Pineapple

[Stonehenge]

Anyone growing this fruit? I started about 6 plants a couple years ago and they have not done a thing. They grew a little but have turned sort of yellow and stopped growing. Needless to say, I've not gotten a single fruit. I think it may be my lousey soil in which little but weeds grows well. I took the tops from some grocery store pineapples and put them in water until they rooted. Then I put them in the ground. Now they are just something that has to be weeded.

[dendro]

My family were commercial pineapple growers over a hundred years ago, and I always keep a patch. From the sound of it, there may be something toxic for pine in your soil or water, cuz they are easy to grow. Almost an air plant, I grow them in plain black volcanic conders, a soiless medium. They like rainwater the best, heat and plenty of sun.  They usually fruit in 1.5 years, but growing from a top is the slowest method. Fastest is from a stem slip, or side sprout ("ratoon").  Is it possible your soil ph is extreme? Possibly move them to a neutral medium, or add coral calcium aglime to adjust. I don't know the preferred ph offhand, I never throw lime on mine (and the rain is acid), just a little triple 16 to keep them advancing.

[Stonehenge]

Thanks for the tips, Dendro. I've been meaning to check the soil ph. Dagga is about the only thing that grew ok in it. Some cactus I planted didn't do well either and they like basic soil so maybe it is too acid.

[winder]

You rooted yours in water?  Interesting.

I let mine callous over and then planted in soil, rooting them much like a cactus.

This was done while I was in South Carolina.
I had one in a planter that got very large, about 5 feet from tip to tip across the leaves.

I planted the large one and two smaller ones in the yard and eventually got fruit on the stalk that he larger one put out from the rosette and a couple of fruit pups, which caught me by surprise.

The fruit were tiny and worthless for eating, but they smelt great.

Alas, I think even your southern location is not warm enough year round to keep them happy enough to fruit.

But then again, maybe the soil is a lacking nutrient or has a pH issue.

Keep in mind, the plantations in Hawaii tkae 2 years to fruit from planting the tops.

[Stonehenge]

I know people in my area who grow pineapple so I don't think it's the climate. We had a mild winter this year and they still are stunted and yellow. I think dendro's suggestion about checking the soil might bear fruit, so to speak.