Plant Pineapples are extremely and highly profitable business. Pineapples can also be planted all year round. The overall production of pineapples does not require much effort, labour, or finance; hence it is a very beneficial fruit for the farmers. 

Pineapples are fruits from a tropical plant in the Bromeliaceous family. Being a nutritious fruit, the demand for it is expected to increase fast because of the growing global population. You may also try to Plant Cucumbers.

Plant Pineapples 

Two major ways of planting a pineapple are as follows: 

• From pineapple tops 
• From pineapple seeds 

From pineapple tops: For this process, one needs to have pineapple tops of well-ripened fruits. Separate the fruit from the top by holding the top in one hand and fruit in the other, twist it in one strong motion and let the top dry for around a week. The healthier the tops are, the better the fruit would be.  

From pineapple seeds: To obtain pineapple seeds, one can buy a yellow, ripe fruit and take out the tiny black seeds inside. Rinse the seeds and wrap them in a wet paper towel. Keep this towel in a plastic zipper bag and make sure to keep it in a warm environment. After around six months of germinations, these seeds are ready to be planted in a temporary growing container and eventually transferred to land once they are big enough. 

Plant pineapples outside with a distance of around 5 feet between each plant. Pineapple plants require lots of sunlight and love heavy rainfalls. Complete shade or extremely low temperatures could be harmful to the plant.  

Pineapples grow well in any type of soil, but a slightly acidic and well-drainable soil is considered ideal. The texture of soil must be light like sandy and not clay-like. 

Pineapples Care 

• Water about once a week. 
• Be sure to water roots as well as leaves, both. 
• Spray a few fertilizers about once or twice a month. 
• For pineapples being grown from the tops, make sure to spray the tops with fertilizers, most importantly.  
• Use natural and diluted liquid fertilizer. Artificial fertilizers can be harmful. 
• Keep them well-fed.  

Harvest

Pineapples are ready to be harvested after almost a year and a half, after almost five months of flowering. The most natural time for pineapples to be ready is around May and August. They are very easy to pick and do not require much time, labour, or effort. 

To harvest, use a sharp knife to remove the fruit from the stalk. The tops produce suckers or pups, which can be removed and planted in pots for more fruit.  

Tips

• Make sure to scrape off the crown (top of the pineapple) well to remove any fruit but be careful not to damage the crown.  
• Instead of watering like usual, spray the leaves of the plant with water. 
• To accommodate the big size of the pineapples, make sure to plant in an area with ample land and far apart in rows.  
• Do not fertilize too much; once a year in summers is enough. 
• Only water when soil is too dry; pineapples do not like over-watered soil. 
• Provide some protection from the sun in summers. As much as pineapples love the sun, they should not be kept under intense heat and light. 
• Do not be impatient. Pineapples take time to grow. 

Diseases

Bacterial: Heart rot and fruit collapse: The symptoms found in this type of the disease are usually lesions on the white basal sections of the leaves, and this may spread to all other leaves. Midportions become green with a bloated appearance. Cavities also form within the fruit.  

Fungal: Butt rot, Black rot, and White leaf spot: The early symptoms are seen at the point of attachment of seed pieces from the mother plant. Soft black spots appear at this point. This spot darkens with time. Small brown spots also appear on leaves. 

Pests

Mealybug Wilt: Symptoms include redness of leaves, tips of leaves become withered and brown. This type of virus is transmitted by Mealybugs. 

Types of Pineapples 

Pineapples are found abundantly. There are dozens of different kinds of Pineapples grown all over Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand, and many more places. Along with its uniqueness and versatility, it is also very delicious and mostly used in different cuisines all around the world. Types vary according to size, shape, colour, etc. Some varieties of pineapples are resilient to many diseases; therefore, they can easily be transported. Apart from this, they also vary widely according to their bitterness, sweetness, and fibre. 

The main classes in which most of the Pineapples are grouped are 4, namely: 

• Smooth Cayenne 
• Red Spanish 
• Queen 
• Abacaxi 

Abacaxi Pineapples: The Pineapples of this variety are mostly disease resistant and are easily transported. This adds to the benefit of the farmers locally. They are spiny but sweet from inside. 

Queen Pineapples: These types are mostly found in Australia and South Africa. Though they cannot be canned, these are still very tasty when eaten fresh. They are sweet and dark yellow. This variety is very tolerant to diseases and cold temperatures.

Red Spanish Pineapples: As indicated by the name, they are orange-red. Found mostly in the Caribbean. They are high in fibre and have aromatic flavour but not as tender as the other varieties.

Smooth Cayenne Pineapples: These are the Pineapples usually seen in the market. Mostly grown in Hawaii, they are bigger than other ones. They are juicing and have a distinctive yellowish colour.

Importance 

Pineapples have always been in high demand because of their delicious flavour and a rich supply of nutrition. Pineapples contain many important elements like minerals, vitamins, and nutrients, including potassium, copper, Vitamin C, etc. The health benefits provided by this fruit include aiding in digestion, boosting the immune system, curing colds, aiding in weight loss, and much more. They also contain disease-fighting antioxidants.  

Pineapples have been used in many different recipes, and every day a new trend pops up like the pineapple on pizza is a hot topic nowadays. This benefits the growers economically. 

Conclusion 

Even though pineapples take a long time to grow, and one plant only yields one fruit, the income is always profitable and beneficial. Pineapples are used in juices, drinks, dishes, cakes, and many more food items, and their health benefits are extraordinary.  

As the world population increases, the demand for organic and nutritious fruits like pineapples is only expected to rise, and hence pineapple farmers would benefit a lot.

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