Mother Nature has blessed us with a delectable tropical fruit known as Pineapple, which is even more delightful than some high-calorie desserts. The pineapple is juicy and sweet and can be enjoyed in various forms like muffins, parfaits, pineapple upside-down cake, or simply as sliced rings. This fruit is quite popular during summer, but one can savor it all year round.
Back in the day, pineapples were only grown in South America and were really hard to come by for people living elsewhere. But now, thanks to modern technology and the establishment of tropical plantations in many countries, pineapples are a lot easier to find and enjoy all over the world. Even though the outside of a pineapple looks tough and spiky, you can actually make a delicious drink out of it!
So before you think about throwing away the peel or the crown of leaves, remember that it’s 100% edible and really good for you!
What to do with pineapple leaves
Before you toss away your pineapple crown, hang on for a moment! All you need to do is twist the leaves off gently. Then, peel off the bottom three or four leaves until you can see the middle of the crown. It’s easy, and you’ll be surprised at what you can do with the leftover crown!
Dry the leaves
Once you have removed the crown from the pineapple, let it dry for a couple of days. After it has dried, you can plant it in a pot with soil. To do this, gently twist the crown into the soil, making sure it’s buried up to the base of the leaves. That’s it!
For optimal growth of your new pineapple plant, water it from above every four to five days and place it in a bright, indirectly lit area.
Make sure not to overwater this plant. Its shallow roots make it vulnerable to root rot, so water it once a week and wait until the soil is no longer damp.
Growing your new pineapple
After two or three weeks, you will notice the leaves of the pineapple plant growing outwards. At a certain point, a stalk will start to grow out of the middle of the plant. The most exciting part is when a new pineapple starts to grow and you can see it forming.
Start small with a baby pineapple and watch it grow into an endless source of tropical fruit, perfect for home cultivation.
The first step to growing your own pineapple is to save the leafy top of the next pineapple you buy and plant it instead of throwing it away.
