me positive confidence to concentrate on my present fruit tree project of supplementing our rubber trees with Avocado, Jackfruit, and Soursop. This shall be my main quest for the time being. Very grateful to my little farm, it had given me a clearer vision of my wish farm.

Thank you 2013 for the progress that I've made, things that I've learned and our well being, on all my love ones.


Hello Mini Nursery.
I'm sure this parting from my little farm is part of my evolution, to move me on to a greater heights. This shall free me and let me concentrate on the longer term projects of our rubber and fruit trees. I also find more happiness and joy moving from the "competitive plane to a creative plane". Had been reading about this on a book by Rhonda Bryne- Secret but just couldn't grasp it, until now. Also shall prepare to start tapping of our rubber trees in stages beginning most probably June. I am already producing planting material for Avocado, Jackfruits, Soursop and Rubber trees. Successfully done micro-propagating of Banana. On going germination of Pomegranate (trial), grafting Rubber trees, Limes and Mango. All these, learned through My Little Farm. Thank you.Shall be operating our mini nursery at the little farm until end of the year (2014).

Had added more varieties of clones for Jackfuit and Avocado. Hope to create higher quality planting materials with these. On Jackfruit, am already producing grafts on clones J29 & J31. Targeting for clone J33 now (managed 1 at the moment). The newer clone for Jackfruit & Avocados shall have to wait, (until I can harvest scions). For the first six months of 2014, am targeting 50 grafted plants per month.

Practicing whip & tongue graft.

I shall need to improve more my grafting skill, which shall help me quickly develop our fruit / rubber trees project. Once I improve my skill, I shall be able to produce more planting materials for our farm. Working on finer points of grafting like sanitizing grafting tools and sealing off cuts on scions.

Land cleared for planting fruit trees.

Had cleared some vacant land at Parcel 1 and had already started planting. Once we fill up parcel 1 to the max, 2nd phase shall be Parcel 3, which we had identify some land in the inter terrace. Unfortunately about 40 grafted Avocado seedlings had be "lost" due to road maintenance. Shall replant with Jackfruits or Soursop as these can be pruned to a smaller canopy and not to cover up the road. Anticipating Parcel 3 to take us a while as we may clear some land to set up our new nursery too.

Looking forward to 2014, so excited to put our plan into action. It's gonna be our biggest challenge, to finish off planting for Parcel 1. Targeting to start tapping our rubber trees in June (stages). With 2 coming vacation with my love ones, Bangkok & Turkey, Life is great and full of excitement.

Reinforcing my vision of my wish farm. A very big farm with vast acreage, rows and rows of my favorite fruit trees, Durian, Jackfruits, Avocados, Soursop, Banana, Papaya and Rubber trees. Greenhouses to plant high value fruits, vegetables & herbs. A small river running across the land, supplying water for irrigation, aquaculture and running of a micro generator. A vast number of farm livestock, roaming freely. A small retirement / vacation home, perched on a small hill, with a small garden, swimming pool, a small open kitchen, a number of quest rooms, run by solar / wind power. Linked by both land lines and wireless communication. Dreaming on.

Pomegranate, Punica granatum L., Buah Delima, 石榴.

Pomegranate, scientific name Punica granatum L. A fruit with ancient history. Pomegranate had been mention in various ancient holy text and some believed that this is the forbidden fruit that Adam took.

I got interested in Pomegranate after reading about it from a group of friends in FaceBook, a closed group Malaysia Gardeners. After doing some research and since it can grow & fruit in Malaysia, I decided to give it a try.

Went out to search for the biggest Pomegranate that I can find. The local ones are pretty small, followed by the Indians and Turkish. The biggest I found is from Egypt. Bought it at RM$ 14.00 for 2 pieces. As I had no experience on Pomegranate, I just took 2 that looks good (exterior) to me.

Egyptian Pomegranate.

 I should had chosen 2 that is ripe. Put them into the fridge for storage.

EGCT Pomegranate.

As I had never ate Pomegranate before, I search on YouTube how to eat a Pomegranate. There are 2 methods, 1 wet & 1 dry. It looks messy & difficult on the internet. My wife had ate this before but but was told she was served already cut. Tried out the dry method in the evening. It's not difficult to de-seed. I ended up just cutting the fruit into 2 halves and made some slides cutting on the side. Used my hands to gently rub out the seeds. It tasted good and sweet. I find it challenging to eat them as they are pretty small and with seeds. Lots of work, not much reward. My family finished off the fruit. I kept the Pomegranate seeds for planting

Ate the other fruit the next day. The more red one. This 1 was extremely sweet and good flavor. Must be due to the ripeness. My wife and me finished off the whole fruit. We then discussed on the benefits of pomegranate. It has high medicinal value, high in vitamin C & D, a strong antioxidant. One sites says it's more beneficial then drinking red wine. There are lots of recipes to make beverage from pomegranate juice. Must try it out one day. Pomegranate juice also has Viagra effect. Say this article

"Viagra and pomegranate together is too much of a good thing

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in the erection enhancer Viagra, is more effective when combined with pomegranate. But sometimes the combination works a little too well, say doctors at the Sri Gokulam Hospitals and Research Institute in Tamil Nadu, India. They describe in Urology Annals cases of three men for whom the combination of Viagra and pomegranate led to an almost permanent erection"

Soaking Pomegranate Seeds.

Kept the seeds. Soak them in a bowl of water overnight. I then started to clean off the membrane. It was challenging. Decided to clean them by washing in a rubbing action, like washing rice. Then using water to separate the membrane, pomegranate seeds sink, membrane float. These pomegranate seeds were then air dried. I think there could be a hundred seeds.

Air dried Pomegranate Seeds.

I am very excited about this trial and the 1st thing I did when I reached my little farm is to clear up a patch in my nursery to germinate these. Being a lazy farmer, I only clear the patch that I required.  Made trenches and spray out the seeds. This I find is the simplest method. On a trench, I don't nee to water too much as water accumulates on the lower trench. When I do transplant, it's easier to find as they are in a row.

Germinating Pomegranate Seeds.

Let's wait 45 ~ 60 days and see what happens. Till then.