Patience brings tropical taste of success

Almost 14 years ago, Roberta Cameron took a chance by planting the top of a pineapple in a pot and giving it some loving attention, and has been enjoying the sweet fruits of her labour ever since.

Two healthy-looking pineapples are currently being closely watched by Roberta and husband Don for the first signs of ripening, and a possible third is developing.

From the humble beginnings of a pineapple top, three large pineapple plants now take pride of place alongside the potplants in the conservatory of the couple’s home along the Taylor River stopbank.

With each successive harvest, Roberta has taken a top and planted a new crop.

Patience is key though, as the plant takes about two years to grow to maturity before it will produce fruit, and another six months or so before a fruit ripens.

‘‘The fruit is lovely,’’ said Roberta. ‘‘Juicy, sweet and beautiful’’

The plants need to be handled with gloves though.

‘‘They’re very prickly, and you can easily get gashed on the leaves.’’

Roberta waters the plants once a week, and feeds them occasionally with ‘‘whatever plant food I’ve got at the time,’’ she said.

‘‘I really don’t look after them all that well I don’t think.’’ She didn’t think the original plant had ever been repotted.

Roberta had tried to grow the prickly plants in the conservatory of her previous home at

Okiwi Bay in the Marlborough Sounds without any success, but said most other things grew there ‘‘without any effort.’’

She grew tamarillo’s in the bay, and said ‘‘we’d put buckets of them out on the street for people to take.’’

Her efforts to grow tamarillo’s haven’t been as successful here, but she is persevering, and said she doesn’t know of anyone else who has a tree locally.

The avid gardener also has several feijoa bushes, as well as apricots, and ‘‘the black boy peaches are almost ready!’’ she said.

HELEN NICKISSON/STUFF Roberta Cameron needs gloves to handle her prickly pineapple plants.