Pineapples – what an easy addition to your garden.
Ideally suited to our local climate and so easy to get them started. They don’t require excessive watering and overwatering can lead to root rot. Rainwater typically suffices for most of the year, but you may need to provide additional watering during drier periods.
Pineapples like their sun and they can tolerate some sunburn. They can also be grown under fruit trees in near full shade. They will flourish in large pots, which is a great option if you are challenged for space or not set for a long stay where you are.
Prepare your chosen spot by digging a reasonable hole, add some nutrient-rich compost, and then carefully plant the pineapple top or plant. For the first 18 months to two years after planting they do very little. Patience is the key while they are establishing but when they finally do; they seem to move into production so quickly. They do not require heavy feeding and do well with minimal help once established. We just give ours some organic chicken manure pellets a couple of times a year.
Expanding your pineapple garden is as simple as utilizing the fruit’s tops and pups.
When you harvest a pineapple, don’t discard the top; instead, plant it to start a new pineapple plant. Unscrew the top carefully and then remove the lower leaves exposing small white bumps where the roots should emerge. To boost the root development some growers leave the tops dry in a shady spot for about a week whilst others place them in a bottle with the base submerged in water. There are so many great short videos on platforms like YouTube on how to get started doing this.
Pineapples naturally produce pups, or side shoots, that can be separated from the mother plant and planted independently. With this simple propagation technique, your pineapple numbers will multiply rapidly, ensuring an ongoing supply of this tropical fruit.
Pineapples store well and there is great satisfaction in harvesting and the smell and the visual look on the kitchen bench adds to enjoyment. Bypass Golden Circle and grow your own.
