You may have read this article about my avocado plant growing obsession. I’ve decided that I have enough avocados growing and need to give a slice of another fruit a try. Several of my friends have had success in growing pineapples in Houston.
I love pineapple. Most mornings I start the day with a pineapple, mango, and greens smoothie.
If only I had an endless supply of pineapple! I don’t, but I have started with one. Growing pineapples is much easier than you think.
Pineapples don’t actually grow from trees. They belong to the bromeliad family, and grow like a shrub. A mature shrub will eventually send out suckers, which can be cut and planted to produce new pineapple plants. Pineapples are really easy to grow. They don’t need much water, but they do need a lot of sun and are not resistant to frost. They are a great plant to put in your backyard, or line the driveway with.
When selecting your pineapple, try to find an organic one grown by local farmers. It’s more likely to grow well in your soil than a pineapple from the grocery store that came from far away and varied soil. Given that, I hear that pineapple plants are generally very hardy and like to grow in Houston’s subtropical climate.
Find a pineapple that you like. Since you will have to look at it every day, it should be one that looks aesthetically pleasing to you. Also, make sure that it is a healthy pineapple. If it looks scraggly, brown or mostly dead, chances are that it won’t make it.
1. Chop the top off of your pineapple. Leave a bit of the fruit.
2. Dig a little hole in the ground, or in a large pot filled with soil.
3. Stick your pineapple top in the soil and pat the dirt around the base.
4. Place the pot in a full sun area (6 hours), and water the pineapple.
5. Keep watering the pineapple and wait a year or two for a baby pineapple to appear.
Make sure to continuously water the pineapple plant, especially if it is in a pot.
If you have any questions, here’s a great video illustrating how to grow a pineapple plant:
