Aug 8, 2007

The Pineapple is Ripe!

The pineapple plant has been sitting outside since late March. It has grown into a full-sized, beautiful fruit! It is perfectly ripe, so we cut it last night. Six months from the first little bud to fully ripe fruit! AND... the plant has put on more stalks, so we are anxious to see if it will fruit again!

3-13-2007 - As you can see in picture 3, below, the pineapple bloom is taking on a distinct pineapple shape. It's quite a bit larger now... about 5 inches tall and a little over 3 inches wide. It went through a brief stage where it had blue tips on the end of each petal. The petals have taken on a more bulbous form and a leafy top has sprouted. One can see the petal rows becoming the ridges that make a pineapple so instantly recognizable. The leaves guarding the infant fruit have changed as well, with razor sharp edges from tip to terminus.

Spring is here and the plant will be moved outside once we are safely past the last freeze date, around March 21st. More pictures when we have more progress!

2-10-2007 - Three years ago Airey planted a discarded pineapple top in an empty pot of soil. It has grown into a large plant - almost three feet tall and five feet wide - and we've brought it indoors for the winter. While watering it last weekend, I found a flower in the center! Currently the bloom is small, about 2 inches wide, and almost hidden in the leaves of the plant (pictures 1 and 2).

Stay tuned for updates!