You do not need an orchard to grow your own pomegranates. If you have a sunny terrace, balcony, or even a small open space, you can grow a pomegranate plant in a pot with the right container, soil, and care.
Gardening creator Anish Sinha, who runs the @delhidudes gardening channel on Instagram, has shown how he grows pomegranates in containers at home. His work focuses on organic gardening and terrace gardening, and his social media profile describes him as an environmental enthusiast and organic gardener.
In a 2025 video, he explained a pomegranate plant growing in a pot and recommended the Super Bhagwa variety.
If you want to start one this October, here is how to do it.
1. Choose the right pot
His method uses a 16-inch pot. The Navbharat Times report says a container measuring at least 12 inches in diameter and depth can also be used, although a larger container gives the roots more room.
You do not need an orchard to grow your own pomegranates. Photograph: (A-Z Animals)
Whatever size you choose, drainage is important. The pot should have holes at the bottom so that excess water can escape.
For a long-term fruiting plant, horticultural guidance generally favours a considerably larger container than the minimum size suggested in his video. A Times of India gardening guide recommends a pot around 18 to 24 inches wide and deep for balcony-grown pomegranates.
2. Prepare a well-draining mix
Pomegranates do not like sitting in waterlogged soil. Sinha’s potting mix uses garden soil, sand, and cow dung manure in equal proportions. He also recommends additions such as neem cake, cocopeat, and vermicompost.
The important point is drainage. ICAR research describes pomegranate as a hardy fruit crop that can tolerate heat, drought, and moisture deficit, while the National Horticulture Board notes that the crop can grow under relatively difficult soil conditions.
For a container, avoid making the mix heavy or compact. A loose mixture that allows excess water to drain while retaining enough moisture is a better choice.
3. Pick a suitable variety
Sinha recommends Super Bhagwa for growing pomegranates in pots. The variety is a selection from Bhagwa, according to the National Horticulture Board. Its data also lists Super Bhagwa as maturing around two to three weeks earlier than Bhagwa under commercial cultivation.
Bhagwa itself is one of India’s major pomegranate varieties. ICAR lists Bhagwa among the promising varieties for regions including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, while the National Horticulture Board lists it across several pomegranate-growing states.
For a home garden, it is better to buy a healthy grafted or vegetatively propagated plant from a reliable nursery rather than depend on a seed if your aim is earlier and more predictable fruiting.
4. Prepare the pot
The gardener suggests beginning with a layer of dry leaves at the bottom of the container before adding the potting mixture. He recommends filling the container in layers and allowing the prepared pot to sit for about a week before planting.
Pomegranates do not like sitting in waterlogged soil. Photograph: (The Spruce)
If you are starting with a nursery plant, place it carefully in the prepared container without damaging the root ball. Fill around it with the potting mix and water lightly.
Those growing from seed can follow a different route. Sinha’s method involves soaking the seeds for about 23 hours before sowing them around half an inch deep and about two inches apart. He says the seeds can germinate in two to three weeks when the soil is kept moist.
For beginners, however, a healthy nursery plant is the simpler option.
5. Give it plenty of sunlight
Once planted, place the pot where the pomegranate receives strong sunlight. This could be a terrace, balcony, or another open part of the home.
Pomegranate is naturally suited to warm and relatively dry conditions. ICAR describes the crop as tolerant of heat and drought, while container growing guidance recommends around six to eight hours of direct sunlight for good growth and fruiting.
6. Water carefully
The fruit needs water, but constantly wet soil can cause problems. The gardener advises reducing watering during the rainy season and making sure the soil does not remain soggy.
During hot weather, the plant may need more frequent watering. The better approach is to check the soil before watering rather than following a fixed schedule. Water thoroughly when the soil has started drying, then allow excess water to drain away.
7. Feed and prune regularly
Sinha recommends organic inputs such as cow dung manure and neem cake to replenish nutrients. In a pot, nutrients are gradually depleted as the plant grows, so occasional feeding is important.
Pruning also helps keep a container-grown plant manageable. Remove dead or weak growth and unwanted shoots emerging from the base. Keeping the plant open also improves air movement around the branches.
The gardener suggests beginning with a layer of dry leaves at the bottom of the container before adding the potting mixture.
With a sunny position, a suitable variety, a well-draining pot, and regular care, a pomegranate plant can become a productive part of even a small home garden. And if you are looking to start one this October, a healthy nursery plant may be the easiest place to begin.
TBI Gardening Calendar brings together what to plant, grow, and care for each month of the year, helping home gardeners make the most of their balconies, terraces, backyards, and small growing spaces. Each story focuses on seasonal plants and crops, with simple, practical guidance on when to sow or plant, how to care for them and what to expect as they grow.
