How Long Does It Take For Pineapples To Grow?

From iconic desserts such as Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Pineapple Fluff to savory Pineapple-Pepper Slaw or tropical cocktails such as Pineapple Coconut Fizz, nothing conjures up a trip to an exotic locale like pineapple. If you’ve ever wondered how long it takes to grow a pineapple yourself, we’ve got the answers.

Growing pineapples takes time and patience. “Pineapples don’t love being grown indoors, but it is possible if you provide the right conditions,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist with Costa Farms. “The trickiest part is giving your plant sufficient light.”

Place your pineapple in the sunniest window, or use an LED grow light for eight to 12 hours per day. They prefer temperatures in the 80s during the day and 70s at night and will adapt to the average humidity levels found in most homes. You also can shuttle it outdoors in summer, then bring it back indoors before the temps drop. But in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11 in the Lower South, you can plant pineapples in the ground.

Here’s what else you need to know about methods for growing pineapples and how long it takes to grow them.

How Long Does It Take For Pineapples To Grow?

No matter what technique you choose, you’ll need lots (and lots) of patience because no method is foolproof. When started from seed, a pineapple may form within several years after the seed sprouts. When planted from a crown or pups, you’ll wait about 18 months to three years for a pineapple to develop.

“Even with perfect conditions, you may not get a pineapple, but it’s still a striking-looking houseplant,” says Hancock. And who knows? You may get lucky and harvest your own home-grown pineapple in a few years.

Pineapple Growing Methods

There are a few different ways to grow a pineapple including from seed, from the top or crown, and from “pups,” or the baby offshoots that develop alongside the “mother” plant. Each method takes a different amount of time for a pineapple to grow, says Hancock.

Growing Pineapple From Seed

The most challenging method is to grow a pineapple from seed, which you occasionally find when you cut open a pineapple. The seeds, which resemble those of a watermelon, are brown or black and about 1/8-inch long, embedded within the fruit itself.

Most pineapples, however, do not contain seeds because growers discourage pollination of plants (which creates the seeds). That’s because consumers generally don’t like the way seeded pineapples look. If you do find a seed, you can attempt to germinate it.

Plant the seed in a container filled with potting soil, water well, place it in a bright window, and be prepared to wait. And wait some more. “The seeds may not always be viable," says Hancock, and they can take several weeks to germinate. Because you are starting from a tiny seedling, it could be another two or three years before the plant begins to flower.

Growing Pineapple From The Crown

This is a much easier method, says Hancock. Twist off the top of the pineapple or cut it off about 1 to 2 inches below the greenery. Let the piece sit out in a warm, dry place for a few days so that it callouses over. When dry, remove the fruit portion and the bottom ring or two of leaves. Place the pineapple stem in water, place in a bright spot, and wait for roots to form in a few weeks. Plant it in soil up to the level of the leaves, and water well. Or you can plant the cut crown right away in soil without trying to root it first. The plant will take 18 to 24 months to flower—often on the longer side. Then it takes another six months or so for the fruit to fully develop and mature.

Growing Pineapples From Pups

If you’ve been successful in growing a pineapple, the flowering and formation of fruit triggers the end of the plant’s life, says Hancock. “Pups,” or tiny baby pineapple plants, will start to form around its base. Cut those off to start new plants in another pot, or allow the pups to remain and grow over the original “mother” plant. Pups usually flower within 18 months.