Anyone growing pineapples IN GROUND for Southern California? Results?

[FV Fruit Freak]

I know it’s not advisable, and it’s better to grow them in pots here in Southern California, but, has anyone tried growing pineapple in the ground? And what are/were your results? Thanks.

[alangr088]

Why is it not advisable? I have some Kauai Sugarloafs that I am getting ready to put into the ground in a week or so.

[spaugh]

Pineapple plants don't like being wet and cold at the same time.  IE california winters.  So if you keep them in a pot, you can not only use a more well draining soil but you can also move them under a patio cover or indoors when it's raining and freezing out.  Just my 2 cents, in CA it will be best to keep in a pot for those reasons.  And if you really want them to do well, put them in a greenhouse or indoors under a grow lamp during winter. 

[BoBiscuit]

I've fruited sugarloaf in the ground in SoCal. The plants have grown very slowly and look a bit chlorotic, but the fruit is very good. I think they would be happier with a lower soil pH than what I've given them.

[zands]

Just do it and find out. I have successfully grown 2 pineapples from the tops of supermarket pineapples. Amazingly sweet with nearly zero acidic because I let it ripen on the plant to its peak. It took 2 years so plant now. Dedicated pineapple enthusiasts can find a  sympathetic produce man at the market who will give you some pineapple tops.  This has to be from a market that cuts them up on the premises and puts out cut up pineapple chunks in plastic containers for their customers.
Or just buy 2 pineapples. The pineapple tops are strong and pretty much fool proof to nurture along

Those 2 pineapple plants are still in the ground that have only grown larger, about 50% larger than when they gave me pineapples. I hope to get another crop. Am I wasting my time?

[rliou]

I have done it in cerritos.  Pineapple in ground for me was fairly slow growing.  From a small plug that i got to fruiting it took about 3 years.  They do seem to prefer well drained soil

[simon_grow]

A friend of mine is growing Pineapples in the ground in the foothills of Escondido. He has a small patch about 3-4 feet wide by about 5-6 feet long IIRC. The plants were very healthy with several pineapples scattered around and it was low maintenance.

It appeared that he let them grow, the plants would topple over and root in place and then continue growing and fruiting.

Simon

[gnappi]

Just do it and find out. I have successfully grown 2 pineapples from the tops of supermarket pineapples. Amazingly sweet with nearly zero acidic because I let it ripen on the plant to its peak. It took 2 years so plant now. Dedicated pineapple enthusiasts can find a  sympathetic produce man at the market who will give you some pineapple tops.  This has to be from a market that cuts them up on the premises and puts out cut up pineapple chunks in plastic containers for their customers.
Or just buy 2 pineapples. The pineapple tops are strong and pretty much fool proof to nurture along

Those 2 pineapple plants are still in the ground that have only grown larger, about 50% larger than when they gave me pineapples. I hope to get another crop. Am I wasting my time?

I read that the big pineapple growers like Dole push the label stem through the heart of the greenery on pineapples which supposedly keeps the plant top from growing.

I wondered why some of my tops never took and started to examine the leaves for labeling defects where the plastic attachment does not pierce the entire top before buying them and now have 100% success growing tops.

[spaugh]

You can usually look into the crown and see if its been drilled or not.  Or tug on the center leaves and see if they are loose.

[FV Fruit Freak]

Thank you all for your reply’s and advice. It’s motivating to hear there’s folks out there who have had some success growing pineapples in the ground here in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I’ve decided to attempt a small plot in the ground with white jades, sugarloafs, and all the tops I have rooted from grocery stores over the past couple years, the one in the picture below that’s fruiting was from a Dole grocery store pineapple I planted about 2-3 years ago.

This wasn’t meant to be a thread on propagation techniques, or pineapples grown anywhere but in So Cal, directly into the  ground, but thank you “zands” for your input.

If anyone would like advice on how to properly root a top from a supermarket, feel free to send me a PM, the picture on the bottom are all tops grown from grocery store pineapples, mostly Dole. Cheers.


White jades and sugarloafs


Rooted tops from grocery stores

[gnappi]

Thank you all for your reply’s and advice. It’s motivating to hear there’s folks out there who have had some success growing pineapples in the ground here in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I’ve decided to attempt a small plot in the ground with white jades, sugarloafs, and all the tops I have rooted from grocery stores over the past couple years, the one in the picture below that’s fruiting was from a Dole grocery store pineapple I planted about 2-3 years ago.

This wasn’t meant to be a thread on propagation techniques, or pineapples grown anywhere but in So Cal, directly into the  ground, but thank you “zands” for your input.

