How to Grow a Pineapple from Crown/Top to Harvest: Check How this Guide Helps Beginners

Pineapple is a tropical plant, and it is characterized by a robust, shrub-like growth habit and acidic, sweet fruits. Pineapple plants endure various conditions as long as they receive bright daytime sunlight and have well-draining soil. However, a high-quality sweet fruit crop requires extra attention to soil nutrients. Tropical Pineapples prefer full sun and warm temperatures. Pineapples grow well in indoor containers if you provide them with enough sunlight.

Pineapple also grows as well as a decorative houseplant in any climate. The Pineapple plant is not produced from the seeds; new plants are formed from the roots of the main plant or the fruit crown. Understanding the stages of Pineapple plant growth makes you better equipped to grow your tropical fruit at home.

Choose a fresh Pineapple from your local grocery store, cut the top, and sprout your plant. When choosing a Pineapple, look for one with green leaves that already has some healthy-looking new growths forming. The center should be healthy, and the leaves should be firmly still attached.

How to grow a Pineapple from crown/top to harvest

How long does it take for a Pineapple crown to grow?

It’s easy to start by planting a Pineapple top. With some luck and the right growing conditions, your plant can flower and produce Pineapple fruit for you. All you need is ripe fruit with a healthy, leafy top.
Be patient; it may take a year and a half or two for the plant to start blooming and a month or two for the fruit to grow. Suckers take around 18 months, and slips can bear fruit within a year. Usually, a Pineapple will flower as soon as it is large enough, so it is happier, and the better you take care of it, the sooner it will flower.
Commercial Pineapple plant fruiting is grown on a two to three-year fruit crop cycle that takes 32 to 46 months to complete and harvest. Pineapple plants die after this cycle, but they produce suckers or ratoons around the main plant while it is flowering and fruiting.
Pineapple will only produce fruit from less than a year (under ideal conditions) to three years. Maturing takes time, and before fruit and flowering, you’ll probably need to move the plant into a large pot a few times.

How long does it take a Pineapple crown to root?

Place the top of the Pineapple in the soil up to the base of its leaves. Keep the water well and keep it in bright, indirect light. Keep it moist until the roots grow. It should take about two months for the roots to establish.
You should place the top of the Pineapple in bright, indirect light. Rooting should take place in 6 to 8 weeks. When the Pineapple crown develops a good root system, you should carefully remove it from the rooting medium. Plant rooted Pineapple in a light, well-drained potting mix.

Can you grow a Pineapple from the crown?

You can propagate the Pineapple plant from the top of the fruit. Then prepare the fruit, cut it properly, and root it in water/soil for a new plant. First, you need to buy Pineapple. The easiest way to grow a plant is to cut the crown (leafy top). Remove some of the basal leaves from the crown. Turn it upside down and let it dry for about a week, so the cut ends and leaf stains can harden before planting.

How many Pineapples will one plant produce?

Individual Pineapple plants can produce up to two fruits (plant crop and ratoon crop). The second fruit is produced from a sucker that is produced under the fruit and is allowed to grow.
Pineapple is a perennial plant that once blooms and produces single Pineapple. Pineapple plants do not bear fruit more than once; the mother plant does not bear fruit again.
Suckers or pups are small plants that grow between mature Pineapple leaves. Like all bromeliads, once the plant has to produce Pineapples, the plant will die, but small plants or pups that grow at the base of the plant can be potted to form new Pineapple plants.

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How often do you water Pineapple plants?

