Raising pineapple plants is a fun and satisfying project for those who are fans of fresh fruit. Whether you have an extra station wagon load of a pineapple from your upcoming family vacation, or you just decided to grow one for the first time, it is a one-stop shop!
Although pineapples grow quickly, they take time to root and settle before being harvested. In the long run, though, your plant will pay off with sweet fruit that can be savored for years to come.
Picking the Right Pineapple
Whether you plan to consume the pineapple fresh as a snack or use it in recipes, you will need to properly select the fruit. This tropical treat can sometimes be a little trickier to grow, but with care you can get plenty of tasty and healthy treats.
Pineapples are a tropical tree originally found in Brazil, Paraguay and the West Indies. They’re also commonly grown in Mexico, Hawaii, southern California and Puerto Rico.
These plants have large fronds made up of several “fruitlets,” or berries. When ripe, these berries cluster into a single berry ranging in size from 5-10 pounds (2.5-2.4.5 kg).
Color alone isn’t the only sign that a pineapple is ripe: The fruit also has to smell ripe, too, according to Vanessa Vincinguerra, a registered dietitian at Noom, a weight loss and fitness app. A sweet smell suggests low acidity and high flavor, which are good traits, unlike in immature ones.
You can also tell if a pineapple is ripe by its leaves. A fully ripe pineapple will have green leaves, unnatural colors—like dark green or brown-green—are leaves from an unripe pineapple.
The leaves of a fully ripe pineapple will be pliable and able to be pulled from the fruit easily; unripe pineapple leaves might be rigid and hard to separate. Some experts suggest gently tugging on the fronds to check whether they pull free as a sign that your pineapple is ready to eat.
How to tell if a pineapple is ripe: tap it against your hand or table. If unripe, fruit will sound flat and insubstantial; if ripe, dull and solid.
Once you are sure that your pineapple is ripe, the next step is harvesting. One choice is to remove it from its plant with a sharp knife, and the other is to snap off its stalk and let it ripen at room temperature.
When the panaple is ready to read out, its skin must flatten and also the color must change from green to yellow. This takes a number of weeks, and when it’s done your pineapple can be eaten or processed with no additional processing.
Rooting
When you root a phone, you get access to apps that aren’t available on the manufacturer’s app store, which gives you more control over your device and the ability to free up memory as well as configure it to your liking.
While rooting sounds great, it can carry some risks that will make you second guess your decision to proceed with the process. For example, your phone can become bricked if it loses power when you’re in the middle of rooting it, corrupting vital system data.
If your phone is older, it may not be possible to re-root your device to correct the problem.
Although rooting remains a possibility if you need to install supplementary functionalities or tweak your phone a bit. Most trusted rooting application offers opportunities to run favourite Android games, uninstall pre-installed apps and install custom ROMs that boost processing speed or change the interface of smartphone.
Rooting a pineapple starts with twisting off the top — a crown, an extension of the center stem that grows from inside the fruit. If this happens, just tear and plant as you would with any other crown.
You might have to try several times to successfully root a pineapple. Not every crown will root and you might have to buy several different pineapples before you find one that works.
Before replanting your new pineapple, look for root rot. This can be caused by overwatering and will slow down plant growth, discolor its leaves and eventually kill it.
To avoid this problem, make sure your pineapple plant’s soil is well-drained and that you only water it when the top of the pot feels dry. Although it doesn’t need to be fully immersed, check its roots before watering it again.
Planting
If you reside in a warm climate, you can grow pineapple plants in the ground or in pots. They do best in full sunlight and require damp but not soggy soil that drains rapidly. They don’t need a microenvironment about any higher concentration of sand and acidity, but some medium of nutrients with humus.
The best base for planting is one part sandy loam from your garden mixed with one part compost. You can also use some sand and peat for added texture. Aim for a media pH between 4.5 and 5.6 for appropriate fertility.
