Tropical and subtropical fruits (2+1)

Training and pruning

• Training of pomegranate plant is important to allow certain number of shoots/stems per plant. It may be trained as multi-stemmed and single stemmed tree.
• Multi-stemmed tree: This method is preferred in Maharashtra, where in 3-4 stems are retained at a hill and remaining shoots are removed. But yield has not been found to be affected. This will give a bushy frame work to the plant.
• Single stemmed tree: Train the plants, remove all the side shoots upto 2-3 feet and single stem is left. This operation begins at the time of planting. The main stem is pinched at a height of 1m results in the formation of branches. Only well distributed 4-5 branches on all sides are allowed to grow.
• Pruning of water shoots, weak crotches dead twigs, old spurs is done regularly. After 10 years, old main stems should be removed by cutting back to make it more productive.