Growing Pineapples at Home

To grow your own pineapple plant, find a fresh, ripe pineapple and twist off the crown. Set the crown aside for two or three days at room temperature. Then, plant it in a loose, fast-draining potting soil mix.

Several sites provide detailed instructions on home pineapple cultivation. (There's a little more to it than what's set out above.) --

• indoorpineapplegrowers.org (an invaluable resource for home pineapple growers -- Al Nesbit, Jr. is my hero)
• Surrey Pineapples (a meticulously documented account of a home pineapple growing project, many great photos)
• Central Coast NSW Bromeliad Society (short and sweet growing instructions)

Main tip: To avoid root rot, be sure to set the crown aside for several days before planting.