Pineapple

Welcome to my Florida backyard.I'd like to write today about one of my favorite fruits, and probably yours, the pineapple. We live in Florida, which NOAA rates as a hot/humid climate zone. Although the pineapple is originally from uraguy/brazil, two thousand miles to the south of here, modern variants of the plants will grow well wherever an adequate amount of sun is available. Temperature should stay above freezing for this plant, so it must be brought inside if frost is predicted. So you can easily grow it in Turkey : ) Just start by buying a pineapple ! Here's how:Growing a pineapple is simple, but patience is required as the plant takes from 26 to 30 months to produce a fruit.  Any store bought pineapple will work.  Cut off the top leaving about one centimeter thickness of fruit with a 4cm diameter.  Place this in a wineglass with the leaves above the water line.  Wait about a month, and you will see tiny white and yellow roots begin to grow from the base that is below the water.  When this happens, place the stem upright in loose potting soil in a pot that you will be able to move easily.  Keep the soil moist, but not wet.  Put the plant in the sunniest part of your house, and outdoors when the temperature permits.Now wait.  And keep waiting.  When you look at the plant from above, you will notice new leaves sprouting from the center.  They begin as 2 opposite eachother, then 2 at 90 degrees from these.  These 4 will sprout out, and 4 more will begin.  You're on your way.  And now wait 2 more years, and you will eventually see a spiky flower poke out from the center of the plant. This is the flower, and will turn into a fruit in about 4 months.  Now cut it on its stalk on the underside, peel it, and enjoy.  Keep growing the original plant, leaving the central stem in place.

PS: For more photos: http://www.peyzajadresim.com/items/ananas-comosus-ananas-pineapple/

Farmer...