Pomegranates in the 1940s and 50s

Thanks Nanna I read that some varieties are OK in frost (to -15!) But I don't know anyone who is growing one. Maybe I should start a new thread?

My daughter has one but that is here in Australia. I think they don’t like frost so maybe in a greenhouse ?

Whiff - we had winkles too but we collected them ourself on the beach. We picked the ones from a rocky area where there was less sand in the first place and we soaked them for at least an afternoon in seawater to "purge" them. We then cooked them and ate with a pin - and usually vinegar. I don't remember them as gritty but expect an odd one must have been.
Happy days.

Yes Pomegranate also eaten with a pin but now I get the seeds out for cooking I think that would be tedious!

Coincidentally I have been looking at Pomegranates for a gift for my daughter's garden.
Is anyone growing them here in the UK? A friend of the family had one when I was a girl but I only remember the flowers on it - not fruit.

We got them in the 1950s in SE London. Just the local greengrocer down the road. The oranges were dry and nasty , strawberries usually mouldy but the pomegranites were good.

I was born in the mid40s and well remember pomegranates. As others have said they were cut in half and eaten with a pin. Hat pin if you had one or just an ordinary sewing pin.

I was born in 1950 and remember eating pomegranates when I was quite a young a child. It was so special because they looked as if they were filled with little jewels.

There seem to have been a lot of smart mothers with pins among our fellow gransnetters' families.

They were certainly around in the mid 50's as we sometimes had them. I thought they were a real treat then but now I don't like them that much - too fiddly.

I wasn't allowed a pin - we used a cocktail stick instead. Half a pomegranate would last most of the afternoon.

Ate them with a pin in the '50s.. Cut into quarters one for each family member.

Certainly in the early 60s my mum would buy one for me as an occasional treat and I would spend ages picking out the seeds with a pin as others have said. The taste of them now take me right back to bring a little girl.

karmalady

yes in the late 50s. We used to eat them with a pin

Same here with the pin. My gran used to buy me one from the local grocery where she did “the weekly shop”. It had a fruit and veg counter. I had my first job working there when I was at school in the 70’s. Mr G went to the Glasgow market at Blochearn (sic) at dawn for the stock so it was locally available. It’s interesting we sold pomegranates because avocados were completely unknown and peppers were an occasional item.
There was a counter where everything was selected by staff and put in brown paper and paid for separately from the rest of your shopping.

Yes they were around in the 40s and 50s, I can remember being given half a one and a pin, used to keep me busy for ages. I think my mother used the time get her jobs done without me pestering her.

karmalady

yes in the late 50s. We used to eat them with a pin

Me too. I’m not convinced I actually enjoyed them, I haven’t had one since!

yes in the late 50s. We used to eat them with a pin

I was born in the late 50's but remember having a pomegranate in the 60's usually Christmas time cut in half and eaten with a pin like others have said.

Do others remember eating winkles ( shellfish)with a pin at the seaside and having little dishes of cockles with salt and vinegar . They always tasted gritty with sand. You had to eat them at the stall to give the dish back.

I recall having pomegranates as a child in the 1950s, ate with the aid of one of granny's hat pins. A special treat courtesy of said granny.
I am also a kid from the backstreets of Birmingham Kate49.

In the 1950’s and early 60’’s my Dad used to come back from the wholesale market with them as a treat for my Mum who loved pomegranates. None for me as I couldn’t and can’t bear the smell of them.

They were readily available when I was at primary chool in Edinburgh in the 40s and 50s, Coud not have been expensive as we had very little pocket money. The seeds were so pretty, but had to be spat out! half each!

kittylester

I had them (amid great excitement) during the 50s. We ate the insides with a pin!

We did too. I think they were only available in Autumn.

Had poms as a child, in the 50s.

kittylester

I had them (amid great excitement) during the 50s. We ate the insides with a pin!

So did we! Think of health and safety now!

My mum was familiar with pomegranates, eating the seeds with a pin, in the 40s and 50s.

My Nanna used to buy me one as a treat in the 1960s. They were only available for a short season and she used to cut the pomegranate in half and I scooped out the seeds with a teaspoon

In the late 40s and early 50s, my mother kept us quiet for hours with half a pomegranate and a pin!

BlueBelle

I never even saw a pomegranate growing up maybe it depended on where you lived or your monetary status we only ever had oranges apples and bananas

They were not obtainable until after the war but pomegranates did grow here.