How do pineapples grow?

The pineapple plant is planted very carefully in well prepared soil. It grows best in a tropical climate where the nights are mild and the days are hot and sunny. The many tiny flowers turn into small berries which join together to make a pineapple fruit. It takes from 14 to 18 months before the first ripe and juicy pineapples can be harvested, and another 13 months for the second harvest.

The growth cycle of a pineapple.
42 weeks after seeding: The pineapple plant is carefully planted in the ground by hand.
43rd week: The plant starts to grow.
44th week: Purple flowers appear - about 6 petals grow every day.
46th week: The flowers turn into tiny fruit which join together to make a single pineapple.
48th week: Once the crown starts to appear, the flowers dry out and the pineapple begins to grow.
51st week: The full-grown pineapple now ripens on the plant until it acquires its full sweetness.
58th week: The pineapple is ripe and ready for harvesting. The external colour of the fruit does not necessarily reflect the internal condition of the fruit. The fruit is always harvested at exactly the right point of ripeness because pineapples do not continue to ripen after harvest.

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