North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

Title: Re: [NAFEX] A Passion For Pineapple

This is true.  HOWEVER, don't be in too much of a hurry.  If the plant isn't that large you will get a dinky little pineapple.  If you want your pineapple to grow like mad, give it high humidity and constant temperatures at 80 to 85.  In England the Victorians grew them in pits like oversized cold frames.  The pits had decomposing manure in the bottom to provide heat and nutrients and the pits held high humidity.  I tried one in a terrarium one time and it grew three times faster than one just in an ordinary room.  Pineapples will tolerate a wide range of conditions, but if you want a good pineapple fruit, give it what it really LIKES.
-Lon Rombough


> To get a potted pineapple plant to fruit is fairly easy.  When it reaches
> about 24 inches in height, place it in a plastic bag with a ripe apple for 5
> or 6 days.  Keep out of direct sunlight during this period.  The ethylene
> from the apple will trigger the fruiting hormones in the pineapple plant.
> Doreen Howard