With its spiky crown and tropical allure, a pineapple plant is a delightful addition to any garden. Not only does it bring a touch of exotic charm, but it also rewards the patient gardener with the ultimate tropical treat. Growing pineapples allows you to experience the joy of harvesting your own juicy, sweet fruits, bringing a taste of paradise right to your backyard.
Planting Calendar
Pineapples, should be planted in late spring or early summer, when the soil has really warmed up,
Harvest In
3 years
You should get your first pineapple from a three-year-old plant. A four-year-old plant should produce two fruit in a season, and a six-year-old plant should produce three fruit.
Prepare
Position
Pineapples love sunbathing so plant in the hottest sunniest spot in the garden. Sheltered from cold winds.
Soil
Pineapples need rich free draining slightly acidic soil, with a PH of 4.5 to 5. Adding peat to the soil at planting to provide the acidity.
Plant
Plant plants on ridges, ridges help the soil to warm up, and also provide the free-draining situation that pineapples require. Planting in a black polythene bag is also another option.
Care
Watering
Pineapples don't need heavy amounts of water, but to ensure good flowering water once a week during spring-summer. Water into the soil not onto the plant.
Feeding
In early and mid-summer, foliar feed with Aquaticus Garden Booster.
Protecting
Pineapple plants don’t like competition, so it’s important to keep them weed-free and to remember that the roots are tender so take care when working around them, to not damage the roots.
Spraying
Pineapples are generally pest free.
Pruning
One or two suckers/pups, or more, are produced by pineapple plants during the last stages of fruit development. If the mother plant has several suckers/pups, it is better to cut them off with a sharp knife. Leave one sucker per mother plant, since that yields the highest quality new shoots. The pups can be kept as planting material after being removed from the mother plant.
Expert Tip
Encouraging your plant to produce a flower. Drop a small square of banana peel into the centre of the pineapple plant. As the banana peel breaks down, it produces ethylene, a gas which acts as a ripening signal that instructs the plant to start flowering. Don’t try this with a young plant as it will only produce a small pineapple. Use the banana skin trick only with a plant that is three or four years old, and which is failing to send up a flower. Place a plastic bag over the plant after popping the banana skin into the foliage. The bag will help the skin to decay, and also trap the ethylene gas and stop it dispersing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a pineapple to produce fruit?
Plants can start to flower from October onwards, peaking during summer. Flowering to harvest can take 6 months.
How often should I water my pineapple plant?
Pineapples don't need heavy amounts of water, but to ensure good flowering water once a week during spring-summer. Water into the soil not onto the plant.
How do I know when my pineapple is ready to harvest?
The best way to till if the fruit is ripe is by the scent of the fruit, it should smell sweet. If ants are present it is also a sign of ripe fruit as they can smell the sweetness.
How do I care for my pineapple plant in winter?
Pineapple plants are sensitive to cold temperatures. If you’re growing them outdoors, bring them inside during winter or cover them to protect from frost. Reduce watering and avoid fertilising during this dormant period.
What type of soil is best for growing pineapples?
Pineapples thrive in well-draining, sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic pH between 4.5 and 6.5. Adding organic matter can improve soil quality.