Characteristics of pomegranate flowers
In midsummer, the touch of orange-red in the courtyard always makes people stop, and pomegranate flowers bloom for thousands of years in a unique manner. This plant, native to the Balkans, has now become an important landscape in the north and south courtyards of China. Its flowers not only have ornamental value, but also contain the expectation of a bumper harvest. From the grand scene of "pomegranate flowers blooming on the street to burn" in Bai Juyi's writing to the cultivation and application in modern gardening, the life code of pomegranate flowers deserves careful interpretation. Explanation of morphological characteristics reveals the structure of trees. Pomegranate plants show the characteristics of typical deciduous shrubs, and the height of adult plants is mostly controlled at 2-5 meters. Longitudinal cracks are distributed on the surface of the gray-brown tree trunk, the yellow-green new branches are flexible and smooth, and the sharp thorns at the top are natural protective equipment. This growth characteristic allows pomegranate to adapt to courtyard pruning shapes and grow naturally in the wild. The most recognizable orange-red flowers with bell-shaped characteristics can reach 3 centimeters in diameter, and their fleshy petals are arranged in a six-lobed bell-shaped structure. The surface waxy layer presents a pearl luster in the sun, which not only prevents moisture from evaporating too quickly, but also reflects strong light to protect the stamens. The special structure of connecting the calyx tube and the ovary lays the foundation for subsequent fruit development. Mechanism of male and female differentiation pomegranate flowers are typical unisexual flowers. The swollen ovary at the base of the female flower is gourd-shaped, while the male flower is slender and tubular. According to statistics from artificial pollination experiments, the ratio of male and female flowers is about 1:3. The calyx tube of successfully pollinated female flowers will continue to expand, while unfertilized flowers will naturally fall off within 7 days after flowering. This physiological mechanism ensures reasonable distribution of nutrients in the plant. Cultivation and management points Nutritional control skills The principle of "applying thin fertilizer frequently" is adopted in the peak growth season. It is recommended to use decomposed bean cakes diluted 500 times with water and apply them. When fertilizing, pay attention to avoiding the full flowering period to prevent fertilizer liquid from burning petals. The ring peeling technology implemented in mid-May can increase the fruit setting rate by more than 40% by blocking phloem transportation. Pollination-enhancing scheme Artificial assisted pollination should be carried out when the morning dew is not dry. Use a brush to dip the pollen of the male flower of the alien plant and gently touch the stigma of the female flower. Comparative experiments showed that cross-pollinated fruits increased the weight of single fruit by 15%, and the plumularity of grains increased by 20%. Retaining 10% of male flowers naturally pollinated can maintain a balance of biodiversity. Environmental adaptation shows that pomegranate flowers perform best in slightly acidic soil with pH 6.5 -7.5, and their roots have outstanding drought tolerance. It can tolerate low temperatures of-15℃ in winter, but continuous rainy weather during flowering will lead to a flower drop rate of 60%. By building a temporary rainproof canopy, the fruit setting rate can be maintained above 85%.
From the "An pomegranate" recorded in "Xijing Miscellaneous Notes" to modern cultivated varieties, pomegranate flowers always carry auspicious connotations. By mastering its morphological characteristics and growth laws, we can not only appreciate the poetry of "May's pomegranate flowers shine brightly", but also gain the joy of "graceful and complex pomegranate branches." When the branches are covered with fruits in autumn, those maintenance details become gifts from nature.