The pineapple, Ananas comosus, is a tropical perennial plant known for its sweet fruit. Unlike annual crops, the pineapple allows for sequential harvests from a single, established plant. This method, known as ratooning, capitalizes on the plant’s natural ability to regenerate new fruiting shoots after the primary fruit is removed. Ratooning maximizes production efficiency and shortens the time to the next harvest cycle.
Defining the Ratoon Crop
A ratoon refers to the second or subsequent crop derived from the vegetative growth of the original, harvested plant. The pineapple plant does not die after producing its first fruit. Instead, it directs energy to new lateral shoots, commonly called suckers or pups, which emerge from the base or leaf axils of the mother plant. These suckers use the established root system, significantly reducing the time needed to develop a new fruit. The ratoon crop is the fruit produced by these new growths, succeeding the initial harvest, which is referred to as the plant crop.
Preparing the Mother Plant for Ratooning
Initiating the ratoon process requires specific actions immediately following the primary fruit harvest. Once the first pineapple is picked, the spent fruit stalk must be cut back to a manageable height. Chopping the old leaves and the remaining stem down to about eight to ten inches above the ground will open the canopy and improve air circulation.
The next step involves carefully selecting the best sucker to retain while removing all others. Ideally, one or two of the most robust suckers located low on the mother plant should be kept to develop the ratoon fruit. Excess suckers, along with any slips or hapas, should be removed by twisting them off, as they compete for nutrients, water, and light. This selective pruning ensures the plant’s energy reserve is channeled into the chosen successor shoot, promoting a larger and faster-developing ratoon fruit.
Essential Care for Ratoon Development
Care for a developing ratoon crop differs from initial planting care, as the ratoon is supported by a mature, established root system. Fertilization must be resumed promptly after the plant crop harvest to promote the vigorous growth of the selected sucker. Pineapple plants have a high demand for Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) due to their shallow feeding roots. Nutrients are often applied as foliar sprays directly onto the leaves.
For the ratoon crop, a supplemental application of Phosphorus (P) is often beneficial. Growers typically apply a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 NPK ratio, until the plant is ready to flower. This fertilization focuses on frequent, small applications every six to eight weeks.
While pineapple is drought-tolerant, ratoon development benefits from consistent moisture, requiring water every three to four days during dry weather. Removing the old, dense leaf canopy ensures the young ratoon sucker receives maximum sun exposure, which is necessary for both growth and fruit development.
Characteristics and Timing of the Ratoon Harvest
The time required for the ratoon crop to mature is significantly shorter than the initial plant crop, which typically takes 18 to 24 months from planting. Ratoon fruit generally reaches maturity between 12 and 18 months following the primary harvest because it uses the existing, extensive root system.
Commercial cycles often aim to force the ratoon crop to flower five to seven months after the plant crop harvest, leading to a total cycle completion around 32 months. The fruit produced by the first ratoon is usually smaller than the plant crop fruit.
Despite the reduction in size, ratoon fruit is noted for its superior quality, often being sweeter, more aromatic, and containing less acid. While a second and sometimes a third ratoon crop can be harvested, the fruit size and overall yield progressively diminish with each subsequent generation. Commercial viability typically ends after the first or second ratoon, at which point the field is cleared and replanted.