When one thinks of fruit grown in Michigan, pineapples do not usually come to mind.
After returning from Hawaii a few weeks ago, I got to wondering… Can I grow a pineapple here in Michigan? Amazingly enough, I found the answer is YES! My research indicates that not only is it possible to do this but it is not that difficult to do. You may have to wait awhile for some fruit but wouldn’t you love to eat a pineapple that you grew yourself. Pineapples are members of the Bromeliad family and while they are generally grown for their foliage it is possible that they may produce fruit for you in about 2 to 3 years. Be sure to plant in a pot so it can be brought in when temps fall below 40°F.
Here Are The Steps To Follow:
- Take a ripe pineapple that you purchased from the grocery store and with a sharp knife cut the top of the pineapple about 1 inch to 1 ½ inches from the spot where the leaves meet the exterior skin of the fruit.
- Take the part of the fruit that you have cut off (the part with the leaves on top) and scrape out as much of the fruit from inside of the crown as possible. Be careful not to damage the part of the crown that is immediately below the leaves.
- Lay the crown in a spot away from direct sunlight and allow it to dry for several days.
- Take the crown and cut away the remaining skin (the part that looks like tree bark) leaving the section immediately below the leaves intact. What you have left will be the leaves with a small amount of the crown below it.
- Take the remaining piece of the leaves and plant it in a pot (10” to 12” in diameter) with potting soil for houseplants. Plant it so the leaves are just above the soil line.
- Rather than water the soil directly you can generously spray the leaves as this is the best place for the pineapple to absorb moisture. Water the pineapple in this manner several times a week (every other day at least) for about a month.
- The plant should root and start to grow. New leaves will be the indicator that the plant has rooted.
Other Growing Tips:
- Pineapples grow pretty large so a bigger pot will be needed in the future.
- Pineapples actually like to be kept dry so only water when the soil is dry several inches below the soil line.
- Pineapples don’t need a lot of fertilizer. One application a year during the summer months is sufficient.
- Pineapples can be kept outdoors during the warmer months but should be brought indoors before temperatures drop below 40 degrees.
- While pineapples are tropical plants they require only a few hours of direct sunlight a day. If you put them outdoors for the summer they will prefer some protection from hot afternoon sun.
- It is possible for the plant to flower and bear fruit but it will take several years to do so.
Good Luck!
