The best time to harvest your pineapples is when the leaves of the plant is about 16" long and at least 3" at their bases. When you harvest them, it is not necessary to dig up the entire plant, dig down until the pineapple is 3" to 4" showing, then grabbing it with both hands, twist the fruit (which ever direction) and this will dislodge the root, making the harvest that much easier. -Birdy