How to Grow Pineapple
Pineapple is one of my favourite fruits but they’re not easy to grow. I’ve tried a number of times and although the plant has grown, they never produced fruit. Maybe I just wasn’t patient enough as they can take 2 or 3 years to crop and once they flower it can take six months for the fruit to be ready for harvesting.
There are a number of reasons to grow your own pineapple. Firstly, the fruit tastes better. To obtain the best flavour, fruit should be harvested when it is ripe (yellow), however, commercially grown fruit is harvested well before this stage (while they are still green) resulting in lower quality fruit.
Secondly, there are a number of chemicals used in the production of pineapples. You can avoid these by growing your own but it’s probably not practical to do so, unless you plan well in advance and live in a suitable climate. If you have plenty of space and plenty of time then it can be done.
The third reason for growing your own pineapple is that it’s fun. It’s an unusual fruit and people will be surprised to see it growing in your backyard.
If you’re not eating organic pineapples then you will be eating fruit which has been sprayed with numerous pesticides and fungicides. Such as:
- Soil fumigant to control nematodes.
- Fungicides to prevent root rot.
- Fertilisers are added to the soil and later sprayed on the plants.
- Insecticides to prevent and control scale and thrip.
- Chemicals are sprayed on the crops to force flowering.
Today I read some tips on growing pineapple from its top, so it might be time for me to give it another go. These are excellent tips to get you started and I have a couple of my own to add:
- Pineapples can grow in any soil but prefer acidic soil.
- When soil pH is between 4.5 and 5.5 the risk of soil borne diseases is reduced.
- Plant them in a hot sunny position.
- Keeping your pineapples weed free will reduce the likelihood of diseases.
- Plant a number of plants every year to ensure a regular supply of pineapples.
- Remember to practice crop rotation to prevent soil borne diseases.
- Plant your pineapples with other fruit and vegetables to encourage predatory insects.
Don’t worry too much amount the climate as you might be surprised as to where you can grow pineapples. My aunty used to grow pineapples from pineapple tops and she lived in Bunbury, south of Perth, where it can get quite cold. She never had any problems growing them.
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You say to plant a number of plants every year does this mean they only produce one fruit and if so how long does this take.
Yes, pineapple plants only produce one fruit so you might want to plant a few to give you a regular supply. However, the plants do produce suckers once they are established which will produce their own fruit so you should get more than one pineapple after the first year.
The fruit takes between 5 and 7 months to mature so be prepared to wait for your ripe pineapple.
Pineapples can be grown on organic soils such as on a drained peat soil areas. However, growing pineapples organically, has a different meaning with growing pineapple on organic soil/environment. One may plants pineapples on organic soils but he uses chemicals to maintain the growth of the crop, then the product is not organic pineapple. Am I correct to say this, thank you.
From the emergence of red heart till harvest of the fruit may takes between 90 days to 150 days as being experienced by growers in Malaysia. The variation of the duration depends on the clone or variety used. TQ.
Once the pineapple has formed, what do you do if the fruit is leaning over on the stalk, but it’s only a small fruit? Is this normal? I have propped it up with a stake, will it get bigger or once it starts to turn golden, is that the biggest it’s going to get. If someone can help me, I would greatly appreciate it. CC
It’s fine to stake it as you have done. Once it turns golden, it’s not going to get any bigger so pick and enjoy!
I think if you’re not in a tropical area then the fruit will probably be a bit smaller than usual but it should still be tasty.
Let us know what it’s like when you try it.
The size of the pineapple fruit for a certain clone or variety is related to the plant size during the flower induction activity. Plant size is related to the way we manage the plant. Given optimum and balanced fertilizer input, enough light or sunlight, the plant will provide the maximum fruit size. Responses to the input given are different from one variety to another. I hope that you have provide optimum inputs and wait for the maximum yield. The taste will be slightly different if you do not give a balanced NPK fertilizer. TQ.
My pineapples have a number of suckers coming off them to form new fruit. Is it best to leave them and let them grow or is it better to remove them and replant them elsewhere
It is better to remove them and plant them elswehere. If we leave them to grow or continue as a ratoon crops with several units of plants, the fruit sizes may become smaller and the probability for the plants to get infected by pest and diseases will be higher. TQ.
I have cut away the pineapple flesh & want to plant the top.Does it need to dry out first.??? When do you put it in the soil.???
I do have a sunny spot for it in Sydney.Please advise.
Sue Spencer
The best practice is to dry out first. However, based on tropical condition here, in Malaysia, direct planting after cut is OK. As pineapple plant needs a lot sunshine, a sunny spot is a much better environment. Thank you.
Thanks for responding Mohammed, all your comments have been really helpful. Glad to have an expert here!
We at MARDI, The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (www.mardi.my) have developed a pineapple hybrid named Josapine, a cross between Johor pineapple and Sarawak pineapple. It is meant for table or fresh eating pineapple. Currently, the fruits are sold in the local supermarket in Malaysia. Also exported to a limited extent as whole fruit and as a minimally processed form. Anyone likes to know more about this pineapple hybrid may visit MARDI’s web.
I put my pineapples in a jar with water up to the bottem of the leaves and juat put it aside in a sunny place keep the water topped up and in a short time roots will start to show, when they get to about 60mm I plant them in pots untill they are ready to go into the growd.
Good luck TimMyers. Your pineapple plants should be OK when grown in pots or otherwise planted into your backyard ground area. However, if you are experiencing winter or 4 seasons environments, planting in pots should be a better option because you can move them to a warmer glasshouse etc during unfavourable conditions.
How do I know if the soil is acidic enough for planting pineapples?
Thank you.
