Skip to content
Technical Kisanखेती, तकनीक के साथ
ENहिं
Pineapple (Ananas)All seasonsSucker / slip (clonal cultivar)Updated 6 September 2026

Kew (Giant Kew)

India's leading commercial cultivar, dominant in the north-east and West Bengal — a late, large fruit of 2–3 kg with broad shallow eyes, pale-yellow low-fibre juicy flesh and near-spineless leaves, the standard for canning and juice.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodPlant crop ~18–24 months (12–16 with induction)
Expected yield40–60 t/ha
Suitable soilWell-drained sandy loam or laterite, strongly acidic (pH 5.0–6.0)

Quick facts

Crop
Pineapple (Ananas)
Type
Sucker / slip (clonal cultivar)
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
Plant crop ~18–24 months (12–16 with induction)
Expected yield
40–60 t/ha
Suitable soil
Well-drained sandy loam or laterite, strongly acidic (pH 5.0–6.0)
Release
The dominant introduced commercial cultivar in India; not a single-institute Indian release

About this variety

Kew (also called Giant Kew, Chultia or Sarkara) is India's leading commercial pineapple, dominant in Assam, West Bengal and the rest of the north-east. It is a late cultivar bearing a large oblong fruit of 2–3 kg with broad, shallow eyes, pale-yellow, low-fibre, juicy flesh and near-spineless leaves. Those traits make it the standard variety for canning and juice as well as a large-fruit fresh pineapple. It is propagated from suckers and slips, and responds well to ethrel flower induction for a uniform, timed harvest.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeSucker / slip (clonal cultivar)
    MaturityPlant crop ~18–24 months (12–16 with induction)
    Yield potential40–60 t/ha
    Disease resistanceNo special resistance; manage Phytophthora and mealybug wilt
    SoilWell-drained sandy loam or laterite, strongly acidic (pH 5.0–6.0)
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • SpacingHigh-density double rows (~30 × 60 × 90 cm, ~43,500 plants/ha); close spacing gives smaller, more uniform fruit for canning

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

Plant crop ~18–24 months (12–16 with induction)

Expected yield

40–60 t/ha

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Large fruit (2–3 kg) with pale, low-fibre, juicy flesh — ideal for canning and juice
  • Broad shallow eyes and near-spineless leaves — easy to process and handle
  • The highest-yielding cultivar and the mainstay of the north-east industry

Things to consider

  • Late — slow to the first fruit without flower induction
  • No special disease resistance — needs good drainage against Phytophthora and ant/mealybug control against mealybug wilt

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Assam
  • West Bengal
  • Meghalaya
  • Tripura
  • Nagaland