Soil Characteristics: The best soil for pineapple culture is a well-drained, sandy loam with a high content of organic matter and it should be friable for a depth of at least 2 ft (60 cm), and pH should be within a range of 4.5 to 6.5. Soils that are not sufficiently acid are treated with sulfur to achieve the desired level. If excess manganese prevents response to sulfur or iron, as in Hawaii, the plants require regular spraying with very weak sulfate or iron.

Climate Requirements: Warm humid areas - can grow in most parts of the tropics and subtropics. Intolerant of frost.

Culture: The land should be well prepared at the outset because the pineapple is shallow-rooted and easily damaged by post-planting cultivation. Fumigation of the soil contributes to high quality and high yields.

Harvesting: It is difficult to judge when the pineapple is ready to be harvested. The grower must depend a great deal on experience. Size and color change alone are not fully reliable indicators. Conversion of starch into sugars takes place rapidly in just a few days before full maturity. In general, for the fresh fruit market, the summer crop is harvested when the eye shows a light pale green color. At this season, sugar content and volatile flavors develop early and steadily over several weeks. The winter crop is about 30 days slower to mature, and the fruits are picked when there is a slight yellowing around the base. Even then, winter fruit tends to be more acid and have a lower sugar level than summer fruit, and the harvest period is short. Fruits for canning are allowed to attain a more advanced stage. But overripe fruits are deficient in flavor and highly perishable.

Length of time until first crop: Five years. Grow from seed acquired from a good tasting source tree.

Food Preparation: Best eaten fresh. Simply cut off the top and bottom and slice into wedges, then eat the flesh away from the skin. Alternatively, the whole fruit may be peeled and then cut. The flesh can be juiced, frozen or dried. The hollowed out fruit makes an excellent cocktail holder.

Nutrition: Pineapple has only 75 calories in cup serving and is high in manganese, vitamin C as well as being a good source of B1, B6 and dietary fiber.