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When you first look at pine berries, you might think they resemble unripe strawberries, as they are often pale pink or white in color and resemble strawberries in shape and ease of growth. But these delicious fruits are something else entirely.
Although they are not well known in home gardens, as gardeners become more familiar with their unique flavor and appearance, more and more people are growing pine berries.
So how do you plant and grow pineapples in your garden? Keep reading to find out.
Contents
What are Pineberries?
Botanically classified as Fragaria x ananassapineberries are a hybrid of Chilean strawberries (F.chiloensis) and Virginia strawberries (F. virginiana). They were originally grown in South America but are mostly produced in the Netherlands.
They are sometimes called “white strawberries”, but do not confuse them with true white strawberries, Alpine (F.vesca) and Range (F.chiloensis). In the Netherlands they are called ananaserdbeere.
Today, they appear in supermarkets and local markets around the world. But what differentiates pine berries from the classic strawberry?
Pine berries may look like strawberries, but they taste more like pineapple. Some cultivars are less sweet than others. If you’re considering growing this fruit at home, it might be a good idea to sample one first to make sure you like it!
Here is a list of the most common cultivars of pineberries:
- white pine
- white carolina
- natural albinos
- White D
Each of these pine berry varieties offers a slightly different harvest in terms of color, size, and flavor. For example, ‘White Pine’ has that sweet pineapple flavor that is characteristic of the fruit.
The cultivar ‘White Carolina’ has more of a pink color. ‘White D’ tends to have larger fruits than other plants while retaining that sweet pineapple flavor.
The newest variety on the market is ‘Natural Albino’ which is very similar to ‘White Pine’ in size and taste, with small berries and a mild flavor.
Plant pine berries
Although it does not taste like strawberries, this fruit requires a similar growing environment. This should come as no surprise since they are closely related. If you’ve grown strawberries before, you shouldn’t have too much trouble growing strawberries.
Before you can plant your pine berries, you must first find them. They are not very common in most local nurseries. The good news is that you can find pineberry tees online. The most affordable option is to purchase a bare-rooted plant or transplant it in early spring.
Although you can find pineberry seeds, because this plant is a hybrid, the seeds will not grow true to the parent type. You need to find bare roots, runners or grafts. This plant grows well in USDA growing zones 4-8.
Put your Pineberry in the ground
Ideally, you should plant your pineapple plant outdoors because that’s where it will have more room to grow and lots of direct sunlight. However, it is possible to grow pine berries indoors if you have the right container size and exposure to sunlight.
Pine berries need at least six or more hours of sunlight a day, but ten or twelve hours is even better for their growth. That being said, they like cooler climates, so the temperature should be around 70°F.
Since pine berries tend to spread, much like strawberries, you may want to consider growing them in containers to control their size!
Otherwise, you can choose a nice spot in your garden. It is important that your pineapple plant has well-drained soil which can be lightly sandy or preferably loamy with plenty of organic matter.
Plant in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked. A little frost won’t harm young plants, but they should be protected from severe frost.
For pollination purposes, you should plant pine berries near strawberries or other pine berries. This is because these plants are not self-pollinating. They need a friend for pollination.
Start by digging a hole the same depth and three times as wide as the bare root or container the plant came in, and add some extra space for future growth.
If you plan to grow multiple pine berry or strawberry plants in the same location, leave 18 to 24 inches of space between each plant.
Gently soak the soil before placing it in a container or in the ground. Then cover the soil with mulch and you’re good to go.
Caring for Strawberries
Of course, watering your pineberries should be high on your to-do list. The soil should be kept moist. This means that you should provide the soil with 1 to 1.5 inches of water every week.
During the hot season in summer, you may need to increase this volume as temperatures will be higher and your plant will need additional moisture.
Of course, most areas get some rain, so it’s hard to say exactly how much water your plants are getting and how much you need to add. You can use a rain gauge or just stick your finger in the ground. If it seems dry on your first joint, add more water. You want the floor to feel like a well wrung out sponge.
Fertilizer
An all-purpose fruit and vegetable fertilizer is all you need to keep your berries happy. Apply once in the spring a few weeks after planting your plants, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Protect your plants
You can place a metal fence around the growing area to prevent unwanted animals from destroying your crop.
Heap mulch around the plants during the growing season. Mulch can be made from straw, grass clippings or wood chips and will help the soil retain moisture, suppress weeds and protect against certain diseases.
Add a thick layer of mulch in the fall when temperatures drop to help protect the roots so the plant will come back next year.
Common pests and diseases
As for pests, there are a few common insects that like to nibble on pine berry plants.
The two diseases that affect pineapple plants are strawberry viruses and gray mold. Although strawberry viruses are often found on strawberry plants, they are also common on pine berries.
aphids
Aphids are small, sap-sucking insects that leave behind a sticky residue called honeydew. They can cause stunted growth, yellow leaves and attract sooty mold. They can also spread disease. Head over to our guide to find out how to identify and eliminate these pests.
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails love strawberries and pineberries, and they will devour not only the leaves but the fruit as well. If you need some great tips for controlling snails, we have a guide to controlling them using natural methods.
Root weevils
Root weevils are the larvae of snout beetles and they eat underground plants. Suddenly your pine berries are sad and withered and there is no obvious reason for this. If you suspect you have root weevils, our guide can help you regain control.
Strawberry virus
There are several viruses that attack pine berries including: Strawberry Mild Yellow Edge, Strawberry Mottle Virus and Raspberry Ringspot Virus. Here are the main symptoms of strawberry viruses:
- yellow leaves
- Discolored spots
- crumpled sheets
When purchasing, check the plant’s label to make sure it is certified virus-free. It is essential that you make sure you are buying from a reputable seller! You should also keep pests away from your garden, as they spread viruses.
If your plant shows signs of this disease, you will need to destroy it as the disease cannot be cured.
Gray mold
Gray mold, also known as botrytis fruit rot, is another disease that infects pineapple plants. It’s caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea.
You can spot this disease by looking for brown rot on your fruit. The easiest way to prevent this disease is to not overcrowd your plants when you put them in the ground. You should also remove dead leaves and fruit from the previous growing season. Water at ground level and not on the leaves, as this disease needs water to spread.
If it strikes, cut off the infected areas.
Harvest the strawberries
Getting to the harvesting stage of growing pine berries is an exciting time because you can finally enjoy their delicious flavor!
You’ll know the fruit is ripe for picking when the spots all over the skin have turned from green to red. The color will also range from milky white to pink and white, or just light pink (depending on the cultivar). You can also give them light pressure. They should be plump and juicy. This is when you know your pine berries are ready to harvest.
There are many ways to enjoy pine berries. Just like strawberries, you can add them to a smoothie, desserts, or simply eat them as a snack. Their sweet taste is enough to satisfy your sugar craving and to offer as a treat to your friends.
It is best to store the fruit in a cool place to retain its freshness. We have a guide on how to store strawberries, and pine berries can be stored the same way.
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