Pineapples

[Odsox]

I got a surprise this morning, I just spotted my 2 pineapples are about to flower!
How I didn't notice them earlier, I can only surmise that they grow quickly once they make up their minds.
Plus I wasn't expecting flowers for another year, as these were only potted up in November 2018.
So now I have to wait at least 6 months apparently from actual flowering to ripe fruit.
All very new to me, and very interesting.
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[ina]

How exciting! How did you start them off? I tried that once, but everything got mouldy...

[Green Aura]

I love pineapple - just saying, in case you want to invite me round for tea or anything.

[ina]

I love pineapple - just saying, in case you want to invite me round for tea or anything.

Reduced at Lidl's today...

[Odsox]

How exciting! How did you start them off? I tried that once, but everything got mouldy...

Ah now, that's a secret ... even to me
What I did is what everyone tells you on the Internet, slice off the top, allow the flesh to dry a bit, plant in a pot.
Did that and nothing happened for months.
Got around to having a look and found the "flesh" had dried out and was parting company from the rosette above, and when I pulled it all away I was left with a stump with lots what looked like root buds. So I replanted them and they both grew.
They were stood on my south facing windowsill and watered sparingly (that is whenever I remembered), which apparently is the correct way ironically.
I'll keep you all posted as to what the flowers look like and when they ripen.

GA, I really don't think it's worth travelling 724 miles (with a ferry) just for a probably sour pineapple chunk.

[ina]

That's how I started mine, but it didn't work. I think it's just not hot/sunny/dry enough here. Even in that house I didn't have a south facing window...

[Weedo]

Pineapples are a Bromeliad and can be grown and propagated in similar ways to other broms. - propagation is usually from offsets (slips or suckers) but you do need the proper growing conditions for the parent plant to mature to that stage

[Green Aura]

Does each plant only produce one fruit? That's how they look in photos I've seen, which is why I've never tried.

[ina]

They can be grown in hotbeds, if you have a lot of horse manure to spare...

[Odsox]

Who'd have thought?
Pineapples have purple flowers.

[ina]

Wow! Any pictures?

[Odsox]

I didn't post a pic as they are a bit insignificant.
I don't know what I expected the flowers to be, I just didn't expect purple flowers.
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[ina]

Interesting - thanks.

[Odsox]

Does each plant only produce one fruit? That's how they look in photos I've seen, which is why I've never tried.

Apparently the plant produces offshoots at the base when it's fruited, which you can use to produce a lot more plants.
Not sure I'll do that unless these 2 fruits taste so wonderful that I'll just have to .. which I very much doubt.
They will probably be as sour as .. well something ever so sour.

[Odsox]

Well I think my pineapple fruits will be a bit on the miniature side, which is not really surprising as they are still in tiny squat 6" pots. If the fruit tastes good, and if they grow offsets when I have harvested them, I might have another go with decent sized pots.
I presume I will know they are ripe when the fruits turn yellow, and maybe start to smell.
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