The acidity of a particular soil type could be determined using a pH meter. Currently there are many models of pH meter in the market. Alternatively in many countries there are a number of agricultural services agencies that provide such services which is normally packaged together with soil nutrient contents analyses. The pH meter is scaled from 1-14. Anything below 7 is considered acidic. Those above 7 are considered alkaline. The pH of the soil for pineapple cultivation ranged between 4.5 – 6.0. However, in certain areas pineapple could also be grown on soil with pH around 3.5 and also 6.5. Thank you.
How will Pineapple grow in alkaline soil? Does anyone grow this fruit in very hot arid conditions?
Dear Milad, We may grow pineapple on alkaline soil. However, the manuring programme must be adjusted accordingly. For example the high alkaline pH will hinder the utilisation of iron by the plant.
Thank you Mohammed,
Where can I hire a consultant to come to Egypt and help us determine if Pineapples can be grown as a crop there?
I thought that it was only vegetative reproduction from suckers that produced a new pineapple (i.e. a clone). How does one create a hybrid pineapple?
Dear Milad, our group from MARDI could be hired as consultant, provided you apply the request through MARDI’s Director General. MARDI is a govenment satutory body in Malaysia. For further information you may e-mail me. Thank you.
Dear Warren,
Pineapple hybrid could be produced from a breeding activity whereby a crossing between two clones/variety be done during the period where the flower is open and the transfer of male pollen could be carried out to the other clone. However we must make sure that both clones are flowering at the same time. It is quite challenging to do this because first of all we need to know the flowering behaviour of each clone so that the syncronozation of the flowering could be resolved. The syncronization shall not be a big problem because pineapple plant could be induced to flower using artificial flower induction agent usually the ethephon. Thank you.
Quick note:
According to GardenGuides, the greenness/yellowness has nothing to do with it’s ripeness. It really can only be judged from the state of the fruit’s leaves (those right on top of the fruit), the spines — which should be plump, and symmetrical, and the smell — should smell pineappley.
http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/fruitnuts/pineapples.asp
Hello everybody, happy new year. I hope that everyone who had the experience in planting pineapple originated from a clone named “Josapine” from Malaysia could share his/her plant growth and development of the crop. Thank you.
hi i am platning pineapple tops any advice on what to do i live about 50 -70 kms from syd ive got a spot and is it true pineapples can take over ur yard
Hi I have planted several pineapple tops in the garden over 3 years ago and yet no fruit has ever come. What maybe the reason? Is their male and female plants? The soil pH is correct for pineapples (acidity level is around 4.5-5). I have them in a sunny position in queensland.
Dear Melissa, In most cases, pineapple plants need to be induced to flower which means after the flower induction, the plant will start to produce the multiple fruitlets after about 40 days from the induction (depends on the variety). Then the fruit will take another 100-120 days to be harvested as matured pineapple fruit (again this depends on the variety). Flower induction agent normally used is ethrel (having ethephon as an active ingredient). Since you are living in Queensland, and therefore close to the Big Pineapple Industry Estate in Maroochy area, I like to suggest for you to get advice from the officer at the Maroochy Horticultural Research Station. I believe that they could provide you a more detailed method to make your crops produce the pineapple fruit. I myself have been there in 2004 for a short training on pineapple planting. Have a good day, and brighter future for your pineapple. Thank you.
You write clear, thorough posts,thank you!
Dear all, It is nice to write to you all about pineapple, especially when I wrote to share my experiences on pineapple growing under Malaysian situation. In order to have a more exciting experience, I like to inform you that my institute (MARDI), the ISHS and the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board are organizing the 7th International Pineapple Symposium here in Malaysia, specifically in Johor, near Singapore. The event will be carried out from 13-15 July 2010 at the PERSAD CONVENTION CENTRE, JOHOR BAHRU, JOHOR. The symposium is a world level and will be participated by pineapple researchers, industrialist and marketing experts. Should anyone interested you may visit our website, http://www.mardi.gov.my.
Hi There, i live in Antigua WI. Ive recently been looking into starting my own organic pineapple farm. Any tips for me as a first timer? Also, can i take shoots from another pineapple plant that has been brought up on pesticides and fertilizers and grow the new shoots organically? thanks.
I have three pineapple tops growing at present. I live in Winmalee in the Blue Mountains. We have lived here since 1992 the climate has changed very much since then. It is hotter and more humid. (Winmalee used to be called North Springwood). I am going to try to grow the pineapples since I read your article. Our property does not get frost and I can plant the pineapples in a spot that is protected from the cold. I will let you know how I go. I successfully grow Tamarilos (I may have the spelling wrong) and other Fruit that do not tolerate frost..
Dear Catherine, strictly speaking or the best option is to get the planting materials from pineapple farms managed organically. However, as in your situation, I would say you may start using the planting materials that you have for growing them organically. But the product or the fruits harvested, especially for the first and the second season, may not be labelled as organic pineapple. The given statements just now are perhaps open for debate.
Dear Margaret, It is a challenging scientific practices which will add to our knowledge and I hope you will be able to share your findings with me later on. Thank you.
Dear all, I like to invite all members to participate in the 7th International pineapple symposium (7th IPS 2010). The event is organised by The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and The Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB). The IPS 2010 will be carried out at Johor Bahru, Malaysia from the 13-15 July 2010. Further details are available in MARDI website (www.mardi.gov.my).
I have 1 large pineapple plant in my backyard garden which I planted about 2 years ago a pineapple that was given to me by a friend who grew it in her own backyard garden it’s now about 55cm high . How long will I have to wait before it grow a friut in it. Also I not long planted another 4 pineapple tops in the same garden. Should I fertilize them and what kind I should buy. I live in the South East corner of Queensland.
Patricia