Sandra O’Neil in her garden with one of the towering plants

IT has became her very own Jack and the Beanstalk adventure, a surprise rumbling up from the earth.

For when Sandra O’Neil planted the heads of two pineapple fruits 25 years ago, she wasn’t expecting to see what she can see out of her window today.

Instead of rotting into compost, the two pineapple heads have transformed into towering plants that stretch up to 20 feet above her, she says.

The turn of events has confounded experts.

What’s more, she’s now used offshoots to create a whole “family” in her garden.

“I don’t know which one is the mummy and which one is the daddy, but they’ve got lots of babies,” Ms O’Neil said.

Originally from Dublin, she moved to Islington in 1984. She first planted the pineapple heads in pots when she was living in Mitchell Street, off Old Street, although she has since moved to a five-bedroom flat just off York Way by Copenhagen Street and taken them with her.

The 56-year-old told the Tribune: “It was me and my friend at a birthday party in about 1995. We thought the fruit was going to rot so we might as well stick them in a pot because it looked so nice.”

She added: “Then it stayed green and it grew bigger and I put it in bigger and bigger pots and before I knew it, I was digging up the ground and planting it. I don’t know how they’re even growing in these conditions. When I go to dig, all I get is big bricks and concrete.”

At one point Ms O’Neil was caring for seven children in her flat – four of her own and three of her sister’s. She added: “I just keep taking branches and planting them and they seem to grow. I used to take care of seven kids but now I’ve got more pineapple than kids.”

The trees do not bear fruit.

Ms O’Neil’s garden is full of recycled materials from coat hangers used as plant stands to Christmas trees she managed to get just as the garden centre was about to throw them out.

Asked about her hobby, she said: “It’s very therapeutic. You know, I just seem to have green fingers and it keeps me happy.”

The Tribune sent pictures of Ms O’Neil’s plants to tree expert Paul Wood who has written a book on London’s Street Trees.

He said: “I have never heard of anything like this. I know they used to grow pineapples in greenhouses.

“I would be amazed if it were possible, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t. I know of a pomelo tree in Peckham and I’ve seen plenty of avocado trees.”

Mr Wood suggested it could be a Yucca tree, however Ms O’Neil was adamant it isn’t a Yucca.