Growing pineapples was a considerable feat in 19th-century UK, when the seasons were colderNot much has changed in 150 years; the gap between those having to choose between eating and heating and the richest 1% is much the same. Gardening was then a proper gentleman’s hobby – not getting your hands ‘dirty but telling your legion of gardeners how to grow exotic plants to impress your guests.The New Practical Gardener of 1874 has a wonderful illustration of a “queen pine” and three pages of detailed instructions on “nursing pine plants” in a long chapter on the monthly operations of a successful “forcing garden”. To grow what we now call a pineapple, coal-fired central heating was required so in January the plant should never be allowed to drop below 15C (58F) and as near as possible kept at 18C and watered with warm water. Continue reading…
Source : theguardian.com
Read more…Weatherwatch: ‘queen pines’ were crowning glory in cool Victorian climes