The Pineapple Plant requires only 20 inches of natural rainfall annually. When the plant is indoors, it is better to apply all the water to the soil.
Though Pineapples dislike waterlogged soil, they are drought-tolerant, but moisture is also needed for proper fruit growth. Pineapples typically need about 1 inch of water per week through rain or supplemental watering.
Since tropicals can handle a lot of water and moisture, remember to water the plant regularly to help its flowers and fruit eventually grow. Water the ground directly and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Water once a week when the soil surface is dry.
If the base looks rotting, start again with a new Pineapple top and fresh potting soil. Repeat this process, but make sure there is not much water. To grow your new houseplant, give it a brightly lighted spot that receives at least six hours of bright light each day.
Place the top of the Pineapple and cover its roots, it’s sure to leave 2 inches of space at the top of the pot for watering. Water your Pineapple until the water runs through the pot and fills the saucer below. Keep your Pineapple in a sunny place inside the house.
Pineapple plants can absorb some water through their leaves. They don’t need a lot of water, so wait until the soil dries up before watering, and then water the leaves and soil. They are more likely to be badly affected by excess water than underwater water.

How do you harvest and store Pineapple?

To harvest Pineapple, give the fruit about six months to ripen after the plant blooms. You can start the ripening test after about 5 1/2 months. The bottom of the Pineapple turns to pale orange as it ripens.
Harvesting is usually done between seven and 14 days after the fruit turns yellow. The fruits are usually cut with a long knife and placed in a basket carried on the back of the harvester. When the peduncle is cut during harvesting, about 3 to 5 centimeters of it remains attached to the fruit.
Once trimmed and cut, ensure the Pineapple is covered in juice in an air-locked container, refrigerate and use within five to seven days.

Can you plant a whole Pineapple?

You can also grow Pineapples from the fruit, cut the spiky top, remove the lower leaves, reveal a stem, and let it dry for a day or more. Then place it well in a pot of compost and water in well.
It may be possible to propagate Pineapple, but planting whole fruit with the new plant is still attached. However, there are some issues to consider. The problem with planting this small plant with the still attached fruit is that the sugar in the fruit will trigger fruit rot.

How much sun does a Pineapple plant need?

Pineapple plants require more than 5 hours of direct sunlight for their best growth. Pineapples love bright, direct sunlight and will do best in a south-facing location in your home. In addition, pineapple plants need plenty of space, about five feet between plants if growing in the ground or three to five feet in containers.
You should plant Pineapple in full sunshine for excellent growth and fruit production. Select a site away from other trees, buildings, and structures. Remember, Pineapple plants need full sun for optimal growth and production.
Pineapples are grown outside, whether in the ground or a pot and require full sunlight to produce excellent growth and eventually bear fruit. Lack of sunlight can slow the growth of leaves and prevent flowering. The plant can tolerate a light afternoon shade if you grow Pineapple primarily for the foliage leaves.

How do you know when a Pineapple is done growing?

When the entire outer skin produces a yellowish Pineapple smell and the flesh is orange-yellow, they are ripe and ready to harvest. It is better to allow the fruit to ripen completely on the plant because it will not be sweet once picked, although the outer skin will continue to ripen.
The smell is a good sign of ripening. It should emit a distinct sweet and tangy aroma. Also, touch the fruit. If it looks hollow, allow the fruit to ripen more on the plant.
Pineapples that are completely hard when squeezed are unlikely to be fully ripe. A ripe Pineapple should have a strong shell that is slightly soft when squeezed.
If it still smells very green, it’s not very ripe. The skin and leaves on the outside should have some shine and should not dull.

What is the best fertilizer for Pineapples?

Nitrogen is one of the essential building blocks for young Pineapple plants. A dry fertilizer with 6 to 10% nitrogen, 6 to 10% potash, 6 to 10% phosphoric acid, and 4 to 6% magnesium works well.
You should fertilize this plant once every two months with 10-10-10 NPK and 4-6% magnesium until flowers are formed, then fertilize it every two weeks.
You should fertilize young Pineapple plants every two months or more during the growing season. If the pH level in the soil is high, which means it is alkaline, then an occasional drench of chelated iron soil near the base of each plant can lower the soil pH level and benefit the plants.
You can leave the plant alone for the first few months after planting, i.e., there is no fertilizer. After that, you can use liquid fertilizers such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract. Make a dilute solution and use a water can to apply it to the soil and leaves.

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What soil is best for Pineapples?