Water it lightly until its roots take hold after you’ve planted your pineapple crown in its container. You may start backfilling around its base once several inches have settled into the ground. Transplant it into its final destination when your plant is established and properly established in its new home.
To propagate a pineapple from the stem cut from an existing grocery store fruit, cut the stem about an inch above the top of the plant, and allow to dry. First submerge it in rooting hormone solution; then plant in potting soil. Finally, place it in the ground at about one-inch depth, gently firming any soil around your seedling with your fingertip.
After roots are formed, it can grow rapidly and easily. And did you know you might even be able to harvest a new pineapple from your crown before it turns three?
To simplify this process, use a pot with holes in the bottom. You can get these anywhere gardening supplies are sold; just make sure to drain any water before reusing one.
In general, mimic the natural cycle: in normal conditions, your plant should be watered once a week but always allow the soil to dry out in between watering. On the other hand, watering too frequently can make the soil too wet and inhibit proper root growth.
As your pineapple matures, it sends up a stem that flowers and ultimately produces fruit. Indoors, that could take as long as two years before apple fruits begin to form.
Harvesting
After growing to maturity, it’s time to harvest your pineapple plant. It can take years to reach maturation (depending on the species) but once harvested, you will understand all the effort was worth it!
Check your pineapple for signs of possible pests before you buy it. Common problems on pineapple plants, which are treated with soap and water or insecticide, include mealy bugs and fungi that cause heart rot.
This pineapple is the right size to serve; when choosing your pineapple, look for one that’s about one-third yellow and sounds solid when you tap at it with your fingers. The fruit should smell fresh and be b mostly brown at the bottom, where the leaves seem to come out.
When you harvest your fruit, use a sharp knife or pruning snips to snip it off at the base of its stalk, leaving an inch or two of stem behind for new growth. This helps prevent diseases from spreading to the mother plant as well as suckers or pups that will form on the mother plant.
A little later, once you have harvested the pineapple, little plantlets should start to form around the base of the flower stalk. These are called pineapple slips and can be easily twisted off with your finger.
Now, of course, you can plant the top of the pineapple, or the crown to grow another pineapple. This technique is fantastic for spreading pineapples, but you might not see any fruit for several years.
When you plant your pineapple, use a pot that is twice the depth of the root ball. You can plant in soil, or extra sand, peat and perlite to form a potting mix. Once it has grown roots, transplant it somewhere ideal for it get ample light and water!
FAQs
Do I have to get a specific type of soil to grow pineapples?
A: Yes, pineapples grow best in well draining soil that is somewhat acidic. The right soil conditions can be achieved using a blend of potting soil and sand.
Why Are Some Pineapples Yellow and Others Green?
The answer: Yes, indoor pineapples are totally doable as long as they get plenty of sunshine and warmth. You will probably have to use grow lights in the winter, to supplement natural light.
How much water does a pineapple plant need?
Pineapple plants need frequent watering, but don’t let the soil get soggy. You would water your plant once or twice a week during the summer months and mostly once a week during the winter months.
Is it possible to also grow pineapples from seeds?
You can grow pineapples from seed, but it takes up to five years for the plant to reach maturity and bear fruit. Getting a pineapple plant going → It is faster and easier to grow pineapples from the crown of an already mature fruit.
Do you acquire your pineapple plant able to grow?
Yes, you can propagate your pineapple plant by cutting and replanting the offshoots (also referred to as “pups”) that develop from the base of the plant. Remove shoot from parent plant once they are at least 6 inches (15 cm) tall.
How long does it take for pineapple to mature?
A pineapple plant takes approximately 2-3 years to ripen and fruit.
Can you grow outdoor pineapples?
Yes — in warm, tropical regions, pineapples can grow outdoors. They thrive in 70-85°F (21-29°C) and will tolerate some humidity.
How do I determine if my pineapple is ready to be picked?
Below these bottom leaves turns brown, they may be pulled it with its fruit. When fruit is ripe for the picking, it will twist easily from the stem.
