Two Cockatoos

A couple of years ago, as an experiment, we started saving the tops from bought pineapples and trying to see if they would grow. We place them in jars of water on the kitchen window sill, and it’s fun to watch them grow roots and leaves. Pictured on the right are the ones we’re currently “sprouting”.

Eventually we planted the pineapple tops, some in the ground and some in pots. When we were still allowed to use a hose (we’re now under water restrictions due to the drought) they would get some water, but other than that they’ve been neglected pretty thoroughly. The plants along the edge of the (also neglected) vegetable garden are still hanging in there but sunburnt, while the plants in the pots are closer to the house, so occasionally had some greywater from the kitchen thrown at them. However, they are also sunburnt, and one of the pots barely has any soil in it.

I’ve included a lot of photos here, but I know what page loading can be like, so I’ve resized them. You can click on the photos to see larger, clearer versions.

Discovery!

Way back in April we discovered that one of the potted pineapple plants was actually doing something… We missed the first part of the bloom, and when we realised, some of the pretty purple flowers were already open.

See, weeds really can be useful

Note that there are actually two pineapple plants in this cramped pot! And a weed - which, incidentally, came in handy as an umbrella for the plants in that pot…

…as you can see in this photo, taken six months later And to think we nearly pulled that one (weed) out!

Harvest!

OK, so this photo was posed, but it was still a pretty cool moment Yes, that’s the top of the pineapple on the barbecue in the background… Oh, and the pineapple weighed 714 grams (without top) and was totally yummy!

Our very first homegrown pineapple!