At last!!!!!

[Shas]

Well, the day has finally arrived!  Have got enough ground cleared to start planting.  Have ordered overwintering onions, shallots and garlic this morning, and will finally be able to grow something. Yippeeeeeeeeee!!

And one more thing..........
Anyone know anything about pineapples?  Little g'daughter has been after one since a friend of ours who lives in Grand Caymen sent piccys of the one in his garden.  Been given a pineapple top today, and have planted it in a pot on kitchen windowsill, which gets the sun till mid-afternoon.   Anything special we should do with it?  Should I put it in the greenhouse when it's assembled?

[Shas]

[mc55]

believe EJ is the guru regarding pineapples ... heard that she impressively got one to flower

[Shas]

Thanks mc, will wait with baited breath for her pearls of wisdom again.

[pete10]

 Good luck to you hope it goes well with the winter stuff.As for Pineapples the old way of growing them
was in hot beds remember seeing a programme about it ,I think it took them three years to get one fruit.

[Shas]

That should just about coincide with clearing the rest of the plot then, Pete!  I remember watching a programme ages ago about hotbeds.  Have got some old gardening books that were my dads, so I'll have a look and see how to do it.  Cheers.

[Crusher]

did a bit of surfing and found a couple of references...

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Pineapples were originally cultivated from the wild by the Central American peoples. They were brought back by Columbus in 1493. They were not seriously cultivated though until 1690 when they became popular for growing under glass on deep hotbeds. The Victorians brought the growing of Pineapples to a high level by using regulated steam to control the growing temperatures. Over the last hundred years the fascination in growing Pineapples has slowly declined.

Cultivation

In the UK they can only be grown in hot greenhouses. They can be grown as a pot plant for ornamental value but require lots of heat, light and care.

Soil conditions

They need high soil and air temperatures and a high humidity (except when ripening) as much light as possible and a very rich open soil.

Propagation

They are easily rooted from the crown of an existing fruit. Cut off the top leaving a thin shoulder of the fruit. Remove any dead or withered leaves and pot into a very loose gritty compost. Supply bottom heat and keep the foliage moist. Keep well ventilated to prevent the formation of moulds. ( Apply a fungicide at planting time if you are not organic).

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this link is very interesting..

http://www.unirom.co.uk/nhaggett/MyPineapples/mypineapples.html

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[Shas]

Brilliant info. Thanks a million.  Have had a look at the link, very informative.  Little g'daughter due home in about 2 mins, so will show her how her pineapple should turn out.  Will take it out of pot and pull off leaves as suggested.  Keep your fingers crossed.