The Gardening Nana: Pups and Pineapples

“Pups & Pineapples”

by Nancy Craig

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When I told my great nephews, Max and Eli, that I was watching my friend’s pup for a few months, they got all excited thinking it was a puppy. The “pup” is actually the start of a bromeliad plant from my friend’s yard in Florida. In Indiana, bromeliads make beautiful, exotic houseplants. My nephews and I are going to get our bromeliad from the grocery store; we are going to grow a pineapple plant.

We’ll twist or cut off the top of a fresh pineapple. Then we peel off the bottom few leaves and put the stem in water. Once we see roots, we can plant it. Here is a link for easy steps on growing a pineapple and the history of this amazing fruit:
Purdue University: Growing a Pineapple at Home
bit.ly/Growing_a_Pineapple_at_Home

My mom loved pineapples. She collected many things in the pineapple shape from cutting boards to a brass letter opener and even a carved wooden pineapple welcome sign. The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, and we will welcome in the New Year with our special plant.

It takes a few years before our pineapple plant will fruit, so next month, we are going to plant microgreens that you can eat a few days after you plant the seeds. My great nieces, Lindsey and Lauren, will like growing these for their Dad who can use them in his gourmet cooking.

Time to water that “pup”!


Nancy loves flower gardening almost as much as she does her great nephews and nieces. Her interest in gardening intensified while living in Holland and was perfected with Master Gardener courses.

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