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Tropical Fruits

How long can a healthy Pineapple not flower?

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area

12 years ago

I have one indoors,almost two years old..very healthy looking..about 16" tall or more. I've grown them to fruit in a greenhouse..but this is a big window grown,indoor plant.

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Comments (10)

murahilin
12 years ago
I am not sure if I understand your question. Are you trying to keep it from flowering or are you hoping it will flower?
rodneys
12 years ago
I've read online that putting a piece of apple in the center of the plant & loosely placing a bag over it will help stimulate fruit production. The gases given off by the piece of apple is what's supposed to do the trick.
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bsbullie
12 years ago
I know placing an apple in a bag with fruit can stimulate ripening by the Ethylene the apple puts off but I haven't heard that it will cause the plant to fruit.

Rob
rodneys
12 years ago
Here's a youtube video

Here is a link that might be useful: Pineapples & apples
bsbullie
12 years ago
Thanks for the info. I knew about the calcium carbide but didn't know about the ethylene.

At the bottom is a link that has some additional info which discusses timing. Now this says it is not propagated from seed while Julia Morton states otherwise, see link directly below from Julia.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/pineapple.html#Culture

Rob

Here is a link that might be useful: More pineapple info
steve_in_los_osos
12 years ago
I put a slice of apple on a wooden skewer and gently placed it in the main whorl, covering that section only loosely with some plastic wrap. That was in June. I now have a surprisingly large pineapple (still green, though). I had a plant right next to it that seemed to get the message on its own shortly thereafter and decided it, too, wanted to bloom!

I had read that forcing pineapples would result in smaller fruit but my experience so far has been the opposite. The one I forced has a larger fruit (although the "me too" fruit is not "small").

These are both three-year old plants from crowns, grown in an unheated greenhouse.
murahilin
12 years ago
steve in los osos,
The size of the pineapple fruit is related to the variety of the pineapple and the size and health of the plant when it flowered. Forcing does not mean a smaller fruit unless the plant itself is small. Commercial growers all pretty much force their pineapple plants to flower to ensure uniform fruiting. There are other environmental factors than can cause a pineapple to flower including cold temperatures.

If I remember correctly, commercial growers want the plant to weigh approx. 5-6lbs when flowering is induced for best production.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
Original Author
12 years ago
I should post a pic soon-but yes-I want it to flower. I did place an apple-uncut- in the foliage almost three months ago-the apple is still there unrotted! But no,I didnt cover it either. Its a big plant..gonna need a big clear bag.
And do you know-I have one in a pot that is three years old outdoors? the last winter killed the original plant-and a pup came up. I wonder if I was more dedicated I would find the bay area can grow pineapples?..they have some hardiness folks.
steve_in_los_osos
12 years ago
Based on my one experience, it's not necessary to cover the entire plant. I just put a piece of plastic wrap loosely into the whorl where I set the slice of apple--just enough to help the gas stay put for awhile. Ethylene is just slightly lighter than the average mass of air, so if you can limit air movement a little, it will stay put for awhile.

I understand someone has grown pineapples in the ground in Palo Alto. Takes about three years to fruit--so he says. I imagine with some protection from too much winter rain and a sheltered warmer spot, it *might* be possible. Here in Los Osos we are so sun-challenged during the summer that I don't think I would try.
NatsGarden123
12 years ago
I have to put my two cents in here for you: OK I am an "expert" on pineapples. In fact, my plants produced so many pineapples this past summer that i was giving them away to the neighbors...I would plant one top and 6 more would sprout in the same pot-- low and behold there are pineapples hanging out everywhere. I started off with one or two pineapple tops from some supermarket pineapples and they went nuts. Here is the secret. Sit the top in water until some nice roots form. Plant it in a decent sized, well drained pot using ordinary potting soil.
And leave alone for the most part- water maybe once a week when its dry only otherwise leave it alone... DO not put any of the plants in the ground-leave them in pots,let them get rootbound ..eventually you can divide them.
Also, after picking some pineapples that were a bit tart, I figured out that you need to let the pineapple sit on the plant, as long as possible, until it is golden yellow and very fragrant...
My husband recently gave away at least half of my plants!! since we had too large of a plantation! I still have about 20..and it all started from just a few supermarket pineapples ( dole gold)

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