How to grow a pineapple from scratch (from a pineapple)
This year, I’m working hard to transform my little patch of lawn into a productive food forest – or the beginnings of one, anyways. (They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I’m pretty sure they say a forest doesn’t grow in a year – but the foundations can be laid, for sure!)
If I was to buy a heap of plants to fill the space, I’d be bankrupt pretty quickly. Where possible, I’m trying to fill the space with plants I’ve grown from nothing – or rather, from cuttings, seeds, roots and runners.
It’s not possible with every plant I’d like to have, but there are lots of options.
I love the idea of using ‘waste’ to create something new. And I love watching nature do its thing. One of my favourite things to grow right now is pineapples. They are magical.
I thought I’d talk you through the how.
Pineapples are a tropical plant, but they will grow successfully and fruit in Perth (where I live). They’re also quite a fun plant, so they look good regardless of whether they fruit or not – but having plants that could potentially also feed me in the future is a winner.
If you’re not in a Mediterranean or tropical climate, you can still grow pineapples, but they’ll need to be kept indoors during the cooler months. I’ve read that it’s possible to get them to fruit, but I imagine it’s a lot more work.
Nevertheless, they make a fun indoor plant if you’re in colder climes. A cool experiment. A good conversation starter. An excellent gift.
Here’s how you grow one.
Step-by-step guide to growing a pineapple
You’ll need a pineapple with its green spiky head attached. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a pineapple with a more than one head, or possibly a main head and side sprouts. For every head, you’ll be able to grow a plant, so the more the merrier.
This pineapple has a main head, and a little side shoot to the side. Two future pineapple plants for the price of one pineapple.
Next, chop off its head – or rather separate the fruity part from the green spiky part. You want to try and cut between the fleshy pineapple part and the head so that there is no fruit attached to the green head part. (The fruit will rot which won’t be good for the plant.)
Pull off some of the bottom outer leaves. You may see roots when you do this, or you may just see little stumps that will grow into roots. Pull off enough that there’s a small ‘stem’.
Sit the pineapple on top of a jar filled with water, ensuring the stumpy root part is submerged. The leaves can help prop the plant up on top of the jar.
Suspending the pineapple rather than sitting in a saucer ensures the roots have space to grow downwards.
Wait.
The pineapple may sprout roots straightaway, or nothing may happen for ages. (I’ve tried two varieties: one sprouts straightaway and the other takes forever.)
Ensure the water is topped up so the root part stays submerged. I haven’t found it necessary to change the water.
Eventually, roots appear.
I wait until the roots reach the bottom of the jar (we are talking a few weeks at least), and then I repot in some well draining soil. Eventually I plan to put mine in the ground, but they can be grown in containers.
You have a pineapple plant!
More things to know about growing pineapples
Pineapples do not grow or fruit quickly. Growing a pineapple this way will take 24 months to fruit, and another 6 months for the fruit to develop. Plus one plant grows one pineapple, so you won’t be inundated in pineapples.
Another thing to know about pineapples: they take most of their nutrients through their leaves, not the soil. Feeding with worm castings, soluble seaweed solution or another natural feed is better than synthetic fertilisers which may burn the leaves and damage the plant.
Finally, you might come across information that tells you that you don’t need to bother getting the pineapple head to root before planting, and you can simply stick the freshly cut head straight into a pot or in the ground. Personally, I love watching the magic of roots appearing right before my eyes.
That would be lost if I simply stuck the head in some soil, which is why I prefer this method.
Here’s the beginnings of my pineapple plantation (all grown from pineapple tops)…
Now, doesn’t that just make you want to head to the shops to buy a pineapple?!
Now I’d love to hear from you! Have you had any success growing plants from scraps? Have you had any fails? Anything on the to-do list for one day soon? Any questions about growing plants from scraps in general? Anything else you’d like to add? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
You are fortunate. We used to be able to do that in New Zealand , but for a number of years now either the growers or the importers have been breaking or cutting out the growing top so they don’t grow now. Sad.
Our supermarkets are the same – although for Halloween they were selling them with tops because apparently pineapple carving is now a thing – so I get mine from markets or independent stores. Maybe in October you’ll have success…!
Can’t help with growing pineapples, Lindsay, but some useless trivia for you: theyare cslled pineapples because early English people thought they looked like pine cones.
Ooooh I love a bit of plant trivia, Darren! Thanks :)
Oh I love this idea! ♥️
I wrote a post myself on planting trees and proudly presented my avocado plant, but I never new this would be possible with a pineapple – so going to give this a go!
Being in somewhat cooler Germany means actually getting any exotic fruits is veeeeery unlikely, but planting things from scratch is always a satisfying project in itself :) – Avocado inspiration can be found here – https://bettermegreen.org/challenge-14/
Thanks for sharing, Charlotte! From a fruit perspective, growing fruit trees from seed doesn’t always work – the fruit won’t be the same as the plant from which it came. Planting seed doesn’t work well for avocados or apples which are usually grafted. You could grow the apple seeds and then cut off the top and graft a fruit bearing branch on top… but it’s probably easier to purchase a grafted apple tree. Still, if you’re not worried about getting fruit, why not?!
A stupid question: what does this “Another thing to know about pineapples: they take most of their nutrients through their leaves, not the soil.” mean? Do you have to spray the nutrients on the leaves or what?
Hi Eija, when I said not the soil I meant not the roots. A watering can with diluted fertiliser (a natural version like seaweed extract, not chemicals that will burn the plant) will work.
I always plant my pineapple tops…but you do need to be patient if you are expecting fruit. I moved to my current home 3 years ago and my first pineapples are just fruiting.
I find it easiest to simply twist the green top off the pineapple. It comes off easily with a little plug that the roots grow from.
Hi Emily, yes they are not fast :( I just planted a papaya seedling, which by contrast will hopefully fruit within the year! Thanks for the tip re twisting, I’ll give that a go next time!
Thanks for this, Lindsay! I tried to grow a pineapple once by rooting it in a saucer. It didn’t work. I’ll try again with your method. Wish me luck!
Hi Barb! I think the saucer might get in the way of the roots forming. Give it another try without the saucer and let us know how you get on! :)
You can also grow the bottoms of celery and bok choy, just put them in a saucer of water in the kitchen until new leaves grow then plant with only the new leaves sticking out. Also plant the roots of spring onions if you don’t use the white part.
Yep, I’ve done this too but not nearly so much fun! Plus they can go a bit stinky so I find it better to plant straight into soil. I actually now cut at the roots when I grow them to get new plants, whereas I used to pull them out – what a waste!
this is incredible idea will try this
Let me know how you get on, Jennifer!
i love pineapple i want to try this but i dont have space in my house to have a plant
I’m rooting some pineapple tops. I live in North Florida and I have a great sunny location on the southern side of my house. The pineapple tops will soon join soursop, ice cream banana, blackberries, blueberries and loquat. The last time I planted pineapple tops, I got fruit the same year. Periodically, I place a rotting apple in the center of the pineapple a few hours per day for a week. The apple gives off ethylene gas which will stimulate the fruit to begin the ripening process.
Hi Lindsay, like your page on Pineapples. I had 3 fruit from ours this year and now have 35 plants. I am in Willetton