Did you know that when you buy a pineapple, you can do more than compost the top (also known as the crown)? You can actually plant it to get two (or even three or four) pineapples for the price of one! Okay, the catch is that it takes patience, but at least while you're waiting for your very own pineapple to grow, you'll have a lovely tropical plant for your garden or sun room. Want to know how? It's easier than you'd think.
First, you pick a fresh, whole pineapple up at the store (or farmer's market, if you're lucky enough to have someone growing pineapples nearby). Make sure the crown is green, healthy and that the pineapple isn't overripe.
Next, you will twist off or cut off the crown. Make sure to trim off any additional flesh, leaving only the center and it's root buds. You'll also want to remove some of the bottom most leaves because, once planted, the leaves that are partially in dirt or touching the dirt will rot. Then place the crown upside down to dry in an area where the temperature does not fluctuate wildly. Leave it to dry for 5 - 7 days.
Once dry, you can plant your pineapple. Use a good quality potting soil and plant in a pot or, if you're in a temperate climate, you can plant it outside. Make sure to give it some room to grow. These plants can grow up to 6 feet wide. It can take up to 20 months for your plant to produce fruit, but imagine how exciting it will be to make that first harvest!
Further reading: University of Hawaii - How to Grow a Pineapple in Your Home
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So wait, you don't have to live in a tropical climate to do this? Can the plant survive a Northeast winter?
This kind of blows my mind. I can't believe I've never seen a picture of a pineapple on the plant before. I had no idea what it looked like.
If you click on the link to University of Hawaii, it says "frost or freezing temp will kill it".
We have pineapples in our yard (Maui), nothing like fresh pineapple.
@ladidi
Just bring your potted pineapple indoors during freezing winter temps.
Also, I started my pineapple just like any other clipping - root buds in a cup of fresh water for a few weeks until they started growing, then planted it.
My dad nursed his pineapple planting for years before a baby pineapple appeared. He fertilized, watered daintily, and went out each morning before work to check on how it was doing. That's how he caught the raccoon sitting by the pot, grinning, and munching, and just happy happy happy. Worse than deer.