Pineapples

[Green Aura]

They're ripe when you can pull a top leaf out easily. That's how to check in the supermarket.

[Odsox]

Yes I know that, but that's after they've been cut and transported halfway around the world.
OK, I'll rephrase the question; how do pineapple growers know when their crop is ready to harvest?

[Green Aura]

I'm not sure they do, given the number of underripe ones you find in shops.

[Odsox]

Just got around to looking up pineapple growing, an apparently they take 6 months from flowering to ripening.
So ready sometime in October.

Well worth growing for a quick crop

[Odsox]

One of my pineapple plants fell over a couple of days ago, not really a surprise as they are both extremely top heavy. In the process the fruit snapped off.
I don't think it will be a problem though as it's nearly ripe and they both smell distinctly pineappley.
Not as small as I first thought, in fact pretty good considering they were grown in squat 6" pots.
I'll let you know what it tastes like in a week or two.
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[Odsox]

Harvested that pineapple that broke off today, very nice too. About 4 good helpings.
The flavour is as good as any other, which wasn't a big surprise as the whole house smelt of pineapple for the past week.
What did surprise me was how sweet it is. Usually growing tropical fruit is disappointing as it never gets the sun it's evolved to and ends up less than sweet.
Not sure it was worth it though, other than for experience, but me being me, I just might try it again but with appropriately sized pots this time.

[Green Aura]

I'm so pleased it was not only edible but good. I think it was a great experiment - it was an attractive plant, although I couldn't tell how big it was and something tasty at the end of it.

Is that the plant done now, or will it produce again next year?

[Odsox]

I couldn't tell how big it was

Sorry I hadn't realised that I didn't post a photo of the whole plant.
This is the second one, also ready to eat by the looks and smell of it. You can see the stupidly small flower pot and understand how top heavy they are.
They are supposed to produce side shoots from the base after they have been picked, which are apparently easy to root, but no sign of any yet.
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[Green Aura]

I'm tempted. Very tempted.

[Odsox]

I investigated the rosette that was cut off the top of the harvested pineapple. I has been laying on my potting shed bench for about a week, and I decided to pull the bottom leaves off to see if there are the root buds that I saw before.
Well those look like proper roots to me ...
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[Green Aura]

Go on, bung it in some soil.

[ina]

Excellent! I tried growing them once before, when I lived in a house that had rather more sun and warmth than I get here, but it didn't work. So, although it does look very attractive, and I do like pineapple, I think I'll give it a miss.

Pineapples were on special offer at Lidl's a few weeks ago. I almost bought some to make jam; I remember we had pineapple jam when I was a kid - bought, of course - but I haven't seen any in the shops for ages. Gone out of fashion? In the end, I didn't buy any - shouldn't be eating jam anyway, just gives me heartburn....

[diggernotdreamer]

So what happened next, something must have happened next

[Odsox]

Yes, we ate them and very nice they were too.
Or perhaps you are referring to the next generation of pineapple production here in sub-tropical west Cork. So far there are no sign of the forecasted side shoots, but the 2 rosette tops are now potted up in readiness for the 2022 harvest.
Welcome back by the way, nice to "see" you.

[diggernotdreamer]

That is the most exciting thing I have seen this week. Might have a go myself. I seem to have been able to log in this time, I got a notification too, so if this keeps up, I will be in more often