Growing Pineapples in Zanesville

A local gardener is growing plants that could be naturally impossible in Ohio.

Marvin Paul, of Paul’s Farm Market and Greenhouses has a hobby of growing Pineapples. Pineapples are grown in warm tropical areas with gardening zones between 10 and 12, whereas Zanesville is in gardening zone 6a. Paul said he tried growing his first plant about seven years ago and was ready to throw it out until he realized it was maturing.

“[I] just thought well it’s not growing very good, are we doing something wrong,” said Paul. “It was just how many times we want to move it, so it got moved to the side then [I] walk in one day and say ‘what is on the end of that?’ Here it is a bloom.”

Paul said he will let the plants grow outside his house during the warm months and transport the plants into the families greenhouses during the cold months. Ever since the first bloom about six years ago Paul has kept up with the grooming and growing of Pineapples.

“I started just cutting the top off the pineapple that you just buy out of the store, started growing some,” said Paul. “Looked it up and said about two years you have to wait. So it’s patience to get it to grow. I’ve had six of them now in the last six years.”

As of right now the pineapples are not able to be purchased, but Paul said there might be a market for them some day.