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Updated 2/02/2004
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Web Cam 		The Pineapple. By Rocco

(click for full size)
 Pictures of Pineapples
Starting to grow
 
Looking Down The Hart   
Introduction:

My experience with the pineapple goes back to around 1985 when I came across some pineapple tops. Well after not having much luck with doing cuttings from plants I thought it was a good idea to get 30 or so tops so at least I would get one or two pineapples to grow. Well now if any of you have planted pineapples you will know these plants are very hardy. All of the plants lived and being the kind of person that would not get rid of a plant just because of my slight over kill I wound up with 30 very nice pineapple plants. Well after a few years going at it I had more then 85 plants all planted in 3gal pots. It was cool. I really enjoy growing Pineapples. I hope that you do too.
 
(click for full size)

A little about the Pineapple

The Pineapple (Ananas Comosus) is a member of the Bromeliad family with long thing spiked leaves (spikes are not so prominent on some varieties) that spiral around a short stalk. Grown in the tropics mostly in Brazil, Paraguay and Hawaii. it can be grown in a temperate zone or even as a house plant The Pineapple is a hardy plant that doesn't need much water or fertilizer. Growing time from cutting to fruit is 15 to 32months.
Some varieties are: Abakka, Natal Queen, Pernambucco, Red Spanish and Smooth Cayenne.
Links To Other Garden
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Getting Started? Or how do I plant these pointy things?

Well its really easy to plant pineapples.. You can get the start of a plant from either a fruit or if they are available at your local garden shop you can get them there. I will discuss how to use the tops from the fruit here.

First pick a healthy fruit from the store and look down the top of the leafy part and make sure that the grower did not pull the top out of the fruit. (They do that to make the fruit larger on some pineapples.) Once you have one with a good top then all you have to do is to grab the fruit in one hand and the top in the other and twist the top off the plant. Now some people like to cut off the top and place it in water for a time but I don't do that because you might get a fungus problem plus the pace of fruit will start to rot and can kill the plant or when you plant it the fruit will rot away and leave a air pocket and then the roots will dry out and you can get a much smaller plant then you wanted. The best way is to just twist the plant off of the fruit, Let dry out over night and then gently pull the bottom few leaves off .



Ok now I have this leafy thing now what do I do with it?
Ok now you have the plant already to go! What you need now is a place to plant it. I use 3 gal. ( called egg cans) pots. I put in about 3 inches of good soil in the bottom and push the plant in up to but not over the first ring of leaves. Now this should be good for the first 6mos to a year for the plant. As it grows I pull the old leaves off of the bottom and put more soil in the pot . Note: Never put dirt into the center of the plant as this will surely kill them.

Care and Feeding

The Pineapple really doesn't need much care at all. Just a little water once a week (A little more in the hot Florida sun) and some fertilizer every so often.

Watering: The best rule of thumb is just to give them water at least once a week. I tend to pour the water down the hart (Center) of the plant mostly to make sure that the hart is cleaned out of dirt and to wet the base of the leaves as there are tiny roots in them..

Fertilizer: Not much is really needed but you should use something that is high in nitrogen. One of the best ways to feed your Pina is to use liquid fertilizer in your water that way you kill two birds with one stone. One note here.. Never put dry fertilizer down in the hart or on any of the leaves as this can cause a burn to the plant and kill it.. If you do get dry fertilizer in the hart then the best thing is to flush it out with water..

Pruning: It is not good to prune a Pineapple, if it is at all possible I never do. As for the dead leaves all you have to do is to pull them off. I have seen plants killed because of pruning. I guess the best place for your Pina is a place where it can spread out. But keep in mind that a healthy pineapple can spread up to 4ft across with it's pointed barbed leaves.. Just check out the pineapple to the right of me in the picture of  at the top of the page.

Propagation

Now the time has come! That day you look down into the hart of you plant and notice that the new leaves are turning a bright red! Oh boy the years of waiting are almost over! My pineapple is about to bless me with my first fruit!

As leaves turn to red, In the center you will notice a purple flower starting to shoot up (For god's sake don't chop it off and put it into a vase!) this is the baby pineapple. It will take around 8 months give or take to ripen. As the fruit get to it's largest size you will start to notice that the green at the bottom is starting to turn yellow or orange that is the sign that the pineapple is ready for picking'. Now just like you got your first cutting take the pina by the bottom and twist it off the stem making sure not to harm the mother plant by removing it. Do with the top as you did in the first place and plant it so you will have another plant.. Now you mother plant looks real bad now but don't just pitch it in the trash. Soon (if it hasn't already) it will send up a new shoot. After that get a few months old just remove it from the mother plant and plant it into another pot. The mother plant will send another shoot up and just leave that one on her. Now you have 3 plants out of the one you started with.. No wonder I had so many huh? Just take care of then as you did in the first place and you will have a never ending supply of fresh pineapple to enjoy

Growing Pineapples in not so tropical places..

I have been getting E-Mail about growing pineapples in the northern part of America.
Though I never grown pineapples outside of central Florida I think these rules should help keep your pineapple growing in cold weather places..
I would think that with it always being cool that it will take longer to get fruit from the plant. keep it away from drafts. I have noticed that here (Florida) when the weather is cold the pineapple seems to slow down and even stop growing. Cold will kill the plant as the pineapple stops growing 55 to 60deg. and  freezes around 28deg.  If you can get a grow light or something to keep it warm in the winter this will help keep it growing.
Since you will have to keep it indoors keep in mind that a healthy plant can spread out up to 4ft across.

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ENJOY!
Rocco

Disclaimer:
This Page and it's contents are for the sole use of the owner for his education and entertainment only.

Also:
Some assembly required, May not work with all operating systems, Monitor sold separately, Dealer retains all rebates, Negative equity applies to new loan balance, batteries not included, Your results my vary, invoice may not reflect actual cost, Some colors and styles my not be available. Excessive use may cause boredom, Do not operate heavy machinery or automobiles when viewing, Pineapples are enlarged to show texture, Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts, Don't run with scissors, The consumption, possession and sale of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited in all state parks. Warrantee void if seal is broken. Use only as directed.
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THERE I THINK THAT COVERS IT!

Rocco

 




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