Pineapple Gardening in Spain.

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Pineapples are one of the world's most unique and exotic tropical fruits. The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the few edible species of the 2,000 that make up the bromeliad family and is the only bromeliad fruit in widespread cultivation. Not only are pineapples delicious, but they are also very easy to grow.

History & plant info:

Pineapples are native to the southern part of Brazil and Paraguay wherefrom they spread throughout South America and eventually reached the Caribbean. When explorer Christopher Columbus observed them growing in the Caribbean in 1493, they were being grown outside people's homes as a sign of welcome. Columbus brought the pineapple back with him to Europe and the tradition was picked up by European cultures. In mid 17th century Europe carved stone pineapples were often placed on entrances to houses.

This herbaceous perennial plant grows to 1-1.5m tall, and up to the same across, with 30 or more pointed leaves surrounding a thick stem. They are prickly plants so leave space for ease of access. The pineapple is an example of a multiple fruit: Multiple, spirally-arranged flowers along the axis each produce a fleshy fruit that becomes pressed against the fruits of adjacent flowers, forming what appears to be a single fleshy fruit.

Pineapples are best suited to humid coastal lowlands in tropical and subtropical regions, but in a warm, sunny, sheltered and frost free position, they will tolerate cool nights for short periods.
In our warm climate you can plant your pineapple directly into the ground. If your winter weather is any worse than the occasional freeze, plant your pineapple in a pot where you can take it inside. When planting pineapples in the ground, it is important to ensure they have free drainage. Wet roots are the enemy of pineapples.

How to grow your own pineapples:

Pineapples can be grown very easily from the top of a pineapple that have been bought and eaten. All varieties can be propagated in the same way. Although you may not be able to grow as large a plant as is grown on a plantation in Hawaii, the following information should permit you to grow a healthy, attractive pineapple for your home:

1.   Get your favorite pineapple from the local market or supermarket. Cut off the crown from the top of the fruit and set aside. Eat the rest of the fruit as you normally would.

2.   Allow the bottom of the crown to dry out for a day or two.

3.   Plant in sandy well-drained soil in a sunny location.

4.   Water weekly in the beginning. Pineapples, like most bromeliads, prefer water in their vase-like tops, but do not need much water when established. They can get by on very little. Once the young plant is established, pour a cupful of well balanced diluted water soluble liquid fertilizer into the top of the plant monthly. Pineapples take up a lot of their nutrition through their leaves, and the first few months after planting they rely only on their leaves.

5.   Avoid getting dirt or sand into the buds at the top of the plant as it may kill it.

Flowering & fruiting:

Growing pineapples from crowns can seem to take forever, but typically they produce fruit within eighteen months to two years. A pineapple plant will flower as soon as it is big enough, so the happier it is, and the better you look after, it the sooner it will flower. Once a pineapple flowers you have to wait for another 5 to 7 months for the fruit to mature. The fruit is ready to pick when it starts to turn yellow. Green pineapples are immature and toxic. It is only when they have developed the classic orange colour that they are ready to eat.

The fruit will start forming in the centre of the pineapple plant. It starts out looking like a large bright red and yellow flower. The flower eventually transforms into the normal looking pineapple fruit that everyone is familiar with. Either during or after the fruit on the mother plant has ripened, one or more shoots will grow from the mother-plant stem. If you want your original plant to produce another fruit, leave one or at most two of the shoots on the plant to produce a second fruit. If the plant remains healthy, it may even be possible to produce a third crop.

Excess shoots can be cut off and planted. Prepare and grow your shoots in the same manner you did your crown. Because they are larger, shoots will produce a fruit in less time than it takes for a crown.  

If you have enough space you can theoretically have hundreds of pineapple plants within a few years. And then it does not matter anymore how long it takes for any of them. There will always be some of them fruiting...

Not only is growing pineapples ridiculously easy. If you plant them in the right spot they need virtually no care whatsoever. So go on – give it a try.

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