How to Grow a Pineapple

Co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH

To grow a pineapple plant, all you need is a fresh pineapple. Pick one up at the grocery store next time you're there, then separate the leaves from the fruit and soak the base in water. In a few weeks, roots will sprout, and you can plant your pineapple plant in a container and enjoy it for a long time to come. Keep reading to find out more about growing your own pineapple.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting the Pineapple Ready

1
Pick out a fresh pineapple. Look for one with firm, green leaves that have not turned yellow or brown. The skin on the fruit should be golden brown and firm to the touch. Smell the pineapple to see if it's ripe: it should emit sweet, heady smell indicating that you've chosen it at just the right time to start a new pineapple plant.^{[1]
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- Make sure the pineapple isn't underripe. It needs to be ripe in order to produce another pineapple.
- Check to make sure the pineapple isn't too ripe by tugging a little at the leaves. If they come right off, the pineapple is too ripe to plant. Be gentle.
- Make sure the pineapple doesn't have scale insects around the base of the leaves. They look like small grayish black spots.
2
Twist the leaves off the top of the pineapple. Grasp the body of the pineapple with one hand and use the other to grab the leaves at the base and twist them off. This method ensures that the base of the leaves will stay intact. It will be attached to a minimum amount of fruit, which you don't need in order for the plant to grow.
- If you're having trouble twisting off the top, you can slice off the top of the pineapple. Slice off the excess fruit around the root.
- Make sure the base, the very tip of the area where the leaves join together, stays intact. New roots will be sprouting from this, and without it the plant won't grow.
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3
Strip off some of the lower leaves to expose the stem. This helps the stem sprout roots once it is planted. Strip until a few inches of the stem are exposed. Cut away any remaining fruit without damaging the stem.^{[2]
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4
Turn it upside down and let it dry for a week. The scars where you made a cut and removed the leaves will harden, which is necessary before you take the next step.
- At this point, you can plant the crown into the soil, if you would like. While some people prefer to soak the pineapple crown first, it is not necessary.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Soaking the Pineapple Crown

1
Fill a large glass with water. The mouth of the glass should be large enough to fit the pineapple crown inside, but small enough so that you can prop it up to keep it from getting completely submerged.
2
Stick a few toothpicks into the pineapple crown. Place them across from each other near the top of the stem. Push them in just far enough so that they'll stay in place. These toothpicks are used to suspend the pineapple crown in the glass of water.^{[4]
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3
Put the crown in the water. The toothpicks should rest on the rim of the glass. The stem should be submerged in the water, and the leaves should stick out the top.^{[5]
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4
Place the glass in a sunny window and wait for the roots to sprout. It should take several days or up to a few weeks for white roots to poke out and begin to grow.^{[6]
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- Keep the plant away from extreme temperatures. Don't let it get too hot or too cold.
- Change out the water every few days to prevent the growth of mold.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Planting the Pineapple Crown

1
Prepare a pot of soil for the crown. Fill a 6-inch pot with light garden soil that has a 30% blend of organic matter. This has the right blend of nutrients for the pineapple plant.
2
Plant the pineapple crown in the pot. Plant the crown when the roots are a few inches long. Wait until they've gotten long enough to take root in soil. If you plant the crown too early it won't do well. As you plant it, make sure that the base of any remaining leaves are just above soil level. Press the soil firmly around the base of the crown without getting any soil on the leaves.^{[7]
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3
Keep the plant moist and warm. It needs a sunny, warm and humid environment where the night temperatures won't drop below 65ºF (18ºC). If conditions are dry, mist the plant regularly.^{[8]
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- You can keep the pot outside if you live in a warm climate. If you have cool winters take it indoors during the winter season and keep it in a sunny window. It's important for the plant to get a lot of sun all year round.
- To help the rooting process, you can slip a plastic bag over the top of the pot. This will create a mini-greenhouse effect.
4
Give the plant food and water. Water the soil lightly once a week. Fertilize the plant with half-strength fertilizer twice a month during the summer.
5
Look for flowers. It can take several years, but eventually a red cone should appear from the center of the leaves, followed by blue flowers and eventually a fruit. It takes about six months for the fruit to fully develop. The pineapple will grow from the flower, above ground, in the center of the plant.

Community Q&A

Question

After you grow one pineapple, can you grow another one from the same plant?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Yes. In a few years, the plant may produce another pineapple. You can harvest this pineapple and plant it just like the first one.
Question

Can I care for a pineapple plant outside?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Pineapples can grow outside in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. In the US, this includes the south, west coast, and Hawaii. Pineapples need lots of sun, but don't require much water.
Question

Can I plant multiple pineapple plants bunched together in one pot?

Community Answer

Pineapples need room for the roots to grow, and the top of the plant can get quite large. I would not plant more than one per pot.