New varieties are currently being selected, one of importance is resistant to mealybug wilt incorporated into the Cayenne variety. Seeds may be produced by artificial cross-pollination. In its native areas, hummingbirds effect natural cross-pollination. Grown in Puerto Rico. Cultivars with smooth-edged leaves are desirable and frequently planted to make harvesting easier.
Pineapples thrive in climates that are uniformly warm.
They are tolerant of a wide range of soils providing they possess good drainage, soil aeration, and a low percentage of lime. Cultivation For a pineapple plantation, soil should be thoroughly prepared, fertilized, fumigated, and paper laid down. Remove the vegetative unit, allow to dry 1 or more weeks, and plant through hole in paper. Use of tar-paper or black plastic strips helps to eliminate weeds, conserve moisture, increase soil temperature and build up high nitrate in soil. Fertilization is normally practiced, amounts depending on natural soil fertility.