If anyone would like advice on how to properly root a top from a supermarket, feel free to send me a PM, the picture on the bottom are all tops grown from grocery store pineapples, mostly Dole. Cheers.

>>SNIP<<

You don't have to get snippy We read your "SOUTHERN CALI" REQUEST, BUT IN THE REAL WORLD, things get sidetracked. Handle it a bit better. Or go to the Cali growers association forum, oh I forgot there isn't one is there? :-)

See others can be dickheads too. Chill out we're trying to help the COMMUNITY too. Oh, I second the "Just do it recommendation"

[FV Fruit Freak]

Thank you all for your reply’s and advice. It’s motivating to hear there’s folks out there who have had some success growing pineapples in the ground here in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I’ve decided to attempt a small plot in the ground with white jades, sugarloafs, and all the tops I have rooted from grocery stores over the past couple years, the one in the picture below that’s fruiting was from a Dole grocery store pineapple I planted about 2-3 years ago.

This wasn’t meant to be a thread on propagation techniques, or pineapples grown anywhere but in So Cal, directly into the  ground, but thank you “zands” for your input.

If anyone would like advice on how to properly root a top from a supermarket, feel free to send me a PM, the picture on the bottom are all tops grown from grocery store pineapples, mostly Dole. Cheers.

>>SNIP<<

You don't have to get snippy We read your "SOUTHERN CALI" REQUEST, BUT IN THE REAL WORLD, things get sidetracked. Handle it a bit better. Or go to the Cali growers association forum, oh I forgot there isn't one is there? :-)

See others can be dickheads too. Chill out we're trying to help the COMMUNITY too. Oh, I second the "Just do it recommendation"

Sounds like you had a bad day bud...I really wasn’t trying to be snippy at all as I said thanks to Zands for his reply, and I meant that. I just didn’t want this thread to turn into a propagation thread as I have no interest in that, or how people are growing them in the ground in places other than Southern California. Is it not allowed to ask state specific questions on this forum? Because there may be people on this forum that aren’t on the “Cali growers association forum”, as you suggested. Thanks, and I hope you have a great night. Oh, and raising 2 kids under the age of 3 while being the sole caregiver of my WWll Veteran Grandfather who’s in his 90’s and in diapers, is about as “real world” as it gets...

[gnappi]

Sounds like you had a bad day bud...I really wasn’t trying to be snippy at all as I said thanks to Zands for his reply, and I meant that. I just didn’t want this thread to turn into a propagation thread as I have no interest in that, or how people are growing them in the ground in places other than Southern California. Is it not allowed to ask state specific questions on this forum? Because there may be people on this forum that aren’t on the “Cali growers association forum”, as you suggested. Thanks, and I hope you have a great night. Oh, and raising 2 kids under the age of 3 while being the sole caregiver of my WWll Veteran Grandfather who’s in his 90’s and in diapers, is about as “real world” as it gets...

No I didn't have a bad day and you can ask for anything specific you want, sorry for your troubles. The fact is, threads on every subject on the planet from A to Z gets sidetracked, handle it.

[FV Fruit Freak]

I've fruited sugarloaf in the ground in SoCal. The plants have grown very slowly and look a bit chlorotic, but the fruit is very good. I think they would be happier with a lower soil pH than what I've given them.

Thanks so much for the info BoBiscut and welcome to the forum! Congrats on your tasty in ground pineapples! What type of fertilizer do you use on them and what’s your soil like? Mine is very clay-ish. I had a memeber advise me he’s had good success with his pineapples that are heavily mulched and NOT in direct sun, which I found interesting as I would think they would do better in full sun. Thanks.

[FV Fruit Freak]

I have done it in cerritos.  Pineapple in ground for me was fairly slow growing.  From a small plug that i got to fruiting it took about 3 years.  They do seem to prefer well drained soil

How was the fruit? Did you fertilize or kinda just let them do their thing? You’re right, they definitely like well drained soil. I was thinking maybe a raised bed made with cinderblocks would work well because you’d get drainage as well as heat from the cinderblocks. Thanks for your help.

[gnappi]

Nate, personal (PM) attacks get you nowhere, and I will continue to read and reply to any thread I see fit. Buck up and handle it.

[FV Fruit Freak]

Gary, calling someone you’ve never met a “dickhead” for absolutely no reason other than you misinterpiting their wording by thinking they were sounding “snippy” when they weren’t, seems pretty personal to me, and will get you nowhere...you should have just buckled up, handled it, and kept YOUR thoughts to yourself..YOU started this, now let’s drop it and go back to what really matters on here which is tropical fruit growing. Pretty sure no one on this forum wants to hear you and I go back and forth with this BS. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, time to move on...I hope you have great success in your garden. Peace.

