Punica granatum Parfianka - Pomegranate

The 'Parfianka' pomegranate tree offers a generous harvest of large, round pomegranates, weighing between 240 and 430 grams with a diameter of 10 to 14 cm. Their thick and shiny skin has a dark red hue when ripe. Inside, the fruit is divided into several chambers containing juicy reddish pulp with a sweet flavour and few seeds that are tender and soft. The juice colour is a deep burgundy red.

Parfianka is resistant to bursting and practically seedless, delicious eaten fresh from the tree. It gives a very pleasant sensation in the mouth. It is famous for its exceptional nutritional properties, refreshing, thirst-quenching, low in calories, and rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A long and hot summer period is necessary to ensure optimal ripening of the fruits of this variety. Its moderate growth makes it suitable for small gardens, and its attractive orange flowers attract pollinating insects. It is best to plant this variety in spring, when the climate warms up, in deep and well-drained soil, even if it is relatively dry.

Punica granatum, more commonly known as the Pomegranate tree, Balaustier, Carthage Apple, or Punic Apple, is a small fruit tree belonging to the Lythraceae family (previously included in the Punicaceae family). Originating in Persia more than 5000 years ago, the pomegranate tree can be found throughout history in Egypt, Greece, Africa, and then in Spain. It is cultivated from Asia to Europe. The city of Granada, a crossroads of Arab and Andalusian civilizations, located in southern Spain, owes its name to the presence of the pomegranate tree, brought by the Moors and widely planted in the mythical gardens of the Alhambra palace. This tree also adorned the hanging gardens of Babylon, and the Romans discovered it in Carthage, naming it the Carthage Apple. It is a species with a long lifespan, capable of living up to 200 years.

The 'Parfianka' variety originates from Central Asia, more specifically from Turkmenistan where its cultivation is ancient, under a continental climate with slightly harsh and cold winters and very hot summers. It is a very productive variety, with abundant and regular fruiting, but it takes about 5 to 7 years to start bearing fruit. 'Parfianka' first forms a clump of thorny and tangled branches in its youth, showing fairly rapid growth until maturity, which does not occur before the age of 5-6 years. The adult plant develops at a much slower pace, forming a small tree 4 m tall and with a minimum spread of 2.50 to 3 m, with a spreading and rounded habit after a few years. From a clump, if care is taken to prune the lower branches, it becomes a tree with a trunk that has a twisted appearance, reminiscent of olive trees. Its deciduous foliage is composed of small ovate, 4 to 7 cm long and 1 to 2 cm wide, shiny and very bright green leaves. They emerge bronze to purple in spring and have beautiful golden-yellow to reddish-orange autumn colours before falling. The pomegranate tree is monoecious, meaning it bears both male flowers that produce pollen and female flowers that will produce fruits. Flowering occurs in June-July, and sporadically continues throughout the summer. The flowers are about 4 cm in diameter. They are composed of crumpled, beautiful orange petals tinged with red, emerging from a thick waxy calyx that already resembles the future pomegranate. It is a fairly cold-resistant variety, capable of withstanding temperatures around -15/-18 °C. Late frosts in April-May can affect flowering and hinder fruit production. The pomegranate tree is self-fertile, with male and female flowers pollinating each other. It does not require a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another variety of pomegranate nearby will increase production.

Harvesting takes place in October, depending on the climate. The fruits can be consumed as soon as they are picked, as they ripen. The pomegranate is ripe when the skin is shiny red and cracks. Do not wait for the fruit to burst. Another sign of ripeness is visible when the small petal-shaped appendages at the end of the fruit are turned or even curled inward. The fruit's skin consists of a hard and red outer skin, and a thick, spongy, whitish inner skin. The inside of the fruit is divided into chambers. Each chamber contains a transparent and sticky envelope called an "aril" that contains numerous seeds. The seeds and aril are edible. The pomegranate can be cutin half and eaten fresh with a small spoon, used as a garnish for fruit salads or as a sauce to accompany meat or fish. You can extrac the juice to enjoy all the benefits of this fruit. The seeds, on the other hand, yield a good oil for cosmetics. The fresh seed is tender and can be eaten raw. After drying, it is used as a seasoning in dal, fried samosas, and stuffings. It is important to harvest the fruits only when they are ripe, as they do not ripen further after harvest.

Rich in water, the pomegranate is refreshing and thirst-quenching. It can be consumed fresh from the tree or transformed into juice, especially since the health benefits are higher than those of the fruit itself. Known for its richness in antioxidants, it is also rich in vitamins A, C, and E, fiber, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, folic acid, and potassium. The fruits can be stored for a few weeks to several months after harvest, in the refrigerator, at a temperature of 1 to 3 °C.

Among the varieties of pomegranate trees, the 'Parfianka' Pomegranate tree is prized for its delicious fruits and its decorative appeal. It is easy to grow and resistant to diseases and thrives in places where olive trees and fig trees also prosper, provided it is well protected. However, proper development and fruit ripening require sufficient sunlight and warmth. It is a superb plant to have as a solitary tree on a lawn and in a flower bed, a diverse hedge, or near an orchard. In warm climates, it blends perfectly with other Mediterranean fruit trees such as: Fig tree, Olive tree, Japanese Medlar, Jujube tree, Chilean Guava (Myrtle ugni), Almond tree, and Mulberry tree.