Do Pineapples grow on trees? Each pineapple plant produces exactly one pineapple. The botanical name of pineapple is Ananas comosus, they are considered fruits (fruits usually grow on trees, unless they are berries), and pineapples are a kind of fruit that actually grow on plants that are close to the ground. Each pineapple plant cannot produce more than one pineapple.
We should ask, where does this fruit come from and do pineapples grow on trees? Continue reading as you discover all you need to know.
The History of the Pineapple
Hawaii is regarded by most people as where pineapples come from, but that’s not really the case. Pineapples belong to the bromeliad family and are native to North and South America (mainly South America), but are also found in Africa. Pineapples are very popular – they are known more than any other fruit in the Bromeliads family, the pineapple was first brought to Spain in 1493 by Christopher Columbus.
Pineapple has nothing to do with a pine tree or an apple and derives its name from the Spanish “pina” (so-called because it resembles a pine cone) and the English “apple” (so-called because it has a good taste like that of an apple)
Grown in greenhouses in Europe as early as the 17th century, the pineapple was a symbol of abundance and wealth and only decorated the banquet tables of the very wealthy. However, the situation has changed today, as we can all see this beautiful fruit everywhere.
One may ask, how did this transition take place? The tropical fruit pineapple symbolizes the exotic world and was often brought back to North America by sailors while sailing in South America. But even in the 19th century, pineapples were still a novelty to most Americans.
It wasn’t until the mid-18th century that Captain James Cook was able to bring pineapples to Hawaii. This introduction of pineapples to Hawaii birthed the canning of this beautiful tropical fruit in 1903 by James Drummond Dole. This made pineapples to become readily available to Americans.
Pineapple Appearance and Size
The pineapple plant is a unique kind of plant that appear bushy. When pineapples are planted after some time the tip starts growing and begins to form stocky stems with thick leaves that form rosettes.
From the time of planting, pineapples can mature from 12 to 15 months according to sources.
When it is time for pineapples to start producing their flowers, they can produce up to 200 flowers at a time, but only one fruit is produced from these many flowers.
It takes up to 3 years for the fruits to mature enough for harvest.
How Can I Grow Pineapples?
So how does a pineapple grow and does it grow on trees? It’s actually quite easy. The growth of pineapples starts and ends as one and the same product as one pineapple can not produce more than one pineapple fruit and you need a pineapple to grow a pineapple. Pineapples don’t actually have seeds available, so pineapple plants start from the pineapple itself, or we can particularly say that the tips of the leaves of the pineapple are where a new pineapple starts.
If you live in a place that has a tropical atmosphere you can plant your pineapple by putting its head directly into the soil. However, if you stay in a place that does not have that much of a tropical climate, you can grow your pineapples by putting them in pots at home.
Please be patient. Once rooted, pineapple heads take two to three years to bear fruit. It grows nearly 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide. As it grows to bear fruit a large flower grows from the centre of the plant, this is what you are going to use to plant another pineapple when you harvest the current one.
This process may be difficult for you. If you want it the easy way, you can opt to buy already-harvested pineapples. Make sure that when you get to the supermarket to buy one that you go for a good and healthy one.
Where does Pineapple Grow?
Pineapples are mainly grown in Latin America. If you are one of does that have been asking if pineapples grow on trees. The answer that they have short-looking steps with leave-looking swords around them. Also, from what we have discussed in the history of this fruit, we said they are tropical plants that require a lot of water, rich soil and sunlight.
It might interest you that Cost Arica is the world’s largest producer of pineapples. They produce as much as 84% of all the pineapples consumed in the world. This is a country where you will see large farms dedicated to the planting of pineapples –these farms are owned by individuals or big pineapple-producing companies
Stages of Growing Pineapples
Pineapples have stages of their growth, and it is important that you get to know the stages if you are thinking of growing or farming this fruit.
The process of growth of pineapples continues. When you harvest a mature pineapple, it continues to develop suckers that can grow to bear fruit also.
Crown Planting
You can cut offsets produced by a mature plant and plant. If you are following the crown planting method – it is done by planting the top of the pineapple and making sure that the crown of the pineapple is above the ground. The crown kept above the soil will grow into a sticky stem and produce sword-looking stems.
Foliage and Root Growth
This is an important stage in the growth process of pineapples. For the stems and leaves to start growing, the root must have developed enough to produce the nutrient need for the growth of other parts
Flowering and Fruiting
About 2 years after planting, pineapple plants mature and begin to flower. During this stage of growth about 100-200, flowers are produced. Tit id through these flowers that the single pineapple fruit is produced. If you want to know if your fruit is ready for harvest, you have to wait for the scales to turn yellow.
Suckers
When you harvest, the mature and about-to-decline plant will start to produce sucker by the side which can grow into other plants. You can transfer these suckers to where you want to grow them.