Hi Aaron! I don't think that's sunburn. Sunburn affects the outer skin more than the inside and does not generally cause rot. I believe that's a fungal disease called heart rot or black heart. I've gotten that over the years on my pomegranates. It actually gets started at the flowering stage. The experts say the best way to prevent is to spray the bush just before the flowers open and then again after they open with copper fungicide. I did that this year and the fruit I've opened so far looks like it should. I've had nearly all my fruit look like the one you opened the last couple of years and blamed it on leaf-footed bugs but I learned heart rot is much more of a widespread issue in pomegranate orchards. Hope that helps!
@@AmzBackyardOrchardandVineyard You are welcome! It's always a huge bummer when you don't get to enjoy the harvest. I was almost about to give up but found the fungicide saved them this year and added 5 more pomegranate bushes in the ground. If you are concerned about sunburn, you could try paper bags around the fruit or spraying with a crop protectant called Surround WP (it's organic). I did the latter this year mostly for pest protection but orchards apply it for sun protection of fruit also, Out of curiosity, was the fruit you opened an Azadi? The skin looked like that versus the Wonderful. Azadi arils are pinkish to peach-colored when ripe versus red like the Wonderful.
Yes this was the Azadi. Both it, and our wonderful pomegranates are starting to ripen, I was not aware of the peach color for the arols, but I will look for them! I'm curious to how they taste and how the seeds are supposed to be smaller and edible!
From my understanding, heart rot is caused by a fungus. Alternaria alternata are common in nature and observed on living leaves and plant debris/mulch. Often the pathogens overwinter in the soil and in mummified fruit. How the spores get into the fruit can vary. The spores are airborne and can be carried to the flowers with dust from the wind. At flowering, I observe ants climbing up the branches and into the flowers on my tree which could also transfer the spores. Infections may also be introduced by insects (leaf-footed bugs, aphids, etc.) and bird punctures into the skin later as the fruit matures. Pomegranates are most susceptible to the spores at flowering, so it’s important to treat at that time. To your point, that in of itself is not enough as the fruit can get infected anywhere (like the top) later in development if the skin is pecked or bitten by insects. So it’s important to bag the fruit also or use the crop protectant once the fruit sets in spring.
Thank you, I've noticed our fruit has cracked where the sun has been shining on it throughout the year. This may have weakened the skin to the point it may have made access for the disease. I'll watch for it next year and protect them. I'm outside every day and watch for leaf footed bugs and fortunately I have not seen any this year on any of our plants.
@@AmzBackyardOrchardandVineyard I seemed to have missed the part on why they look rotten? Mine consistently have the brownish arils (white aril variety) and I am perplexed. Thanks!
We had an abundance of pomegranates this year. So I bought a juice press. Just cut the fruit in half and squeeze the juice out. No more pain in the butt trying to peel those things anymore. Instant juice.
It could be a couple of things, but I fairly assumed it was sunburn because it was physically sunburned on the outside and was rotten underneath the skin, kind of similar how citrus Burns during the summertime.
Hi Aaron! I don't think that's sunburn. Sunburn affects the outer skin more than the inside and does not generally cause rot. I believe that's a fungal disease called heart rot or black heart. I've gotten that over the years on my pomegranates. It actually gets started at the flowering stage. The experts say the best way to prevent is to spray the bush just before the flowers open and then again after they open with copper fungicide. I did that this year and the fruit I've opened so far looks like it should. I've had nearly all my fruit look like the one you opened the last couple of years and blamed it on leaf-footed bugs but I learned heart rot is much more of a widespread issue in pomegranate orchards. Hope that helps!
So awesome, thank you Natasha 😎
@@AmzBackyardOrchardandVineyard You are welcome! It's always a huge bummer when you don't get to enjoy the harvest. I was almost about to give up but found the fungicide saved them this year and added 5 more pomegranate bushes in the ground. If you are concerned about sunburn, you could try paper bags around the fruit or spraying with a crop protectant called Surround WP (it's organic). I did the latter this year mostly for pest protection but orchards apply it for sun protection of fruit also, Out of curiosity, was the fruit you opened an Azadi? The skin looked like that versus the Wonderful. Azadi arils are pinkish to peach-colored when ripe versus red like the Wonderful.
@@EnlightenmentGarden Thank you for sharing this! So helpful!
Yes this was the Azadi. Both it, and our wonderful pomegranates are starting to ripen, I was not aware of the peach color for the arols, but I will look for them! I'm curious to how they taste and how the seeds are supposed to be smaller and edible!
@@AmzBackyardOrchardandVineyard Excellent! I find Azadi to be very good. Very soft and sweet arils compared to "Wonderful" with no acidity.
From my understanding, heart rot is caused by a fungus. Alternaria alternata are common in nature and observed on living leaves and plant debris/mulch. Often the pathogens overwinter in the soil and in mummified fruit. How the spores get into the fruit can vary. The spores are airborne and can be carried to the flowers with dust from the wind. At flowering, I observe ants climbing up the branches and into the flowers on my tree which could also transfer the spores. Infections may also be introduced by insects (leaf-footed bugs, aphids, etc.) and bird punctures into the skin later as the fruit matures.
Pomegranates are most susceptible to the spores at flowering, so it’s important to treat at that time. To your point, that in of itself is not enough as the fruit can get infected anywhere (like the top) later in development if the skin is pecked or bitten by insects. So it’s important to bag the fruit also or use the crop protectant once the fruit sets in spring.
Thank you, I've noticed our fruit has cracked where the sun has been shining on it throughout the year. This may have weakened the skin to the point it may have made access for the disease. I'll watch for it next year and protect them. I'm outside every day and watch for leaf footed bugs and fortunately I have not seen any this year on any of our plants.
Thank you so much for this video. Very helpful
You're welcome, if there's anything I missed, let me know!
@@AmzBackyardOrchardandVineyard I seemed to have missed the part on why they look rotten? Mine consistently have the brownish arils (white aril variety) and I am perplexed. Thanks!
@@chawn521he said it was sunburnt
We had an abundance of pomegranates this year. So I bought a juice press. Just cut the fruit in half and squeeze the juice out. No more pain in the butt trying to peel those things anymore. Instant juice.
It could be a couple of things, but I fairly assumed it was sunburn because it was physically sunburned on the outside and was rotten underneath the skin, kind of similar how citrus Burns during the summertime.