Pineapples Plant Information and Soil Requirements

The Pineapple plant is a perennial species that is the most prominent edible member of the Bromeliaceae family.

Therefore,  This tropical plant has several key morphological structures, including the stem, leaves, peduncle, crown, shoots, and adventitious roots. At the top of the plant is the apical meristem, which is responsible for producing the peduncle and inflorescence, marking the early stages of flowering.

Pineapples exhibit adventitious roots, with their root systems typically extending laterally up to 1-2 meters (3.3-6.5 feet) and reaching depths of up to 0.85 meters (2.8 feet).  Root development begins soon after planting and continues throughout the plant’s lifecycle, slowing during the colder months but not stopping entirely.  This continued root growth supports the plant’s overall development and vitality.

 

Soil Requirements of Pineapples

Firstly,  The best soils for growing Pineapples are sandy loams, clay loams, and loams with good drainage and without heavy clay or rocks in the upper 1 meter of the surface.

Secondly, The pH of the soil should be between 4.5 and 5.6 for pineapples to thrive.   On the contrary, the plants do poorly in soils with a pH of more than 7.0.

What’s more, Slopes of 2–6% are ideal for pineapple cultivation when the soil is at least 45–60 cm (18-24 inches) deep.

Lastly, Below this range, adequate drainage may be challenging to achieve.  Pineapple growing requires acidic soil rich in organic matter and potassium. Fruit grown on light soil tastes and looks much better. The plant is very susceptible to moist-saturated soils.

 

How to get Pineapple Seedling 

Pineapples are propagated asexually, and their propagation materials can come from various parts of the plant. The most common parts that are used for propagation are slips, hapas, crowns, and suckers, which are obtained from a mother pineapple plant . The number of slips, hapas, and suckers a plant can give depends on its clone and the climate of the production area. The following are their distinguishing characteristics.

1. Crowns: Are obtained from the top of the fruit. The disadvantage of crowns is that they usually have low fresh weight compared to slips and suckers
2. Slips: Are obtained from the peduncle immediately beneath the fruit. These pieces usually have a rudimentary (vestigial) fruit or knob at their base.
3. Hapas: Develop within the growth zone between the stem and the peduncle.
4. Suckers: Emerge within some centimeters below the surface of the stem-peduncle growth zone.

How to Transplant Pineapple Seedling

The Pineapple Seedlings are better to be planted with 45cm Row spacing and 40cm Plant Spacing in one row.

The HYZP-2 Pineapple Seedling Transplanter can do Two -row planting each trip. It can ensure each Pineapple Seedling is planted at the correct depth, which is crucial for strong root development and optimal growth. Besides, it can improve soil preparation as it works, creating a suitable environment for pineapple seedlings to thrive.