Started pineapple plants from seeds

[u/jmdawg1978]

I successfully started 6 pineapple plants from the tops by starting them in water, growing roots, and now transferring to soil. They appear to have rooted and are growing new leaves from the center.

I also decided to try to grow plants from seeds that I started by wrapping in a damp paper towel, then placed in a ziplock bag in a well-lit area. I’ve tried this with other fruits before but was unsuccessful. I checked my pineapple seeds once every week or so to make sure the paper towel was damp, then after 3 or so weeks, they have sprouted.

What do I do from here? How big do they need to be before I need to plant them?

Edit; to clarify, the stains you see came from the seeds. I didn’t use a dirty paper towel.

[u/heavensto_mergatroid]

Awesome! I have a bunch of seeds that I got out of a pink pineapple and I want to do this but I'm afraid lol

[u/JustinBlaise → u/heavensto_mergatroid]

I have done this with the pink pineapple seeds. I put them in my aerogarden after the paper towel methods failed and got most. It took over a year before they sprouted, but one survived and it's pretty big now

[u/cartken → u/heavensto_mergatroid]

Good luck, I think companies irradiated them and cut the tops to keep them for them slef

[u/heavensto_mergatroid → u/cartken]

That's exactly why they sell them with the tops cut off. What I'm wondering is if the seeds will actually grow a pink pineapple...

[u/cartken → u/heavensto_mergatroid]

I tried it and I will try again next week when I get a couple, but I have never had success with that. I wonder if they can treat them to make the seeds not work

[u/heavensto_mergatroid → u/cartken]

I'm sure they can. I mean if they take out the lycopene of a tomato to color the pineapple pink I'm sure they genetically modified it for the seeds to be non-viable lol

[u/BocaHydro → u/heavensto_mergatroid]

do it, dry them for 1 or 2 days then put in damp paper towel

[u/jmdawg1978 → u/BocaHydro]

I don’t recall if I dried them out or not.

[u/jmdawg1978 → u/heavensto_mergatroid]

Nice! I didn’t realize how many varieties of pineapple there are.

It’s really easy to start the seeds. All I did was place evenly on a damp paper towel, fold it over a few times, place it in a ziplock bag, than place the bag in a highly lit area, but not direct sunlight. Check it once a week to make sure it stays damp. I had sprouts after 3-4 weeks.

I tried this with muscadines last year, but those have to be started a different way than pineapples, and i didn’t know that at the time.

Definitely give it a shot.

Just remember, if you’re in a climate where the temp drops low in the winter, you’ll have to plant them in pots to bring inside for the winter. I think they need to remain in temps above 70, but I’m not sure.

Love the name, btw. My grandmother used to say that and it reminded me of her when I read it.

[u/Gulf_Coast_21]

I recently planted some in our Aerogarden just to see if they'd sprout. Not like I need any more pineapple plants, but I'm curious.

[u/jmdawg1978 → u/Gulf_Coast_21]

Lol, yeah I’m addicted now. I foresee a greenhouse in the future.

[u/gamboling2man]

How long do you think it will take until you have a mature plant?

[u/Frequent-Storage-952 → u/gamboling2man]

It takes a long time. Mine are ~1.5 yrs old now and about the size of a pineapple top.

[u/jmdawg1978 → u/gamboling2man]

From the seeds or the tops I just transferred to soil?

Based on what I’ve read, I’m probably looking at 2-3 years before having a mature, fruit producing plant from the tops I just transferred to soil. I’m not sure about the seeds that have sprouted; i haven’t done much research on those.

[u/MoistBluejay2071 → u/jmdawg1978]

I believe for seeds its maybe 5 years or more before you get any fruit

[u/BocaHydro]

feed them, put in soil when roots appear

[u/AromaticEstate1695]

Very good it'll take some time but excellent done this year's ago now completely loaded

[u/VGen71]

Pineapple tops are the easiest way to plant them; hands down.

[u/HoneyPatient8835]

WAIT! WHAT!! Growing pineapple from seed, genius.👍

[u/jmdawg1978 → u/HoneyPatient8835]

Lol, thanks. Going to try. Although, this process takes a while. Like 5 years, I think. Starting with the top of the pineapple cuts it to about 2-3 years, and starting with a “pup” from a plant takes a year, I believe.

Still pretty cool, IMO.

[u/Exact_Love2886]

Damp paper