We figure out how to plant and grow pineapple
Many people mistakenly believe that this fruit of the bromeliad family is very difficult to grow at home. However, this is far from the case. After all, pineapple does not grow on a palm tree, as most people think, it is a herbaceous plant that can be grown in a residential area. And if you create all the conditions for growth, then after a couple of years you can even get fruit.
Pineapple is a perennial plant and can be propagated by seeds or using the top. Since in our country they sell pineapples of hybrid varieties, without seeds, all that remains is to use the tuft, and here it is important to remember some subtleties.
Content:
- How to choose a pineapple for planting
- Preparing the fruit for planting
- Rules for planting pineapple
- Beginning of growth and care in the first months
How to choose a pineapple for planting
It is best to carry out this operation in early autumn or late summer and be sure to choose a pineapple in a good supermarket or market. The fruit does not tolerate cold and therefore should not be frozen, as it then loses its ability to reproduce. Extreme heat can also have a negative impact.
You need to find the freshest plant and preferably only imported one. First of all, you should inspect the top. It should be green and fresh. Limp and dry leaves are not suitable.
It is important to pay attention to the center, which should not have damage, cuts or stains.
A pineapple cannot be either overripe or underripe, since otherwise nothing will be able to grow. The fruit should have a golden color.
Correctly chosen planting material - the main path to success, since the care and cultivation itself does not cause much difficulty. But before planting a pineapple, it is necessary to carry out preparations.
Preparing the fruit for planting
It is best to buy two or three fruits and here you need to choose how to process the top.
- When twisting the top, you need to take it in one hand, and the fruit in the other, and twist it in opposite directions. In this case, you should not touch the leaves. The top should have a small stem and the beginnings of the roots can be seen.
- The best thing trim. You will need a sharp and large knife. The distance from the leaves is about three to five centimeters and the lower leaves must be removed and the pulp cut off, otherwise the stem will rot.
- The cut site is immediately treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or furatsilin.
- Then you should sprinkle everything with crushed charcoal. Activated carbon tablets are also used.
At the next stage, the top is dried. It must be turned over so that the leaves are at the bottom. Then you need to hang it with a rope and not disturb it for 15-20 days.
During this time, it will dry out and only then can you think about planting. While the preparation procedure is underway, you can prepare a container where the pineapple will be planted.
Rules for planting pineapple
It is best to use a small pot with a volume of up to 0.6 liters. Place on the bottom pebbles or expanded clay, which will perform the function of drainage. The prepared mixture consists of soil, as well as peat, humus and sand. Usually equal proportions are taken. The main thing is that the soil is loose.In specialized stores you can buy ready-made soil for pineapples, but in this case it is better to pour it with a hot solution of potassium permanganate and let it stand for a couple of days.
A small hole is made in the center, which must be sprinkled with activated carbon or fine ash. It should be no more than two to three centimeters.
When the top is lowered there, it is necessary not only to fill it well, but also to strengthen it with several sticks so that displacement does not occur. They are installed at the edges. The soil only needs to be slightly moistened, since pineapple does not like a lot of moisture, but it can withstand high temperatures perfectly.
Greenhouse conditions are created for rapid growth. In this case, an ordinary plastic bag, which is put on top, helps a lot. The place where the pot will stand should be light and warm, since the temperature should not fall below 25 degrees. The main task is to protect the plant from drafts.
Usually the top takes root within one month, but it may take two. As soon as they appear new leaves the polyethylene can be removed and then all that remains is to properly care for the pineapple.
Beginning of growth and care in the first months
This plant is quite unpretentious and does not make any special demands. Watering is carried out quite rarely, but the water should be warm. However, the temperature should not exceed thirty degrees.
Under natural conditions, pineapple is well adapted to drought and can accumulate water when it rains. This rule should also be followed when growing at home. It is necessary to water when the soil is completely dry. You can moisten not only the soil, but also the leaves and at the same time add a little lemon juice to the water.
When the pineapple grows noticeably, it makes sense to transplant it into a larger container. The plant will become an adult in four years, but the pot should not be larger than three to four liters.
It is important to monitor the temperature all the time, since a pineapple at temperatures below twenty degrees can simply die. Daylight hours should be at least twelve hours.
Top dressing mineral fertilizers carried out once or twice a month and you can use combined options for flowers, but not alkaline fertilizers. There are several ways to help speed up flowering. They are quite simple, but effective.
Today, everyone can afford to plant and grow pineapple. This unpretentious plant will be able to pamper its owner with fresh fruit in 2.5-3 years. The pulp can be eaten, but the fresh top can be used for planting.
Also for propagation, shoots are used, which can be seen at the base of the stem. The fruits themselves have different weights and it can range from three hundred grams to a kilogram.
Video instructions for rooting pineapple at home:
Interesting information about the vegetable garden
Comments
I always thought that pineapples grow on palm trees like coconuts, but it turns out they grow like flowers. I’ll try to plant a pineapple this way, and maybe it will work. I'll write about the results later.