Pineapple plants on Pico island (Azores)

7 years ago

They say they only grow pineapples on São Miguel island (Azores). I'm not a local and not a knowitall, but I have pineapple plants growing wild inside the forest under canopy. It does not fruit though, but if I cut the trees around it to let the Sun in, who knows. Also, I planted a São Miguel ananas (pineapple) purchased from the local supermarket after eating it and it grows from top that I cut, in a pot outside of my house 365 days a year and it does fine. After it grows bigger I will plant it in the ground. On Pico you bust the solid rock making a huge hole in it, fill with compost mixed with purchased soil and grow things that way - very expensive indeed and labour intensive. I think there are people on Pico island growing pineapples in a greenhouse, but not for commerce. That's what I am trying to do, to grow some Sãomiguelense-Picoense pineapples for myself and for my friends and neighbours. If you don't know, Pico is the second largest island in the Azores, abot 200 km west from São Miguel and has the tallest mountain in Portugal - Mt. Pico (about 2350m) from seal level and about 8 km from the sea floor. I tried to grow a Costarican pineapple from a top cut and it died. Yet Sãomiguelense one does really well here (in a pot so far). This thread is all about pineapples on Pico and related to São Miguelense pineapples.

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

7 years ago

I'm trying Pineapples outdoors here in the bay area...similar to the Azores in climate.

I have had them fruit as indoor plants,so if you use a greenhouse its easy. If they take too long to fruit? Place apples near them..the ethylene gas gets the Pineapple to get going.

Now outdoors?..well,its been very cool and rainy this winter...the Pineapple plants are alive but yellowish. So we will see this summer how they do in pots. If they were to be grown in ground..I would use a raised bed. I doubt they would do well in clay soils that get cold and soggy in winters.

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Comments (9)

davidrt28 (zone 7)
7 years ago
Look, if it isn't clear yet...keeping a thread 100% on topic is not how
we roll around here. And in fact, some people could probably use a bit of your self-discipline. If it's necessary for you to maintain some
perfect order in your online life, fine, but good luck imposing that on
an entire discussion community that doesn't operate that way.

I do agree the pineapple issue needed a new thread, since it is an interesting question albeit slightly arcane one for most people. The pineapple is perhaps the fruit with some of the most romantic historical lure...often appearing in restoration dramas as a symbol of wealth and hospitality. I wonder if this special Azorean variety is grown in other parts of the world.

So you can confirm on São Miguel, the commercial ones are made in unheated greenhouses? (Whereas in Cornwall, England, the cultivation under glass first used large quantities of animal manure to generate heat!)
tropicbreezent
7 years ago
I wonder too, are the São Miguel pineapples a named variety called "São Miguel" or something , or are they just any old pineapple grown on São Miguel.
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PicoAzores
Original Author
7 years ago
davidrt28 - well, first of all I prefer that the topics I am the OP of be better maintained, but that is only a request, if you noticed on the "Pittosporum undulatum allelopathy" thread. :-)

I can not say anything about São Miguel as I have not been there beyond the airport. I was told by friends who are from there. As I noted in the other thread, all I can talk is what's happening on Pico island and my username indicates that as well.

It is interesting to know they use manure to generate heat. Is that for growing anything or pineapple in particular?

In addition to sometimes-complicated rules of variety of forums I have another issue that slows me down even further, that is that I am not a native English speaker. So extra patience and understanding is appreciated.
PicoAzores
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
tropicbreezent - I have a São Miguel "Ananás dos Açores" label tag in my hands taken from the pineapple that I ate. I believe Costa Rica grown ones (that they sell here too) are GMO, but Azores-grown pineapples and most or all (?) vegetables and fruits afaik are naturally grown, without genetical modification. The tag explains exactly what the article wrote. São Miguel island pineapples are smaller.

No, they are not called "Saomiguelense" or "Saintmichael's" or anything like that. I doubt that. But you can call them that, it's no problem. The end of the tag has the following text:

Comissão Técnica de Certificação e Controlo - IAMA
Rua do Passal, 150 - 9500 Ponta Delgada
Tel.: 296 650 710 Fax: 296 653 707

Call them, they probably have someone who speaks English.

I suspect if one tests the genetic compound of the pineapple grown on São Miguel island, it would probably have different structure etc. than others.

I am only amateur grower, except I have almost 10 years growing experience of variety of palm trees. Currently am testing variety of exotic palms and trees on Pico island with very different success.

P.S.: Pico has a lot of banana plantations with smallish very tasty bananas. They also sell imported bananas here in the supermarkets. Ananás are two varieties: Costa Rica and Azores.
Halyna (Central FL, 9a)
7 years ago
I've been growing pineapples in pots for 5 years and they are doing just fine. Last year I got two pots with three fruits each and a few with two fruits.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
7 years ago
Where Halyna? Here,its been one of the wettest years in California history. My Pineapples with some cover are alive. Maybe this summer the oldest will do something.
PicoAzores
Original Author
7 years ago
I have found my university: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dip-u9PPbpE
Halyna (Central FL, 9a)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
stanofh, in Central Fl. We had a lot of rain last year too. I didn't water my pineapples at all, the mother nature was doing it for me. I have to bring them in the garage for winter and I think it makes them bloom in spring.

Pineapple plants on Pico island (Azores)

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

Comments (9)

davidrt28 (zone 7)

tropicbreezent

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

Comments (9)

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