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When to Plant Pomegranate in Stone County, MO

Stone County, Missouri Zone 7a April

Your April game plan for Stone County, Missouri

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this April, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 16
Avg. first frost October 20
Soil temp (4") 51°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 12.9 hrs
Before May arrives, get these ready
  • Transplants going out: pomegranate

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Pomegranates are drought-tolerant shrubs or small trees producing fruits filled with jewel-like, sweet-tart arils. They thrive in hot, dry climates and make excellent hedges.

Stone County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 187 days.

At an elevation of 1,310 feet, Stone County receives approximately 40.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Pomegranate during the growing season.

Stone County, MO (Zone 7a) Moderate season
187 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
187 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Stone County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 21

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Stone County

How your county's soil matches Pomegranate's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.5) is within Pomegranate's preferred range (5.5–7.5).

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Stone County is excellent for Pomegranate — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Pomegranate.

How to Plant Pomegranate

120"
Between Plants
144"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Pomegranate

Pomegranate needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Pomegranate Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Stone County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Pomegranate Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Pomegranate needs ~13,231 GDD — county provides 2,711 GDD May not mature

Pomegranate Planting Timeline — Stone County, MO

Pomegranate Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21

· 120" apart · Rows 144" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

730–1095 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

187 days in Stone County

Growing Tips for Pomegranate in Stone County

Direct sow Pomegranate outdoors after April 16 in Stone County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 187.0-day growing season in Stone County is tight for Pomegranate (730.0-1095.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant in full sun with well-drained soil. Water deeply but infrequently. Prune to maintain shape and remove suckers. Harvest when fruits have developed full color and sound metallic when tapped.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pomegranate in Stone County, MO?

Stone County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Pomegranate planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stone County, MO?

Stone County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 20.

🌱

Your Stone County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Stone County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Stone County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.