Grow Your Own Pineapple

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Lynn Means

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Photo Credit: Lynn Means

With the crown cut off and several leaves pulled to expose the roots, this pineapple top is ready for rooting!

You’ve probably heard about people trying it before – growing their own pineapple from one they bought at the grocery store. And you’ve probably thought, “Aren’t pineapples from Hawaii? I’d be silly to try growing my own!”

Silly or not, it’s actually not that hard to do. The project just takes some patience and tenacity, and it doesn’t really matter where you live or when you start growing your fruit. Getting started is as simple as taking a trip to your local supermarket! Be sure to pick a pineapple with a healthy crown and good color. (Consider picking up two of these tasty fruits to eat and propagate – just in case one fails to root properly.)

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Photo Credit: Lynn Means

These little brown dots are the root primordia that’ll jump-start your pineapple plant.

Once you’re home, pull out the cutting board and a sharp knife. Cut off the crown just like you normally do when carving a pineapple. Place the top of your pineapple on the cutting board like you would a loaf of bread, and start slicing away the flesh by cutting very thin, horizontal strips. Keep slicing until you see the root buds, which look like a circle of brown dots around the outer edge of the surface. Strip back about 1 inch of the crown’s lower leaves to create a stem. (They come off easily, just fold them forward and tear the edge away from the side.) As you remove the leaves, you’ll start to see small, pale or brown bumps, which are root primordia – or the start of your plant’s new roots.

Allow the stem to air-dry upside down for a few days, then place it in a clear container (like a drinking glass, mug or plastic cup) with enough water to cover it. Put it in a spot away from direct sun and temperature extremes. Mark the date on your calendar or container, change the water twice a week, and in about two weeks you should have a rooted stem that’s ready to plant!

Tips

When picking a pineapple, look for healthy, firm, green leaves – especially in the center. (It’s okay if the tips are dry.) Don’t forget to check for scale or mites – you don’t want to bring home more than the fruit! And find a pineapple with a green shell and yellow, gold or light orange “scales.” That color break shows that the fruit is ripening properly!
Even tropical plants can get sunburn. When you move your pineapple plant outside to enjoy the warm weather, place it in a shady location to start. After a couple of days, you can move it into the sun.

Definitions

Ratoon: A shoot that grows from the base of an existing pineapple, banana or sugar cane plant.

Faqs

Q: I can’t get my pineapple to bloom. Is there something I can do?
A: Sure! You can “force” it. Here are your options: 1) Lay the plant on its side between watering. 2) Place the plant in a large plastic garbage bag with two very ripe apples cut into halves, close the top and leave it alone for several days. 3) Place a fingernail-size piece of calcium carbide on the center of the crown and pour ¼ cup of water over the top. Whatever method, you should see a flower spike in the center of the crown in 2-3 months.

Tools

You can boost the length and strength of your “daylight” with a grow light – a very handy supplement or alternative for anyone with less-than-ideal indoor light conditions.

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