What is a ratoon plant?
These ratoons are little plantlets that grow between the leaves of the mature pineapple plant. To remove the ratoon, just grasp it at the base and twist it gently from the mother plant. Plant it in a 4 gallon (15 L.) pot filled with moist, well-draining soil. If the suckers are left on the mother plant, the result is called a ratoon crop.
What is the origin of the word ratoon?
The word "ratoon" probably owes its origin either from the Latin words retonsus, meaning "to cut down" or retono, which means "to thunder back" or "resound". In Spanish, the close words retoño / retoñar mean "sprout"/"to sprout". Terminology of ratooned crops varies, based on how far the crop extends from the original planting.
What is the shape of a pineapple?
The pineapple is a herbaceous perennial with long sword-like leaves arranged in a spiral around a central stem and a terminal inflorescence. Leaves may or may not bear marginal spines depending upon variety and cultural practices.
What are the different types of pineapples?
There are also red pineapples, blue pineapples, pineapples with variegated leaves, miniature pineapples, all sorts of pretty and interesting varieties. Have fun trying them out. Just because they are so tasty doesn't mean you have to ignore their beauty! Next: Tips for growing pineapples in a permaculture garden.
Can a pineapple plant grow two pineapples?
Care & Removal of Slips & Suckers Allow the ratoon suckers to continue to develop and grow around the mother plant and they will generally produce additional pineapples in about a year.
When should I remove my pineapple puppies?
0:101:49HOW TO REMOVE A SLIP (pup) FROM YOUR PINEAPPLE - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI let them get eight plus inches in length. I just feel they have better root system the little bitMoreI let them get eight plus inches in length. I just feel they have better root system the little bit bigger you can give them.
What are the spikes on pineapples called?
After the first fruit is produced, side shoots (called 'suckers' by commercial growers) are produced in the leaf axils of the main stem. These suckers may be removed for propagation, or left to produce additional fruits on the original plant. Commercially, suckers that appear around the base are cultivated.
What are pineapple bracts?
The edible flesh is surrounded by green bracts that turn into orange when ripe, which form the skin of the fruit. The bracts are clustered in the upper part of the fruit forming a tuft of leaves. Pineapples have yellow or white pulp, fleshy, aromatic, juicy and sweet.
What do you do with pineapple pups?
3:356:40Replanting A Pineapple Pup || Growing Pineapple Tops - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHummus. Maybe give it a mix around. Maybe thinking it's gonna drain really good because the originalMoreHummus. Maybe give it a mix around. Maybe thinking it's gonna drain really good because the original soil. Does have some perlite in it and a little bit of vermiculite.
Will a pineapple plant produce every year?
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a perennial plant that flowers once and produces a single pineapple. So yes, the pineapple does die after fruiting, sort of. Pineapple plants do not fruit more than once– that is, the mother plant doesn't fruit again.
What is the green spiky & leafy top of pineapples called?
Common Name(s):Fruit crown is the top of the pineapple fruit. ... Suckers grow between the leaves of a mature pineapple plant. ... Slips are similar to suckers but they grow out and then curve upward from the fruit stalk at the base of the fruit. ... Hapas are straighter than slips at the base of the peduncle.
Is it OK to eat pineapple with spikes?
The skin of the pineapple plant is not considered poisonous, and while the entire fruit is considered non-toxic, the unripe flesh, thorns and leaves can have toxic effects. This is due to the enzyme bromelain, which is used as a meat tenderizer and is considered very low in toxicity.
Do pineapples eat you?
However, even without sentience, the pineapple can eat a little bit of you. Just as you digest food by breaking large molecules into smaller, easy-to-absorb molecules, pineapples can break down the molecules that make your cells and bodies.
What are the parts of a pineapple called?
The crown is the very top of the pineapple fruit. Slips are the leafy branches that are attached directly below the fruit. The suckers and shoots both originate from near the bottom of the stem.
What are the white things in pineapples?
Mold. If the pineapples begin to develop white spots or mold on the surface, they should be discarded. White patches on a cut or sliced Pineapple indicate the presence of fungi, and the fruit should be thrown right once.
How do you induce pineapple flowering?
When your plant is 18 to 24 inches tall, set an apple or a banana among the foliage. The fruit will give off ethylene gas, which triggers flowering. Cover the plant with clear plastic to hold in the gas. Protect the plant from direct sun during the treatment, and remove the cover in two to three days.
History
The earliest record for ratooning, in a crop plant, can be traced back to the Vedic period in India. The Atharvaveda mentions that farmers cultivating barley ( yava) used to cut barley plants many a time (20/125/2, Richa or Shloka No. 5755).
Etymology
The word "ratoon" probably owes its origin either from the Latin words retonsus, meaning "to cut down" or retono, which means "to thunder back" or "resound". In Spanish, the close words retoño / retoñar mean "sprout"/"to sprout".
In sugarcane
Ratooning is an ancient method of propagation in sugarcane in which subterranean buds on the stubble (the part of cane left underground after harvesting) give rise to a new crop stand, which is usually referred to as the 'ratoon' or the 'stubble crop' as opposed to 'plant crop', which is raised from seeds or seedlings.
Other crops
Besides sugarcane, ratooning is also practiced commercially in many other crops. Examples include banana, cotton, mint, pearl millet, pigeon peas, pineapple, ramie, rice, and sorghum. Ratooning is frequently used on plants that will be processed for essential oils, fiber, and medicines.
