How To Grow A Pineapple From A Pineapple Top!
Photo – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0mhwAJM12U

Known for its sharp leaves and its delicious, juicy, fibrous fruit, the pineapple is one of the most sought-after tropical fruits on the planet. Not only is it used in many desserts and snacks, it also adds a sweet and unique flavor to several savory dishes!

There are quite a number of reasons why you should eat pineapples. They are super rich in Vitamin C. Eating an adequate serving of pineapple a day is regarded to be a help boost your immune system. ^[1] These fruits are also good for the digestive system because pineapples are rich in fiber and also contain bromelain – an enzyme which has shown some promising potential against colon inflammation, various cancers including colon cancer and arthritis. Scientific studies have also indicated that bromelain may have some action against ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn’s disease. ^[2]

Pineapples are of course commercially grown and are readily available in most grocery stores, but did you know that you can also grow your own fruit at home? This video by Karriann Graf will teach you how to grow your own pineapple!

As you can see in the video, you can literally grow a pineapple from its head because that’s where the adventitious roots are located (adventitious root – a root growing in an unusual location i.e stem). ^[3] These fruits use vegetative growth to reproduce. Vegetative growth is a period of growth between germination and flowering. Pineapples don’t need much water to grow. The leaves are made to sustain moisture.

The slip (shoots that grow at the stem at the base of the fruit) and the sucker (shoots that grow from the leaf axils) are the most common propagules that are used for commercial growing. If you want to plant one at home, use the crown (shoots that grow from the top of the fruit) of the pineapple. Pineapples thrive on soil that is acidic (about 4.5-6.5 pH). They also need to grow in full sun and you have to keep the soil rich by adding a good amount of fertilizer.

It takes about 1-2 years for a pineapple to bear fruit. Some commercial growers can hasten the growth of these fruits by spraying them with an ethylene, acetylene or calcium carbide solution. If you want to grow a pineapple at home, you can add pieces of apple on the plant. Ripe apples release ethylene gas, a natural component that is found in ripened fruit. This will “force” the pineapple to bear fruit.

You would know if a pineapple is already ripe if the color has changed into a yellow-orange hue on any part of the fruit. This means that the sugars have already started to develop. If you’re at a grocery store, you can pull a leaf at the center of the fruit. If it comes out easily and the base of the leaf is whitish yellow in color, the fruit is already ripe.

Okay, here is the video:

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Graphic – off-grid.info. Images – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0mhwAJM12U