Planting Pineapple..

[Greenthumb18]

Has anyone ever tried growing a pineapple from the green crown you get grow a grocery store?
I tried many times in the winter with no luck they would just end up being rotten or look like it dried out. I just tried putting one pineapple crown in a pot outdoors and it looks like it has better luck than i started it in winter. I think starting it outdoors in the :coolsun summer heat helps it to grow. I'm going to try a few more but with sand added to the soil mix and see if i could get some to grow.

 

[vfem]

I haven't the faintest idea on how to do that... would they survive in zone 6? :/

 

[patandchickens]

I think you're on the right track. I've never done it myself but known a couple people who did, they were both (independantly) college professors with windows on the VERY sunny side of buildings and one of the pineapples was grown in a relatively fine-grade orchid mix (dunno about the other, but I would guess something fairly free-draining). I believe they do like heat. Vfem, they make good (if largeish, and rather spiky) houseplants. One person even got one of his to flower and fruit! (I never did hear whether the fruit was worth eating)

I am under the impression that it is largely luck of the draw whehter you get a pineapple that is fresh enough, or in the right moment, or whatever, to strike roots. So you may just have to keep trying til one 'sticks'

Good luck,

Pat

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi there!

I had saved these siteson growing pineapples as they used to be grown here in the UK from the 18th Century -- in hot pits!

http://veggies-only.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-to-grow-pineapples.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Pit

Somewhere I have some more info because the BBC in the UK did a series called "The Victorian Garden" which had a section showing Pineapples growing in a reconstruction 'hot pit'. I will try to locate it

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[Greensage45]

Hi,

Here is the technique I used when growing the store pineapple tops.

Typically the top has some 'meat' left on nearest where they cut it (or you for that matter). This meat has to come off otherwise you will get fungus and such. I place the cut top in a tray of water ( I think a tub-like plastic container from margarine or such works great). The pineapple will begin to ferment where it is sitting in water over the next few days. The lowest leaves and the remaining meat become mushy.

I then take the top and hand pull the bottom leaves and meat from the base. It is mushy at this point so I run it under water to wash away any sliminess. It is here when you begin to notice a single nodule where each leaf was attached (this is your potential roots). I replace the top in the water and eventually it stops rotting because most of the debri is removed and then begins to grow roots. I check on the water quality every few days but I never let it dry out.

When the roots are about an inch long I place the top into soil and lightly pack it around the base so as not to break the root. I keep this watered well. and then I slowly begin to introduce the plant into the real world of direct sun. (all previous work was done in a warm bright window or the shade of a patio works well).

The Pineapple leaves become very elongated and display really well in a round pots that are shaped like a pineapple. Even a pot that is the shape of a face (or painted face) shows the Pineapple leaves as hair. Very cute!

As for fruiting a Pineapple I have never had such luck. Usually I get them well grown through a season or two and then suddenly/accidentally will leave them out during an early or late frost. Bummer.

Wishing you Luck. It is really quite easy. I would even venture to guess that the store has a bunch of removed tops in the back ready to be trashed that could easily be saved.

Ron

 

[miron28]

i had done it a hundred times soooooo easy to do cut the top of the pineapple of with a little meat on it and stick in a bowl of water till grows roots should be about 1 or 2 months and then stick it in the ground or pot and in about 1 year it should start to produce pine apples by the way don't live out in the cold doesn't do so well i all ways did mine in pots or 5 gallon bucks they do well in sandy soil hope this helps very easy to do have fun

 

[Greenthumb18]

Thanks guys for all that great info!!

I will definely look in those links, i want to try a few more to see what happens. I could just buy a pineapple plant, but whats the fun in that?

Thanks Again!!! :happy_flower