The best soils for Pineapple production are non-compacted, well-aerated, and free-draining loams, sandy loams, and clay loams with no heavy clay or rock within one meter of the surface.
Pineapples, which belong to bromeliads, require sandy, loamy soils with a pH of 4.5 to 6.5. A cactus and citrus potting mix are ideal. An orchid mix made of one part peat, one-part coarse sand, and one part perlite also works.
Pineapple plants are tolerant to dry soils and weather conditions; however, plant growth and fruit production will decrease.

Can you grow a Pineapple indoors?

It is possible and easy to grow Pineapple plants indoors. To make a full-sized Pineapple, the plant must be about six feet across and six feet tall.
It is not difficult to grow Pineapple indoors. A successfully rooted Pineapple plant will grow within weeks, provided it gets enough heat and adequate moisture. Once rooted, the Pineapple will produce mature fruit in about two years, although this length of time will vary depending on your circumstances. Pineapple plants can be 3 to 4 feet tall, so keep this in mind when deciding to grow them indoors.
You can start growing Pineapple indoors by purchasing a mother plant, removing and planting an offshoot plant produced by the mother plant, or cutting the top of mature fruit. Regardless, ensure you have enough space, as it requires at least 5 gallons of bucket or pot for proper growth.

Why is my Pineapple plant not producing fruit?

Pineapple plants need to get enough sun to flower and produce fruit. Full sun, equivalent to six hours of direct sunlight daily, is ideal for Pineapple plants. This species will thrive best in soils rich in acidic and organic matter.
Once the Pineapple plant has thirty leaves, it can be forced to bloom with ethylene gas, a powerful hormone. The easiest way to apply gas is to place a rotten apple in the center of the Pineapple and cover both with a plastic bag. Apples give ethylene gas, encouraging the plant to bloom and set fruits. After a few days, you should remove the plant from the bag and put it in the sun again. The flowers should appear in a few months, followed by small fruit.

Can you trim Pineapple leaves?

Pineapple plants have large leaves that may need to be trimmed to control the sprawl, and you can safely prune the ground suckers, shoots that emerge from the ground because they produce the smallest fruits and are easily discarded.
Trim the upper outer part of the Pineapple under the crown or stem until you see the root buds. These should resemble small, brown-colored bumps around the stem cover. Let the Pineapple top dry for several days to a week before planting.
Brown leaf tips shouldn’t be much of a problem, as long as it hasn’t traveled to the crown. Using a clean knife, cut straight between the fruit and leafy crown, and throw away if there’s a brown crown.

How do you induce Pineapple flowering?

If you’re anxious to get fruit as soon as possible, there are a few things you can do. You should understand and force the flowering period, not the fruit phase.
The most common compound commercial Pineapple growers use to stimulate flowers is ethephon, a commercial product that produces ethylene gas when mixed with water, a plant hormone that affects flowers.
Auxin promotes Pineapple flowering, and ethylene stimulates flowers and promotes fruit set synchronization in Pineapple.

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How deep do Pineapple roots grow?

The longest major roots laterally spread from the base of the plant just below the soil surface. Most of the root growth is within the raised bed where the soil is not compacted.
Pineapples don’t need much soil or high-quality soil. Like all bromeliads, they do not have a large root system. Pineapple plants need plenty of space, about five feet between plants if growing in the ground or three to five feet in containers.

What time of year do Pineapples get ripe?

Once rooted and planted, the suckers bloom and produce fruit in 12 months. It will take 18 months for the rooted crowns to form fruits. Most local Pineapple plants are affected by the cold in March to bloom and their fruits to ripen by August, but not all do so. Some bloom slightly more sprouting and can produce ready-to-eat fruits at other times. Still, it takes around five warm months from flowers to ripe fruits.

What is the life cycle of a Pineapple?

