How to Grow Pineapples in Florida: Beginners and Experts

Florida is a beautiful state where many plants and flowers grow. However, how do you grow pineapples in Florida?

To grow pineapples in Florida, find an area that has full sun for most of the day and has well-draining soil. Plant the pineapples in the early fall or late winter. Water when the soil is dry or the leaves are turning yellow or brown. Avoid planting pineapples in areas that flood periodically.

To learn more about how to grow pineapples in Florida, keep reading.

Do Pineapples Grow Well in Florida?

Pineapples grow relatively well in Florida because of the consistently warm weather and climate. However, pineapples sometimes struggle to grow during the rainy season, which typically lasts from May to October^[1], as they can develop root rot.

Pineapples also grow well in Florida because temperatures rarely drop below freezing. However, if you live in the Northern Panhandle of Florida, your pineapples might not thrive because of how low temperatures can get. If it starts snowing, your pineapples will likely die.^[2]

In Florida, pineapples grow the best when planted along the coast.^[3] It takes about 18 to 24 months for pineapples to grow large enough to be harvested. However, most pineapples don’t bear fruit until 1 to 2 years after they are planted.

If you are wondering why you should grow pineapples then check out this article: Pineapple vs Apple

When Should Pineapples Be Planted in Florida?

When planted in Florida, pineapples should be planted during the early fall season. However, some people plant pineapples in December or January.^[4]

This might seem like a bad idea because of how cold it can get in many states during the winter, but when I visited Florida in January, it was about 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

If you plant pineapples in early fall or late winter, the plant will have time to spread and strengthen its roots before the rainy season begins and temperatures drop.

If you are wondering why you should grow your own pineapples anyway, check out this article: Exploring The Differences Between Canned Pineapple and Fresh Pineapple

Ideal Growing Conditions for Pineapples in Florida

Soil

Pineapples grow well when planted in well-draining soil like sandy loam soil. They also grow well in sandy or calcareous soil.^[5] Make sure the soil is moderately fertile or mix fertilizer into the soil before planting pineapples.

Light

Pineapples grow best when exposed to full sunlight for at least 6 hours every day.

Water

Water pineapples about once per week or when the soil is dry. Pineapples are drought-resistant plants that don’t do well when exposed to a lot of water. If you overwater pineapples, they will die. If the leaves of your pineapple plant are wilting, yellow, or brown, the plant needs to be watered.

Spacing

Plant each pineapple plant 1 to 3 feet away from other plants, including other pineapple plants, trees, bushes, and flowers. Doing so will give the pineapple plant plenty of room to grow without the roots interfering with another plant’s roots.

Temperature

Pineapples grow best when the temperature is between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. They freeze and die when temperatures drop below 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Grow Pineapples in Florida

To grow pineapples in Florida, do the following.

1. In the fall or winter, allow the crown, pup, ratoon^[6], or slip of a pineapple to dry for 1 to 2 days.^[7] If needed, let the components dry for up to 1 week.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Plant the component in well-draining soil according to the conditions mentioned above. Make sure the pineapple component is planted at least 3 to 4 inches deep and the upper leaves are exposed to the sun.
4. Water the plants periodically. During the rainy season, check on the pineapple plants periodically to make sure they aren’t being overwatered, as overwatering can lead to root rot.
5. Periodically add fertilizer or mulch to the area around your pineapple plants to help them thrive.
6. When the pineapples are large enough to be harvested, carefully harvest the fruit and allow the plants to continue growing.

Now that you have planted and grown your very own pineapple, you might want to freeze some to enjoy all year round. Please check out our article to see how to do it: Can You Freeze Pineapple

Do Pineapples Grow Back Every Year?

Most pineapple plants grow fruit every year^[8], but some only grow fruit every 1 to 2 years. If you take care of your pineapple plants properly, they will likely produce fruit every year.

However, keep in mind that most pineapple plants don’t produce fruit the first year they are planted.

If your pineapple plant isn’t growing fruit even though you are taking care of it properly and the soil is fertile, don’t worry.

You aren’t doing anything wrong, your pineapple plant just needs some time to adjust to its environment and establish strong roots so it can support the growth of fruit during the next growing season.

Please check out our article: How To Ripen A Pineapple to see how you can ripen any pineapple fast and easily with a step-by-step guide, videos, and pictures to help you along the way.

Common Pineapple Pests

Here are some common pests that can negatively affect^[9] the growth of pineapple plants.

• Mealy Bugs
• Termites
• Mites
• Scale Insects
• Fruit Borers
• Bud Moths
• Midgets
• Fruit Flies
• White Grubs
• Beetles
• Weevils
• Squirrels

How to Keep Pests Away from Your Pineapple Plants

Spray gentle insecticide on and around the plant periodically if you notice that pests are starting to negatively affect your pineapple plants.

If larger pests like squirrels are threatening your pineapple plants, surround the plants with netting that looks similar to chicken wire.

You can also surround your plants with chicken wire if you already have it on hand or it is the most readily available material for you. Just make sure you can easily move the netting so you can harvest the pineapples periodically.

The netting should also allow your pineapple plants to get plenty of sunlight every day. Use wooden or metal sticks to secure the netting around your pineapple plants.

If your pineapple plants are bearing fruit, cut holes in the top and bottom of a gallon-sized milk jug or plastic container^[10] of a similar size.

The container needs to be big enough to allow the pineapple to grow. Once you cut holes in the container, put it on a pineapple.

Make sure the fronds stick out of the top of the container If necessary, secure the plastic container to the pineapple with a rubber band or string. Then take care of your pineapple plant as normal.

Overall, as long as the soil is fertile and well-draining, it is relatively easy to grow pineapples in Florida.

To find out the differences between Pineapple Juice and Pineapple Water please check out this article: Pineapple Juice vs Pineapple Water We also show you how to make each and the health benefits.

Now that you have grown a fresh pineapple you might like to know how to remove the skin and dice it up. Check out our article: How To Cut a Pineapple to find the best ways to open and present your pineapple.