Learn to how to grow a pineapple from the seeds, plant and fruit. Don't forget to check out all the info on soil, planting, watering, harvesting, and caring for your pineapple plant.
Pineapple is a summer favorite thanks to its refreshingly juicy and delicious taste.
Don't let the rough exterior fool you!
Pineapple has scaly, thick, and tough outer skin topped by a spikey crown. But, it has a juicy inside with a sweet and slightly citrus taste.
Along with its tempting flavors, pineapple also delivers loads of health benefits.
It is an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory citrus fruit that is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. It contains magnesium, potassium, Vitamin C and B6. It has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease.
Its taste is so addictive, I am sure you must have thought, "How to grow a pineapple right in my home, and enjoy all the deliciousness with my family?"
Well, it's not a mystery anymore because we got answers to all your pineapple growing questions right here -
How To Grow A Pineapple
Pineapple plants are shrubs with long sharp leaves. A mature pineapple plant might be 2 to 3 feet tall and several feet wide.
Keep in mind that pineapple is a slow-growing plant. It usually takes 14 to 18 months for the plant to mature after potting, 15 to 22 months to bear flowers and fruits, And 27 to 29 months for the fruit to ripen and be ready for harvest.
So, you have to be super patient, but the taste of sweet and juicy fruit more than makes up for the long wait. Also, the plant will make a striking addition to your home decor in the meanwhile.
You can grow a pineapple from seeds, plants, or fruits. Each method has its benefits and challenges. Check out these methods below and pick the one that is best for you -
1. From The Seeds
It might be a bit difficult to find pineapple seeds in the fruit itself because these commercial fruits have been bred to not contain seeds. So, you might have to buy the small black or brown seeds, that are similar to flax seeds from a store. If you do have fruit with the seeds, wash the seeds thoroughly to remove any sticky residue.
For germinating the seeds, bundle them in a wet paper towel, and store them in an airtight container or a plastic bag. Pineapple seeds might take as long as 6 months to sprout.
Once the seeds have sprouted, plant these baby pineapple plants in pots filled with soil. Place the pot in a warm room that gets plenty of sunlight and water regularly.
2. From The Fruit
Cut your pineapple fruit just below the spikey top, and remove a few leaves at the base, and also the outer skin at the base. Let the stump dry out for a few days. Once it is dry or cured, which takes about a week, place it in a shallow bowl of warm water.
Replace the water every couple of days and over the next few weeks, you can see the roots growing. Plant this top into the pot. Alternatively, you can skip the water and directly pot the cured top into the soil.
Ensure ample sunlight, water, well-draining soil, and warm temperature. The top will take around 2 months to grow roots.
3. From The Plant
Pineapple plants flower only once and give only one pineapple. But, they do have 'suckers'. These are the tiny plantlets that may grow between the leaves of a mature plant.
Once these plantlets are about 8 inches long, hold them as close to the base as possible and twist and pull in a single smooth motion. They usually come off easily and can be planted just like the tops by placing them in water or directly planting them in the soil.
If you already have a mature plant, it is easy to get these plantlets. If you are starting a new one, you might have to get it from a nursery or a friend who has a plant.
Growing pineapple from seeds is the toughest method because the seeds are often immature and not viable. Growing from the plantlets or the fruit is much more reliable and also faster.
Once you have decided on the method, here are the basics of how to grow a pineapple that you should keep in mind -
growing a pineapple
1. Container
The spikey and long leaves of the plant make repotting a not-so-pleasant process. The roots also need ample space and if the container is too small, then the growth is restricted. So, it is better to start planting the pineapple in a large and deep container.
It might be aesthetically awkward to have a tiny plant in a huge container, but it will save you a lot of pain in the future.
The size of the container often determines the size of the plant and also the fruit. So, you can control the growth by using a smaller pot if space is a concern for you.
Make sure that the pot has proper drainage holes in the bottom. Even though pineapple needs generous watering, if their roots sit for too long in the water, they will rot.
2. Soil And Planting
Pineapple needs a well-draining, sandy, potting mix.
Fill the container with the potting soil leaving only the top one inch. Water the soil or potting mix in the pot well before planting.
Bury the roots of your seedling into the soil for about two inches and keep the leaves above the soil line. Water the plant again and add more potting mix if needed.
3. Light and watering
Pineapples are native to warm tropical climates and thrive under high temperatures and ample sunlight.
Pineapple plants can tolerate up to 6 hours of bright sunlight once they have matured. Young plants, however, do better with indirect sunlight until there is significant root growth.
Pineapple does need regular and plenty of watering. You should water the soil directly, but don't let it become soggy. Once a week or when the soil is dry to touch is the time for watering. Don't forget to spritz water onto the leaves. This will provide proper humidity and also keep your plant clean.
Harvesting
Your pineapple is ready for harvesting when its color is completely yellow to orange. The ripening process usually starts at the bottom and slowly moves to the top. You might also notice the sweet pineapple smell coming from the fruit when it is fully ripe.
Avoid picking green and immature fruits as they can cause throat irritation and digestive upsets. Moreover, once picked, even though the skin continues to ripen, the fruit will not get any sweeter. So, pineapples are best left to ripen on the plant itself.
For harvesting, cut the stack that connects the fruit to the plant with a sharp knife.
Pineapple is one of the easiest plants to grow because it takes minimal care. The long wait for harvest might be a challenge for many but the sweet taste of the freshly cut fruit will make up for it in the end.
So, have you ever tried growing your pineapple?
Which method would you recommend?
Tell us your experience in the comments.