The pineapple (Ananas comosus) found its way to America long before Columbus did. A native of southern Brazil, this hot fruit traveled with Indians up the length of South America and Central America to Guadaloupe from the West Indies, where Columbus “discovered” it. Now, distinct pineapple cultivars develop in warm climates around the world, including U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. It’s no surprise that the subtropical pineapple needs a frost-free climate if planted outdoors, but also you can begin your own container plants from pineapple crowns in any climate. Buy a plump, healthy pineapple from a grocery store. Though the “Smooth Cayenne” cultivar is most readily accessible, look for “Kona Sugarloaf” for sweeter fruit or “Natal Queen” for smaller, quicker ripening fruit.
Hold the pineapple crown with your hand, and the body of this fruit in the other. Slide the crown until it comes from the fruit. Remove the lower leaves using kitchen scissors.
Place the overhead on a slice paper towel in a cool, dry spot for 48 hours. Put a couple of inches of tepid water in a bowl and then place the pineapple crown in the bowl, then cut-side down. Keep adding water to the bowl as it is evaporates. In the time, roots will appear in the base of the crown.
Plant the pineapple out in late spring once the ground is warm. Select the warmest, sunniest area on your lawn with well-draining, slightly acidic sandy loam. Spread a black plastic tarp over the planting area for two weeks prior to planting to warm the soil.
Plant the pineapple crowns in order that the bottom 2 inches are beneath dirt. In case you’ve got more than one rooted crown, then plant them 12 inches apart. Mulch with a 3-inch layer of redwood compost. Water well and feed using nitrogen-heavy fertilizer every four months.
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