Pineapple plants flower 12 to 15 months after planting, and the fruits are produced 15 to 18 months after planting, depending on the variety, time of planting, and size of plant material used during plant growth and prevailing temperature. In natural conditions, Pineapple comes to harvest from May to August.
The Pineapple exhibits three main stages: the vegetative phase from planting to inflorescence (flowering) differentiation; The fruiting stage runs from differentiation to fruit harvesting; the sucking growth stage: from fruit harvesting to destruction of the plant.

Will Pineapple survive a freeze?

Pineapple plants can withstand the cold but don’t like the freezing season. Most unprotected plants have yellow to brown leaves. Most will survive with growth from close to the ground line, which will take months to produce new plants.
According to their tropical roots, Pineapples cannot thrive in cold, dry weather and are never in frost conditions. For best results, place your Pineapple plant in temperatures that range from 19°C to 35°C.
Pineapple plants do not tolerate temperatures below -2.0°C; temperatures below 15.5°C and above 32°C can slow plant growth. Optimum temperatures for Pineapple growth are 20°C to 30°C.

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Why are the leaves on my Pineapple plant turning yellow?

Too much water causes yellow leaves and potentially lethal Pineapple root rot. Special structures in the leaves of this plant store water for use during drought conditions.
Curling, twisting, brittle, and turning a pale yellowish-green color indicate a condition known as Crookneck. Affected plants can also bend and grow almost horizontally. Due to zinc deficiency, Crookneck is easy to treat with a 1% zinc foliar spray.
Dilute one part of 6 percent liquid zinc with 16 parts of water. It works best with regular use before micronutrient deficiency symptoms are noticeable. To provide all the zinc, you need to avoid a deficiency; space three applications evenly over the growing season.

When should I plant my Pineapple top?

When the Pineapple roots become 2 or 3 inches long, it’s time to transplant the Pineapple stem. You should choose a container with good drainage and fill it with a mixture of potting soil, sand, and perlite. You should plant the stem just above the soil.
It may take about two years or more to plant ripe fruits to produce. However, in the meantime, the Pineapple plant makes a very attractive leafy plant. You should start in spring or early summer.
You can put the pots outdoors during the summer, but you must bring the Pineapple plant inside before the first frost of fall.

Do Pineapples ripen after they are picked?

One interesting thing about Pineapple is that it doesn’t ripen much after being removed from the tree, which means the green, less-ripe ones that you see at the grocery store, well, they’re not getting any riper.
Pineapples will not ripen much after being removed from the tree. So once your Pineapple is picked from the tree, it won’t be sweet. This is because Pineapple sugar comes from the starches in the plant’s stem.

Will a Pineapple top root in water?

While it is possible to sprout Pineapples in water, most people are better fortunate to root them in the soil. Use a light soil mix with perlite and sand. Place the top of the Pineapple in the soil up to the base of its leaves. You should keep the rooting medium moist but not wet while rooting. Finally, place bright, indirect light on top of the Pineapple. Rooting should take place in 6 to 8 weeks.

In case you missed it: Growing Pineapple from Cuttings, Tops at Home

Can you grow a Pineapple plant in a pot?

It is possible to grow Pineapple plants anywhere in the world. Once the roots of your Pineapple are firmly rooted, it will start growing new leaves from the center. At this time, you can re-pot the plant in a 10 to 12-inch pot using a rich but fast-draining potting mix.
You can start growing your crown stalk in a pot or planting it in the ground. If you’re planting plants outside a tropical region, starting in a small pot, such as a 4-inch or 6-inch pot, might be a good idea.
You should fill the container with a fast-draining container mix, such as a succulent and cactus mix, and leave an inch or two of space on top. You can apply the rooting hormone.

Conclusion

It’s much easier to grow a Pineapple from the top if you take the proper steps to prevent rot and allow the roots to grow. Pineapple growing can be an interesting home gardening and culinary plan but requires a significant time commitment. The initial stages take weeks, from freshly bought fruit to rooting a new plant. The climate you live in can affect your Pineapple growth. Pineapples are tropical plants and do not thrive in cold weather. If you live in a warm, humid place, you can leave your Pineapple plants outdoors all year round.