Dingfucheng farm in Donggang town, Xishan district develops local pineapples of Wuxi. [Photo/wxrb.com]
The pineapple plantations in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province welcomed the harvest season in August.
Dingfucheng farm in Donggang town, Xishan district is the first farm in Wuxi to produce the tropical fruit.
The farm's owner surnamed Bao said it is the second year he has planted pineapples. His first attempt failed to produce satisfactory fruits because of the unusually low temperatures that winter.
Bao said that the water and soil conditions in Wuxi and Taiwan are very different. Planting pineapples requires high-quality soil, which should be mixed with self-made organic fertilizer and peat. In addition, famers need to pay close attention to the management of water and fertilizer and maintain temperatures above 20 degrees centigrade all year round.
Bao added that it takes at least 18 months for a pineapple to grow from a seedling. Naturally planted pineapples can bear fruit two months after flowering. The pineapple plantations in Wuxi are equipped with automated irrigation and heating facilities, making it a kind of naturally matured pineapple.
Locally developed pineapples in Wuxi weigh 1 to 1.5 kilograms each and are smaller than imported ones sold in supermarkets. They also look smoother and cleaner in appearance, and can be easily sampled after peeling off the skin.
