This year, I’m working hard to transform my small patch of lawn into a productive food forest—or at least the beginnings of one. (They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I’m pretty sure they say a forest doesn’t grow in a year—but the foundation can certainly be laid!)
If I bought a bunch of plants to fill the space, I’d go bankrupt pretty quickly. Where possible, I try to fill the space with plants I’ve grown from scratch—or rather, from cuttings, seeds, roots, and runners.
It’s not possible with every plant I’d like, but there are many possibilities.
I love the idea of using “waste” to create something new. And I love watching nature at work. One of my favorite things I’m currently growing is pineapples. They’re magical.
I thought I’d explain to you how.
Pineapples are a tropical plant, but they grow successfully and bear fruit in Perth (where I live). They’re also a pretty fun plant and look good whether they bear fruit or not—but having plants that could potentially also feed me in the future is a winner.
Even if you don’t live in a Mediterranean or tropical climate, you can still grow pineapples, but they’ll need to be kept indoors during the cooler months. I’ve read that it’s possible to get them to bear fruit, but I imagine that’s a lot more work.
Still, they’re a great houseplant if you live in colder climes. A cool experiment. A good conversation starter. An excellent gift.
Here’s how to breed one.