[gnappi]

Gary, calling someone you’ve never met a “dickhead” for absolutely no reason other than you misinterpiting their wording by thinking they were sounding “snippy” when they weren’t, seems pretty personal to me, and will get you nowhere...you should have just buckled up, handled it, and kept YOUR thoughts to yourself..YOU started this, now let’s drop it and go back to what really matters on here which is tropical fruit growing. Pretty sure no one on this forum wants to hear you and I go back and forth with this BS. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, time to move on...I hope you have great success in your garden. Peace.

Nope, no hurt feelings but you can't take someone stepping on your parade.

I'll continue to challenge such childish behavior. I dare you to challenge someone like you did in a PM in person, you won't because you thrive on the anonymity and safety of the web. Maybe the real Nate Dogg had some nerve, you don't. 

[FV Fruit Freak]

Gary, calling someone you’ve never met a “dickhead” for absolutely no reason other than you misinterpiting their wording by thinking they were sounding “snippy” when they weren’t, seems pretty personal to me, and will get you nowhere...you should have just buckled up, handled it, and kept YOUR thoughts to yourself..YOU started this, now let’s drop it and go back to what really matters on here which is tropical fruit growing. Pretty sure no one on this forum wants to hear you and I go back and forth with this BS. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, time to move on...I hope you have great success in your garden. Peace.

Nope, no hurt feelings but you can't take someone stepping on your parade.

I'll continue to challenge such childish behavior. I dare you to challenge someone like you did in a PM in person, you won't because you thrive on the anonymity and safety of the web. Maybe the real Nate Dogg had some nerve, you don't.

Blah, blah, blah...

[gnappi]

Gary, calling someone you’ve never met a “dickhead” for absolutely no reason other than you misinterpiting their wording by thinking they were sounding “snippy” when they weren’t, seems pretty personal to me, and will get you nowhere...you should have just buckled up, handled it, and kept YOUR thoughts to yourself..YOU started this, now let’s drop it and go back to what really matters on here which is tropical fruit growing. Pretty sure no one on this forum wants to hear you and I go back and forth with this BS. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, time to move on...I hope you have great success in your garden. Peace.

Nope, no hurt feelings but you can't take someone stepping on your parade.

I'll continue to challenge such childish behavior. I dare you to challenge someone like you did in a PM in person, you won't because you thrive on the anonymity and safety of the web. Maybe the real Nate Dogg had some nerve, you don't.

Blah, blah, blah...

Yup once a puss always a puss. In person Dogg

[FV Fruit Freak]

Gary, calling someone you’ve never met a “dickhead” for absolutely no reason other than you misinterpiting their wording by thinking they were sounding “snippy” when they weren’t, seems pretty personal to me, and will get you nowhere...you should have just buckled up, handled it, and kept YOUR thoughts to yourself..YOU started this, now let’s drop it and go back to what really matters on here which is tropical fruit growing. Pretty sure no one on this forum wants to hear you and I go back and forth with this BS. Sorry if I hurt your feelings, time to move on...I hope you have great success in your garden. Peace.

Nope, no hurt feelings but you can't take someone stepping on your parade.

I'll continue to challenge such childish behavior. I dare you to challenge someone like you did in a PM in person, you won't because you thrive on the anonymity and safety of the web. Maybe the real Nate Dogg had some nerve, you don't.

Blah, blah, blah...

Yup once a puss always a puss. In person Dogg

Blah, blah, blah...

[roblack]

ya'll should share info and text e/o...


As for pineapples, I happened to move 10 potted plants the other day. One of them was stuck to the ground, as the roots had gone through the pot and were securely attached to the ground. Of all the pineapples, this was the only one that was fruiting.

[Bush2Beach]

In person tropical fruit throwdowns.
I have never heard of such a thing. I could be down depending on how much fruit is to be eaten or variety available?
Noone has time to post a meme these days ?
Wow, the internet has really gone downhill.
 I have seen people expressing their winter doldrums and lack of any better plant works to do in this way.
Plant some seeds snappy gnappy , fighting is childish, that wouldn’t solve any questions pineapple related or otherwise.

[TheWaterbug]

I've tried them in-ground here in Los Angeles, and they just don't grow very well. At least not in my soil. The ones I've put in pots just do so much better. I also like the look of a well-tended, potted pineapple plant.