Good day, last weekend I met a guy that was selling pineapple plants.  He only had one but said he had more.  This plant was beatiful and had a nice pineapple coming out of the center.  So, I started thinking....hmmmm could I grow one of these in my area? 

He said the plants produce very sweet pineapples but I have to bring the plant inside for winter.  Here's my question, does anyone in zone 7 or 8 grow any pineapples?  If so, how do you care for it?  This guy's plant was pretty large but beautiful.  I'm trying to decide whether to get one or 2 of these.  BUt if they are hard to maintain and grow, then I'll pass.  Thoughts?

I've grown them in containers in zone 5. A nice unique patio plant, pretty to look at. Hardy and easy to take care of. And if you can get the pineapple to ripen, consider that an added bonus.

wife as in hawaii right before we got married. she said that there is nothing that smells so wonderful when a whole field is filled with ripening pineapples. too much work for me. it's handfull just looking after few fig trees that i have. :)

Pineapples don't fruit especially casually in pots.  Never have gotten any to bloom, let alone do much.

Instead of that, grab a Makok sapodilla.  Those guys fruit in pots, the fruits are very sweet and delicious.  Or a patio mango, though those still might be too big to maintain in NC.

I grow a bunch of them maybe a dozen at the moment I guess?  I have Kona sugarloaf and just regular store type ones.  They pup constantly so you always get tons of rooted starter plants. Four currently have fruit growing,  just took this pic now with the phone.  

I haven't grown any myself but I've seem plants that others have grown. They just take the top off of a store bought pinapple and plant it. They do make fruit.
"gene"

I started some from the pineapple tops. When they ripen in mid summer, they are the best pineapples you've ever had. 

Here's one from last year.

They are a bromeliad, so treat them accordingly. In Hawaii, they take 6 mos to a year. Here is SD they take about 3-4 years. Can be done, won't likely close to the size of store-bought, and will need a greenhouse at least for the winter. They don't require a lot of soil but do need humid environment.

Any who've had them in pots for much of the winter and fruit? 

Shah8,

I have a friend here who grows them in pots and they fruit pretty well.   Mine are tucked right next to the house to protect them from the cold and I as a rule never have to cover them.  it takes 2-3 years from a top to produce and less than 2 years from a pup.  

I grew one from a top of one from the store.  After about a year and a half it made a pineapple.  It was riper than any I had ever eaten and was very sweet.  They have real sharp pointed leaves that you wouldn't want small kid near.  I'm glad I grew one but I don't think it was really worth the trouble of doing it again.

I am in zone 9 and have grown these successfully outside.  They are relatively easy to start.  Just take the top off a fresh pinapple and plant in moist soil and keep damp.  It will likely take you at least 2 years, maybe 3 if you start from this method.  One way to get them to fruit is take an apple and place in the top of the pineapple when it is old enough to fruit.  Something about the gas/enzymes put off by the apple.

At our local fruit stands, when they have over-ripe pineapples, they cut the tops off and peel them and place them in deli containers.  They are more than happy to give away the "tops". 

For my taste, it is not worth the investment.  You only get the one fruit and maybe a couple of smaller ones on the side before you have to start over.

Good Luck.

If you grow them you really should try the kona sugarloaf pineapple they are night and day to the grocery store pineapples.  

Ok. That's it! I'm hooked! Kona sugarloaf pineapple? Ok, Willis, I just bought 2! My friend is meeting me this weekend. He's bringing me 2 large ones, 20 bucks each. I'll set them on my deck near the pool where the humidity is higher. I'll post pics when I get them.

Bass. Jon and others....what varieties do you grow?

I started them from store bought fruit. Took the top off, dried it for a few days. Dipped it in rooting hormone and planted. It took 1 full year to fruit in the pot.

I had started a pineapple from a store bought fruit. It never set fruit so I got rid of it.
My neighbor told me that if the pineapple doesn't bloom then you need to enclose the plant in a plastic bag and put an apple in it and leave it in there a few days. The gases given off from the apple will cause it to set a blossom.
Maybe I'll give it another shot.

I think I'm just a fool for any kind of garden experiment. I've got two potted pineapple tops, and two that are in the process of rooting. All from fruit from the local Japanese market. All generic Dole brand fruits.

I'm in Oakland California and will have to bring them inside for the winter, won't I?

Noss,

Remind me come fall and will send you some sugarloaf pups.  I have one that needs broken up this fall and will yield 25 pups or so.   Here are some of mine currently.  You can see how much this one has grown since the picture in May and the one beside it now also has a fruit on it.  

A lot of grocery stores cut up and sell fresh pineapple. Stop by and ask them to save you a few tops. Twist off the remainder of the pineapple from the top,do not cut it off. Throw the top to the side, forget about for a week and then plant when dry. I have done it often. Takes a year and a half. The pineapple size and plant size will be determined by the pot size and rate of fertilization. 15-20 gallon pots are required. Greenhouse required for the winter in most areas.

Can someone explain why the crowns need to dry out before sticking them in rooting-water?

Lisascenic,

I have done them both ways successfully but if you let them dry out before planting them they are much less likely to rot.   That said if you are going to plant a pineapple and wait 2-3 years why plant the supermarket tops?  Pineapples like Kona Sugarloaf are so so so much better tasting than the grocery store pineapples but they don't keep as well when ripe so the grocery stores don't sell them.   If anyone wants any I would be happy to trade, I would send the pineapple pups now in trade for fig cuttings this fall.  I was out looking and probably have double what I thought so 50 or so pups available.  

Here is my pineapple I grew from a top. I forced it to fruit by putting the plant in a clear bag with a bunch of apples in it for a week. It was the size of a softball but tasted great! Tyler

Willis send me an email as to what cuttings you seek I am interested.  Thanks for the offer.

sent

Oh, you guys are aweful. Just what I need, another plant to baby this winter.