Adam grow a elephantine pineapple and sent me photo :
Looks like a blue ribbon winner to me . I asked him his method and he replied :
“ I started the top in a glass of water system until the roots grew , then I put it in a HUGE corporation ( 20/26gal ) with my own “ mel ’s mix ” + rock dust / louse castings . Then I watered it about twice a hebdomad . Then I hold back about 20 months . ”
Let ’s disclose down what Adam did to maturate this pineapple .
Propagating Pineapples
pineapple plant can be start out in water ; however , I find it wanton just to pop them in the ground wherever I desire them to start .
you may start up your own pineapple plant life from the top of any storage - purchase pineapple . Commercial growers bulge pineapples from slips , which are side - shoots from the main pineapple plant .
Like a lot of matter , you do n’t have to do it the “ right ” way to have success . No matter how you grow a pineapple , if it works , you did well .
We used to have piddling unity grow all over the lieu in North Florida .
Nothing like the beautiful one Adam grew , but we did n’t ferment at all for them . We just get tops in the ground and in pot .
Let ’s wait at how Adam got his to grow bigger .
Mel’s Mix
“ Mel ’s Mix , ” for those of you not familiar with the condition , is the mixture of “ perfect ” growing medium recommended by Mel Bartholomew in his always popular bookSquare Foot horticulture .
Mel ’s Mix is comprised of three things in adequate role :
1 . Vermiculite
2 . ruined compost
3 . Peat Moss
I ’ve made this mix before , long ago , when I built some square foot gardens for my wife . It ’s concentrated to get wet , but once you get it soaked , it holds body of water well and grows some nice veggie .
observe that Adam also used a bad pot . A big pot yield your works plenty of way to sink its roots deep and get what it needs .
Rock Dust/Worm Castings
John Rock junk is an excellent origin of a broad range of trace mineral . Though the big three macronutrients plant need are Nitrogen , Phosphorus and Potassium , when they have abundant hint ingredient they do better . Your growth is limited by the thing you ’re omit .
By adding careen dust , you handle your base . I use lots of seaweed for the same reason – I need those micronutrients !
As for the second ingredient – insect castings . They ’re like “ Ever So Much More So ” fromHomer Price . Even a scattering go a long way .
Worm cast are like magic . They ’re charge with good microbiology as well as micronutrients . Worm castings and “ dirt ball tea ” are just about the best thing you may lend to your garden . They ’re expensive , but they work miracles .
Eventually , I would love to set up a insect bin like this one :
I was never very good about harvesting the casting , but the tea is good stuff and take zero work .
I ’m not surprised that Adam grew this big Ananas comosus considering what he added to the soil .
Water and Wait
Pineapples are not needy plant . They ’re well-chosen with small water and petty upkeep , but when you water them on a regular basis and flow them on effective material , they reward you with faster growth and bigger yield .
I ’ve had masses secern me “ I do n’t want to bother with pineapple – they take too long ! Is n’t it gon na be like , three years before I get a yield ? ”
It does n’t have to take that long , as Adam ’s 20 - calendar month pineapple plant demonstrates , but even if it did take three year , so what ? Are you go to be dead by then ? cleave pineapple plant tops in the ground and waiting is n’t a cock-a-hoop deal . I ’ve mob upside in the priming coat all over the place . finally , you get pineapples all the time .
My previous landlord did that and we ended up with piles of them from plants we did nothing to keep .
Just think ahead a lilliputian act and you ’ll be rewarded . Adam ’s daughter was certainly happy her dad had some forbearance :
That pineapple is almost as big as she is !
Plant a Ananas comosus top , feed it and water it , then enjoy fresh pineapple plant . They taste amazing right from the garden and are one of the easiest plants you could spring up . Even up north , pineapples will uprise in pots and produce . Start save those tops , kids .
