OK Dale, you asked for this story...I am not really proficient in story writing but here is my experience with Pineapple!

After Katrina we were in a 1 room place for 5 months. Everything was dead around us and I had lost all of my plants. Well after a couple of months I really wanted to grow something!!!  We did not even know where we were going to live but I knew I wanted to grow something!

And there it was over on the cabinet....a PINEAPPLE!!! The temptation I could not take....so I chopped off the top and it all began....

After cutting the top of I rinsed it off and cleaned off the soft fruit. Then I let it dry for 24 hours. The next day I dipped it in rooting hormone and placed it in potting soil. Just barely covering the area where the fruit was, and up to the leaves then lightly pressing in. I put it in a warm sunny window and I waited.....and waited.

At first I did not think my pineapple would make it.  As the leaves turned brown I just cut them back and I waited and waited! When we moved into our new place I set it outside and I watered it when it got dry. It started growing and growing....yes it was happy!

 Pineapple 07': This is my Pineapple grown from a top,started in the spring of 2006. This is 1 year later in the spring of 2007.

And though I waited and waited for a bloom, the plant was still very pretty and added such a tropical feel to my place. I decided that if it never bloomed I still Loved It!

 It was Green... Tropical.... and full of life!

Well after 1 more year.....She not only had life... but another started!!!

So this is how I grew a pineapple from a top.

1. Cut off top, rinse and clean off excess fruit.

2. Set aside to dry for 24 hours.

3. Eat Pineapple!!! Yummy!!!

4. Dip in rooting hormone.

5. Place in good soil just to bottom leaves.

6. Place in sunny warm location.

7. Wait....

8. Wait....

9. and Wait :-)

10. You will have a Pineapple!

I am sure there are many other ways to start a pineapple...but this is my story.

 God Bless You All

Treva