View Full Version : TC pineapples- How Hardy?
Nicolas Naranja
02-19-2011, 11:33 AM
OK, I just bought 288 tissue culture pineapples to plant in the ground outside. How sensitive will they be to light and wind. Perhaps the better question is how long before they can go outside. My tissue culture bananas were an very sensitive and in a single mistake I could lose dozens of plants because I tried to put them in direct sun too early.
varig8
02-19-2011, 05:29 PM
You dont mention what size they currently are? If they are very small I would grow them on as they are until they will not grow much more in the cells they are currently in. During this time place them outside with direct morning sun and shade in the afternoon. As they harden up while growing, move them into more and more sun until they are growing nicely in full sun. Pineapples are just another bromeliad and a very sturdy one at that. I seriously doubt that you would get any damage from wind, unless it is caused by hurricane force gales>>the leaves are thick and very sturdy. They will tolerate a lot of abuse, although they do not like to be over watered and grown in moist damp shade. Most edible varieties that are grown commercially take about 2 years before they produce fruit. Where you are I think we are pretty safe now as far as cold temps and frost go for this season.
Nicolas Naranja
02-19-2011, 05:48 PM
They are about 2-3" and they haven't totally filled out their cells. I've cleared out a patch of land in between some fully grown cabbage palms and figure I'll be ale to do about 4 55' rows
Richard
02-20-2011, 12:01 AM
Varig8, that's excellent advice. It matches my experiences.
Nicolas Naranja
02-20-2011, 10:34 AM
Here's what they look like
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40378&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40378&ppuser=4368)
varig8
02-20-2011, 01:33 PM
I would let them grow out for another month, placing them outside in am full sun, and then moving them every few days into more and more sun. The TC labs grow these out in shade houses which provide about 65% sunlight, so you are off to a good start already.
NANAMAN
02-20-2011, 11:38 PM
I would pop a couple out of those cells and see how root bound they are. If so plant sooner than later. I have started TCs that size directly in the ground, without any problems. I've also acclimated them to full sun in about a week without any scald or burn. Just give them half a days sun for a week, and they are good to go. As Varig8 said, they are plenty tough! Good soil prep with balanced minerals before planting will pay dividends at harvest time!
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.