The Virgin Island pineapple is generally smaller than the commercially grown Hawaiian variety.

But, it’s also much sweeter!

The fruit is white rather than yellow and it should really be moved from the category of “fruit” to the “candy” category!

Pineapples can produce seeds if the plant is pollinated, which is usually performed by hummingbirds. Seeds detract from the quality of the fruit (like some other popular plants), so pollination is discouraged. Hawaii, for example, prohibits the importation of hummingbirds.

Our hummingbirds seem to like other flowers better than pineapples, so pollination is rare.

Gardeners here on St. John plant pineapples from slips, which commercial growers call suckers.

Slips that mature the quickest, often the by the next year come from the old palnt after it produces the first pineapple. The slip can be left where it is or cut and replanted elsewhere in the garden.

Slips can also come from the bottom of the fruit, these take a bit longer to flower, usually during the second season.

Finally, the slip can come from the top of the fruit, but pineapples grown this way take the longest amount of time to flower, possibly three seasons.

The Garden

First Flower

Ready to Ripen

Sweet, Delicious, White Virgin Islands Pineapple

Read more about pineapples from Wikipedia

For those interested in planting their own pineapples from pineapple tops, take a look at “How to Plant and Grow a Pineapple Top”