Richard Ashton

The Incredible Pomegranate - Agriculture/Horticulture             

The Incredible Pomegranate has been written for the average gardener, what we like to call a gardener’s pomegranate book. All the growing and culture requirements are included. But it is much more than just how to grow pomegranates. There are tales of trips to far-off places in search of pomegranates and people. You will read descriptions of so many different pomegranate varieties, including ornamentals, that it seems that there is no end. Then you will read comments from different tasting sessions where people try to decide which variety they like the best.

The Incredible Pomegranate tells you about the many uses and great medical benefits of this miracle fruit.   

Gardeners will appreciate the lists of nurseries that sell some of the different varieties, as well as a way to get cuttings of some of the exotic varieties from Central Asia.

You will enjoy the color pictures of different pomegranate varieties. There is nothing like actually seeing examples before you decide what you would like to see grow at home.

This is the Complete Gardener’s Pomegranate Book. 

Pomegranate by G.M. Levin - Agriculture/Horticulture             

Dr. Gregory M. Levin, a botanist, spent close to 40 years in the Turkmen area of Central Asia, now called Turkmenistan. He spent most of that time at the Kara-Kala Experiment Station of Genetic Resources (now called Garrigala). This area of the world is the within the point of origin of the pomegranate and pomegranates still grow wild in the area.

He was in charge of the pomegranate collection at the station and amassed a collection of 1,117 different cultivars of pomegranates, the world’s largest collection. With the experimentation and treks to collect plant material he is considered one of the world’s leading experts on Punica granatum.

Within this book are the results of many years of research by Dr. Levin and many others as to the botanical characteristics of the pomegranate. From fruit characteristics, to breeding procedures to the differences in many varieties; with notes from around the world.

With the pomegranate’s fortunes on the upswing because of the numerous health benefits now associated with the fruit, this is a must have book for plant breeders, researchers and general horticulturalists. The juice of this fruit is gaining fame in many areas of the world. Producers cannot grow enough to supply demand at this time but plantings are expanding rapidly.

This is the first scientific book devoted exclusively to the culture and breeding of Punica granatum, the pomegranate.

Jujube, The Chinese Date  - Agriculture/Horticulture             

Jujube – The Chinese Date is a tribute to a great fruit.  Over 40 varieties of jujubes are presently grown in the United States. You’ll find within this book all the growing requirements, as well as uses for the fruit and a list of nurseries supplying jujube trees. Information about the many different aspects of the jujube is shown in detail, with more than 60 color photographs highlighting the many varieties, along with recommendations for the best locations for cultivation. The fact that the Chinese jujube requires little attention and can be grown organically should appeal to many gardeners.  The jujube enthusiast will want to know about the history of the fruit, along with information regarding recently introduced varieties that make eating a fresh jujube a real treat.