Guest Blogger – Jacqueline Hull
Have you ever tried something fun as a gardener? Well, I have. My curiosity wondered if it were possible to root the head of a pineapple.
We love fresh pineapple. The head has to be cut off then the sides to get to the juicy pieces. Then, we stash the severed pieces in the compost pot for future use in the garden.
Will the pineapple take?
One day, after my husband, Peter, dissected our fresh pineapple, I retrieved the top piece and placed it into some moist potting soil. I made sure the soil was damp each day as I waited for it to root. After a time, to my delight, I discovered the head had indeed grown roots and was holding tightly to the soil.
For several years I fertilized and watered this pineapple as the spears grew larger and taller. I also transplanted it to a huge glazed pot.
Peeking down into the center of the plants one day, I saw a teeny tiny fruit that had developed. It kept growing and growing and eventually, a soft, golden color appeared in its greenery. It had about seven inches of fruit and I knew it was ready to be picked.
To our delight when we harvested the pineapple, the inside was sweet and juicy.
Now, we wait for the two that are growing on the porch to ripen. One has a fruit and we anticipate the other to develop its fruit.
Our adventure continues as we try to grow onions from pieces with roots and wonder if we could do the same with celery…maybe!
Editor’s note: Share your growing experiments with us on the comments page.