Characteristics
Pineapple, or piña ( Ananas comosus ), is a perennial, tropical plant. It is a member of the botanical family Bromeliaceae (bromeliads) and a relative of tillandsia and Spanish moss. Unlike most bromeliads, pineapples are terrestrial, meaning they prefer to grow in soil at ground level.
Planting and Care
You can start your own pineapple plant by saving the top section of a store-bought pineapple. This is called the crown of the pineapple. First, remove any excess fruit and remove a few of the lower leaves. This should expose the pre-formed roots. Plant the crown 3 to 4 inches deep in a well-drained container with good potting soil.
Waiting for Fruit
Gardeners looking for a lesson in patience will find one as they wait for a pineapple harvest. Plants take about 14 to 18 months to reach mature size. Times vary based on cultural practices and on whether you began with a crown, a sucker, or a slip.
Description
The pineapple is a herbaceous perennial with long sword-like leaves arranged in a spiral around a central stem and a terminal inflorescence. Leaves may or may not bear marginal spines depending upon variety and cultural practices. Adult plants may be 3 to 6 feet (0.9–1.8 m) high and wide.
Varieties
There are numerous pineapple varieties, however, the more common fresh fruit varieties sold in the US include 'Del Monte Gold'® (also called 'MD2') and 'Tropical Gold'® and similar clones. 'Smooth Cayenne' was one of the most common varieties grown and exported fresh to the US mainland but it is not common now.
Climate
Pineapple plants are best adapted to the warmest areas of Florida, along the southeast and southwest coasts. However, pineapple plants are grown in protected locations and landscapes throughout Florida. The time from planting to harvest depends upon the cultivar, cultural practices, and temperature; it ranges from 18 to 24 months.
Propagation
Pineapple are typically propagated from new vegetative growth from the original (mother) plant. There are four types of common planting material: the crown of the fruit; slips and hapas, which arise from the stalk below the fruit; suckers, which arise from the leaf axils of leaves; and ratoons, which arise from underground portions of the stem.
Production (Crop Yields)
Individual pineapple plants may produce up to two fruit (plant crop and ratoon crop). The ratoon (second) fruit is produced from a sucker that arises below the fruit and is allowed to grow. After harvesting the first fruit (primary or plant crop), remove all suckers and hapas but one. This will then develop into the ratoon crop.
Spacing and Pruning
Pineapple plants are an excellent choice for planting in home landscapes with little open space. In general, pineapple plants should be planted in full sun for best growth and fruit production. Select a part of the landscape at least 5 feet (1.5 m) away from other trees, buildings and structures where minimal shading occurs.
Soils
Pineapple plants grow best in moderately fertile, sandy loam soils of neutral to mildly acid pH. Plants will grow satisfactorily in sandy and calcareous soils with attention to watering and fertilizer. Pineapple should be grown in well-drained soils and areas of the landscape that do not flood.
Overview
Ratooning is the agricultural practice of harvesting a monocot crop by cutting most of the above-ground portion but leaving the roots and the growing shoot apices intact so as to allow the plants to recover and produce a fresh crop in the next season. This practice is widely used in the cultivation of crops such as rice, sugarcane, banana, and pineapple. Ratoon crops cannot be perennially renewed, and may be harvested only for a few seasons, as a decline in yield tends to …
History
The earliest record for ratooning, in a crop plant, can be traced back to the Vedic period in India. The Atharvaveda mentions that farmers cultivating barley (yava) used to cut barley plants many a time (20/125/2, Richa or Shloka No. 5755).
Chinese records of sugarcane ratooning exist from 1757, in Fujian Province.
Etymology
The word "ratoon" probably owes its origin either from the Latin words retonsus, meaning "to cut down" or retono, which means "to thunder back" or "resound". In Spanish, the close words retoño/retoñar mean "sprout"/"to sprout".
Terminology of ratooned crops varies, based on how far the crop extends from the original planting. The first harvest is called the "plant crop", "main crop" or "principal crop". Subsequent h…
In sugarcane
Ratooning is an ancient method of propagation in sugarcane in which subterranean buds on the stubble (the part of cane left underground after harvesting) give rise to a new crop stand, which is usually referred to as the 'ratoon' or the 'stubble crop' as opposed to 'plant crop', which is raised from seeds or seedlings. Ratooning reduces the cost of cultivation by dispensing with additional seed material and some cultural practices such as land preparation and preparatory irrigation (p…
Other crops
Besides sugarcane, ratooning is also practiced commercially in many other crops. Examples include banana, cotton, mint, pearl millet, pigeon peas, pineapple, ramie, rice, and sorghum. Ratooning is frequently used on plants that will be processed for essential oils, fiber, and medicines.
Ratooning is most often used with crops which are known to give a steady yield for three years under most conditions. For example, the woody desert shrub guayule, an alternative source of na…
Further reading
• Rai, R K; Shrivastava, A K; Ghosh, A K; Shukla, S P (1989). Indian Journal of Plant Physiology. 32 (4): 320–324. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
• Smith, Dudley (1978). Cane Sugar World. New York: Palmer Publications. ISBN 9780960206018.
• Winburne, J N (1962). A Dictionary of Agricultural and Allied Terminology. East Lansing, Michigan, USA: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 978-0870130670.