How to Grow Pineapple
Solanum lycopersicum 'Pineapple'
This unique tomato variety offers a sweet, tropical pineapple flavor that delights gardeners seeking novelty in their summer harvest. Its distinctive taste makes it a standout choice for those who want to add excitement to traditional salads or sauces without sacrificing the classic vine-ripened quality.
📷 Wikipedia: TomatoGrowing Guide
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8 to ensure optimal growth. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the soil is thoroughly warm before planting outdoors. Start seeds indoors several weeks early if your season is short, then sow them about 1/4 inch deep. Expect germination within 7 to 14 days once conditions are right. Space plants 36 to 48 inches apart to allow adequate airflow and sunlight. Stake or cage the vines early since they can reach up to 10 feet tall. Maintain consistent moisture, as dry spells cause cracking, and apply a thick layer of mulch to retain water. Feed regularly with balanced fertilizer during the fruiting stage to support heavy yields. Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, whiteflies, and stink bugs; use insecticidal soap or hand-pick pests. Prevent late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, and blossom end rot by rotating crops and watering at the base. Harvest 85 to 95 days after transplanting when fruits are fully colored and slightly soft.When to Plant Pineapple
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – May | October – August | |
| Zone 2 | April – May | October – September | |
| Zone 3 | April – April | September – October | |
| Zone 4 | March – April | September – October | |
| Zone 5 | March – March | August – October | |
| Zone 6 | March – March | August – October | |
| Zone 7 | February – March | August – October | |
| Zone 8 | February – February | July – September | |
| Zone 9 | January – January | June – August | |
| Zone 10 | January – January | June – August | |
| Zone 11 | January – January | May – July | |
| Zone 12 | January – January | May – July | |
| Zone 13 | January – January | May – July |
Companion Plants for Pineapple
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Help break up soil and don't compete for nutrients
Repel aphids and may improve tomato growth and flavor
Lettuce ↗Provides ground cover and utilizes space efficiently without competing
Repel nematodes, whiteflies, and other harmful insects
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Share similar growing requirements and pest management needs
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both attract corn earworm/tomato hornworm, increasing pest pressure
Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
