Would you believe it, this happening in a humble greenhouse in Essex at the onset of Autumn? ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) I have grown this pineapple just from the cut top of a shop brought fruit, rooted a couple of years ago and planted in my cactus bed in the conservatory. It hasn't received any special treatment, nor gallons of water, but as the day length has shortened, it has decided to fruit for me. This is the second time I have successfully had fruit from a home grown pineapple - the first one we picked at Christmas time and it was devine! Hopefully this one will perform the same and we can enjoy it with mum over Christmas. Aren't the young fruits just beautiful, and the purple flowers, so delicate. I will add more pics as the fruit develops. I also wanted to show you James' cactus that hit the ceiling at the start of the year. As you can see, it is corkscrewing now and there is a small break in it. I think eventually we will cut the top off and see what happens. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) Lastly, this is my Bird of Paradise plantation. I have 3 different types in there, the standard orange, the yellow and the black. So far, 2 flower buds showing. Again, these seem to bud up as day length shortens and flower for the Christmas holidays. I should have taken a pic of my Christmas cactus as it is smothered in flower buds also. My conservatory really seems to come alive during the autumn and winter. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden )
Very exciting post, EJ. I'd love to see your conservatory; it sounds like a lot of neat stuff is going on inside there. The little pineapple is beautiful indeed. Bet it will be deee-lish.
Can I come live in your conservatory?!! You know I never knew that pineapple plant flowers were purple - what a treat. Next time I buy a pineapple I'm going to try growing it after seeing your lovely specimen. I'm looking forward to the next set of piccies from you.
Very exciting seeing your pineapple plant. I have 1 I started about a year ago and one I just started about 3 weeks ago. I know it'll be a while before I'll receive fruit from them. It'll be exciting to see fruit come as I didn't know they get purple flowers. Thanks for sharing yours.
I have to call it "exciting" too....I don't know any other word for it. Your accomplishments are remarkable. I have so enjoyed seeing these pics, EJ....Hats off to you!
You're right, it is a lovely looking little fruit, so decorative. I'm awestruck by James's cactus, how tall is that thing? And your birds of paradise look very lush. I'm waiting for the blooms.
Thanks for the lovely comments folks. Netty, they seem to take about 3 years from rooting and growing to fruiting. I am sure in warmer climes, they fruit sooner. Droppy, James' cactus hits the ceiling at 6 foot tall, and now it has a good...I dunno...8 or 10 inches of corkscrew. Goodness knows what we will do. Mark says cut the top off and see what happens, James says cut a hole in the celing and let it grow up, up and away, I say leave it alone and see what it does next.
The young fruit is gorgeous. I have never seen one at that stage before. No wonder I love pineapples so much, with the purple on it!!
Marvelous pineapple EJ.That cacti is something else.I have never seen a pineapple bloom.Great posting EJ.
I successfully had a pineapple bear fruit for me a few years ago. It only took a year. The one I have now hasn't produced anything in over 2 years. I was wondering, do they need any special care/food/supplements? Seems I remember someone saying they needed lots of iron.
EJ, you do have a fantastically green thumb to be so successful at growing plants so out of their natural habitat. When I lived in south Florida, a friend of mine had a garden bed specifically for growing pineapple tops. She and her husband loved pineapple and best I can remember they had 20+ tops out there in different stages of growth over the years.
I bought a pineapple at the grocery yesterday so I can plant the top after I eat it. Perhaps not the best time of year to do this, but we'll see. I'm guessing I should root it in water first, right?
When I started mine, I just cut off the top and put it directly into soil. Now... you all are just making me hungry for pineapple!
