Did you know you can grow your very own pineapple at home? If you didn’t know that, you’re in great company—very few people do know! But it’s easy and fun to do. And you can grow a pineapple from the very same Maui Gold pineapple you buy in your grocery store. Imagine that.

We congratulate people like Michael Krakovskiy of DeadProgrammer.com (see photo) for growing and keeping real pineapple plants in their homes. As explained on the Maui Pineapple web page on growing a pineapple, here’s how to grow a pineapple at home:

First You’ll Need:

• The crown (top) of the pineapple
• A pint canning jar or other glass container
• A 12-inch diameter pot
• Potting soil that drains well 

Then, the Planting Directions:

• Cut the crown from the pineapple just above where the stem comes out of the top of the body
• Remove any of the fruity part of the pineapple from the crown
• Pull off the outer leaves of the crown, leaving 6 to 8 big leaves near the center
• Set this shoot aside for 2-3 days to dry out
• Put the shoot in water (about 1/2-inch deep; water shouldn’t touch the leaves)
• Place it in a bright spot out of direct sunlight for a few weeks to encourage roots to develop
• After you see the roots beginning to grow, transplant the crown to a medium-size pot containing soil that drains well
• Place the pot in a bright location and water your plant daily
• Once the young plant is established, pour a cupful of well-balanced, diluted, water-soluble liquid fertilizer into the top of the plant once a month.

Your plant should develop a red bud after about 12 months. From this stage, the pineapple fruit will begin to develop and in another 3-6 months, it should be ready to harvest and enjoy.

Another great resource describing how to grow pineapples in your home is also found on this page at Hawaii.edu. So, if you’ve got the time and the slightest bit of desire, try growing the delicious and nutritious pineapple fruit in your own home. It’s easy!

Pineapple photo courtesy of Michael Krakovskiy / DeadProgrammer.com