When do Xinjiang pomegranates ripen?

The flowering period of Xinjiang pomegranates is May to June, when the pomegranate flowers blaze like fire. The fruiting period of Xinjiang pomegranates is September—October. Ornamental pomegranates flower from May to October.

Pomegranate (scientific name: Punica granatum L.) is a deciduous tree or shrub; leaves are simple, usually opposite or clustered, without stipules. Flowers are terminal or nearly terminal, solitary or several clustered together or forming a cyme, nearly bell-shaped, with 5-9 lobes and 5-9 petals, mostly wrinkled, arranged in an imbricate pattern; ovules numerous. The berry is spherical, with persistent calyx lobes at the apex and a thick rind; seeds numerous, the berry nearly spherical, ripening from September to October. The outer seed coat is fleshy and semi-transparent, juicy; the inner seed coat is leathery.

In Kashgar Prefecture, the main varieties in Kashgar City are “Kashgar Sweet Pomegranate” and “Kashgar Sour Pomegranate”; in Boxirek Township, Tieti Township and Luoke Township of Yecheng County, Kashgar Prefecture, the main variety is “Danaike Anar (that is, Large-seed Sweet Pomegranate)”, along with “Tatelieke Anar”, “Aqike Anar”, “Laxi Anar” and “Heixieke Anar”. Famous fresh-eating varieties include “Danaike Anar”, “Piyaman Pomegranate” and others. Varieties such as “Yecheng Sour Pomegranate” and “Kashgar Red-seed Sour Pomegranate” mostly have a juice yield above 50%, taste sweet and sour, and have rose-red juice, making them suitable for processing into juice.