Maturity Period and Harvesting of Pineapple Fruits

It takes pineapple (Ananas comosus) fruits about 10-12months to be of sufficient mass (dark green in color) to produce a good sized fruit. At this point it is set for artificial inducement.

NOTE:
This period of time for maturity is particular by pineapples propagated by suckers only.
▶Note; it is not advisable to plant pineapple on a lease or rented land because pineapples produce all year round.Plant it on your own land.
▶ Cost Analysis on one acre of Pineapple Farm

Purchase of pineapple suckers of 25,000 pieces is needed for one acre of land under standard planting method at the rate of #30 per each suckers….

Cost Analysis for pineapple farming / a pineapple farm (Ananas comosus)

Purchase of suckers=25,000suckers×#30 (as at the time of the post using Nigeria as a case study) = #750,000.

Cost of planting per suckers #3×25,000suckers = #75,000.

2 bags of fertilizer is needed = #20,000.

Labor for the fertilizer application = #8,000.

Cost of induction chemical = #60,000.

Cost of Herbicide = #30,000.

Cost of labor that will apply the herbicide = #10,000.

Cost of Transportation = 50,000.

Cost Analysis Totaling the sum of = #753,000.

Future Expectation on one acre of pineapple farm

Minimum price per fruit at local market sold at the rate of #150 per fruit.

Hence: Let’s assumed that 20,000 suckers was successfully germinated and due for harvesting where as 5,000 suckers is still under harvesting due to slow germination or died suckers. So 20,000 suckers × #150= #3,000,000 and this is just for the first production of the fruit.

NOTE: (I) Pineapple repeat Production i.e. once you plant the suckers it will last for good 12 years under good management.

(ii) You will have opportunity to Generate suckers from the farm after second production of the produce.

(iii) Induction must be done at appropriate time.

Read Also: Methods of Weed Control in a Pineapple Farm

Harvesting

Under natural condition, that is an un-induced pineapple farm, pineapples is harvested between late April to August. This can be observed around us now. The fruit usually ripens about 5 months after flowering.

With irregular flowering, harvesting is spread over a long period of time,thereby bringing pineapple production from planting to harvesting between 19-20 months.

How Many Times Does a Pineapple Plant Fruit?

Fruit Per Plant

Pineapple plants can fruit a total of three times during their lifetime before you must replace the plant, although not all plants are capable of producing multiple fruit and some plants may fruit more.

Indoor potted plants are more likely to produce only one or two fruits in their lifetime because they do not always receive the optimum conditions necessary for thorough fruiting.

Each flower stalk produced by a plant has the capability of setting fruit. The first fruit typically grows largest, with subsequent smaller fruits produced later.

Mother Plant

The mother plant, or the first plant grown, produces a single fruit from the center of the crown. Pineapple plants can be grown from crowns, although you can also grow pineapples from slips and suckers.

The crown flowers for about two weeks before the fruit begins to form. If a mother plant isn’t setting fruit, you can force flowering on a plant that hasn’t yet sent up a stalk.

Dissolve 3 calcium carbide pellets in a cup of ice water and pour it over the crown. Alternatively, set pieces of an apple around the center of the pineapple. Ethylene gas, produced by both calcium carbide and apples, forces flowering.

Ratoon Plants

The second and third fruits grow from side shoots off the mother plant, called ratoons. In large containers you can leave these shoots, or suckers, on the mother to continue growing.

The suckers are usually removed in smaller pots and transplanted to their own container, where they become a new mother plant. Each ratoon can only flower once, and it isn’t likely to send out its own suckers if left on the mother plant.

Although each mother can produce multiple suckers, it’s best to remove all but the two strongest. Too many suckers on one plant weakens it and minimizes the chance of fruiting.

Read Also: How and When to Fertilize a Pineapple Farm

When to Pick a Pineapple

Pineapple is a most amazing, seedless fruit called a syncarp. This basically means that the fruit is produced from the fusion of several flowers into one large fruit.

These herbaceous perennials are easy to grow and only get to between 2 ½ and 5 feet (76 cm.-1-1/2 m.) tall, making them a perfect size for most gardens or as a potted plant. When the plant produces flowers, it is considered to be mature and you can expect (barring unseen complications) fruit in about six months.

Although they are simple enough to grow, figuring out peak pineapple harvest time can be a challenge. Basically, when the pineapple is mature, the individual fruitlets flatten and the peel begins to change color from green to yellow, starting at the bottom and moving to the top of the fruit.

Color is not the only indicator for picking pineapple fruits. Imminent pineapple harvesting is heralded by this change in color, and also in size. Mature pineapples weigh between 5-10 pounds (2-4-1/2 k.). There are two other things to consider before harvesting pineapple.

Smell is a good indicator of ripeness. It should emit a distinct sweet and tangy aroma. Also, tap the fruit. If it sounds hollow, allow the fruit to remain on the plant to ripen further. If it sounds solid, it’s likely pineapple harvest time.

Read Also: Anatomy of Fishes: Female Fish and their Reproductive Strategies