Grow Your Own Pineapples

Recently our Boy Scout troop helped us pull all the pineapple plants out of our greenhouse.

It's time to clear the floor to make room to begin experimenting with aquaponics. (So far, noone has come for the fish! -You can read more about that HERE and HERE.)

I've been spending time doctoring my neglected plants: adding fresh compost to the pots and watering regularly. Later this summer we plan to build an extension onto the greenhouse to be able to plant the pineapples in the ground.. We probably have 50-60 pineapple plants, so where did they all come from? Believe it or not - the grocery store!

Pineapples, named for their resemblance to the pine cone,  are a tropical plant. They have a shallow root system and long, slender, stiff leaves, which are adapted to hold moisture for long periods of time.  Fruit is produced 1 to 2 years after planting and is comprised of small individual flowers which join together to make the fruit that grows from the center of the plant. Each stalk bears one pineapple.


To Grow Your Own Pineapples:

Choose a pineapple from the grocery store with the center intact. Beware - some marketers destroy the center of the plant to make propagation impossible.

Cut the top from pineapple and set it on the counter for two days to allow it to partially dry out.

Plant in sandy, well-drained soil.        That's all - too easy right?

        
    From this

 To This

                                            TO THIS!


note:
* Pineapples do not tolerate freezing temperatures, so bring your plants inside during freeze warnings. 

* A pineapple stops ripening the moment it is picked. For the best flavor, a pineapple must be picked after it has ripened fully. When ripe, a pineapple has a solid sound when thumped.