You can start them now. Strip all leaves/fruit and leave about 3/4" of the petiole. It will fall off on its own later. Good luck!

I'm Having LIMITED success.. :>( I have 3 in 20oz cups, 2 in a baggie, 3 that I just stuck in a big pot that I have a Pineapple plant growing in... 2 of those seem to be doing the best, looks like some fresh green buds forming.
The ones in the cups appeared to be getting white bumps just above the soil line about 1/2 inch.. I added some potting mix to cover, but they still just look like sticks.. I'm tempted to take one out of the cup and gently let the potting mix fall away till I see some roots or get down to the cutting to see what is going on, if anything. Here is a photo of the cuttings in the cups, the shiny wet look is water that I misted the cutting just before taking the photo.

Are the white bumps a fungus? do they wash off or wipe off?
I'm interested in what some of our other readers/growers think.
Dan