We've said it before, gardeners: we are a hardy lot! On November 13, the day was sunny and almost spring-like; I actually took a cup of coffee and a sandwich outside at lunchtime and had a mini-picnic! Imagine that! A week later, on November 20, the temperature had plunged to -30 with the wind-chill. Doesn't time always get away on us? I thought that we were prepared for winter in the garden, but as I watched the Weather Channel and saw the cold temperatures, I thought of a couple plants that could/should have been wrapped up. Maybe I'll still do it - winter has only begun!
A very dear friend and I were chatting about pomegranates: a discussion that began as she told me that another dear friend of ours had pomegranate jam, something unique! My friend went on to tell me some interesting facts about pomegranates, so I thought I would do a little more homework and tell you about them, too!
Just what are those unusually-shaped fruits that we see in the grocery store? Pomegranates, punica granatum, have called the Middle East and the Mediterranean home since ancient times. The tree grows up to 26 feet tall, and if you and I were gardeners in another part of the world, we would probably grow them because they are drought tolerant and can even stand a moderate frost.
The season for pomegranates is from October to December or January. That's why we often see them in the grocery store around Christmas time. Have you ever tried them? They look a bit intimidating, but really all you have to do is score the peel into quarters with a knife, open the fruit to reveal the seeds inside, and then tap the sections so that the glistening, ruby-red seeds fall into a bowl. (I read that there can be from 200 to over one thousand seeds in a pomegranate!) Do not eat the peel or the white membrane surrounding the seeds. Once you have dislodged all the seeds, you can eat them as is, sprinkle them on salads, mix them with rice, or even add them in to certain fish dishes. The flavor of the seeds is mildly but pleasantly astringent.
Some interesting little factoids about pomegranates: they are one of the oldest known fruits, and are part of many cultures and religions. They represent health, fertility, and eternal life. In Greek mythology, Persephone must spend six months in Hades each year because she ate six pomegranate seeds. Pomegranates were brought to Moses to show him how fertile the "promised land" was. Pomegranates are a symbol of Christmas in Greece, and they represent good fortune and prosperity. I read that a lovely custom is to hang a pomegranate above the door of the home on Christmas Day, and on New Year's Day the fruit is smashed on the doorstep to bring good luck to all in the house.
Perhaps even way back when, folks knew that pomegranates were a good thing; today, we know that they are the most powerful antioxidants of all fruits, with many health benefits. All in all, the pomegranate is an interesting addition to try!
The weather has been cold, but somehow we adjust and realize how lucky we are. The cold seems like nothing compared to the unbelievable storms that recently hit the Philippines and the tornadoes in the U.S. Our prayers go out to those who have suffered such devastating loss, and to friends here who worry about those at home.
Have a good week, gardeners.
