How To Grow Pineapple

The pineapple is a delicious fruit, favorite among many people. The mixed taste of sweet and sour makes it the second most favorite tropical fruit in the US, just next to the banana. Not only does it taste great, but it has immense health benefits as well. The fruit helps in digestion and has some natural anti-inflammatory properties. Fresh pineapples are rich in ‘bromelain’ that provides relief from acute sinusitis, arthritis, gout, and sore throat. The fruit is also rich in manganese. Just one cup of freshly cut pineapple can provide up to 73% of the daily recommended amount of manganese to the body! A pineapple also helps your gums to stay healthy and is known to strengthen the bones. The fruit is also a great source for vitamin C that helps to boost the general immune system of the body. Growing a pineapple is not so difficult if you take proper care of the plant. If you are planning to grow pineapples, but do not know how to go about it, then here are some tips to help you successfully grow this delicious fruit. Read on to learn more.

Growing Pineapples

• Fresh and ripe pineapple with a healthy crown
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Gardening soil
• Water
• Fertilizer
• Pot with sufficient soil
• Small glass

• Choose a fresh pineapple with a healthy crown. Look for green pointy leaves that indicate a healthy crown. The fruit skin should also be golden brown. Make sure the pineapple is not overripe which is not suitable for the purpose. Also check if the pineapple is infected with any insects. Infected pineapples are not recommended as they can transmit the insect through the crown.
• Take a cutting board and lay the pineapple sideways. With the help of a sharp knife, cut the pineapple from the middle in a way to expose the stem. While cutting the crown, make sure you cut it close enough so that you can see the “eye” or the root bud of the pineapple. This will later develop the root of the fruit. Do not damage the stem. Carefully remove the fruit flesh, if any, as this can rot the plant later on.
• Turn it upside down and allow it to dry in the sun for a few days. Remove all the leaves that are around the base of the crown. Check if the cut end has dried and hardened properly.
• Keep the crown in a glass of water and examine when the roots start to come out. Ensure you change the water regularly, else the crown can rot. Also make sure to keep it away from extreme temperature. Neither too much heat nor too much cold is good for the crown to germinate roots. It more often than not takes three weeks for the crown to develop roots.
• Next, prepare the pot where you intend to plant the crown.
• Fill the bottom of the pot with stone chips and add gardening soil so that half of the pot is filled. Prepare the garden soil with at least 30% organic matter.
• Remove the crown from water and plant it firmly in the pot. Tap it to check if it has been properly planted. Add some more soil if needed.
• Add fertilizers and water to keep the soil moist.
• Keep the pot in a sunny place, but make sure the soil is just moist, neither wet nor dry soil is good for the plant.
• Water the plant every week and watch for new leaves to grow.

• For better growth, add fertilizers every two to three months after planting the crown.
• Pineapple plants are tropical, so they won’t survive any extreme conditions. If you live in a cold country, keep it inside during winter and place it in your garden or balcony during the summer months.