Physalisspp.

Ever wish you could plant a Chuck Berry George Bush or yield Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and get instant fruit ? Ground cherry are the answer to your restlessness !

Related to the omnipresent garden love apple , these summertime annuals can be included in your veggie garden to render a crop of delicious , tropic - flavored yield in just one grow season .

Ground cherry are known by a apparently interminable list of common names , including Cape Ribes uva-crispa , poha berry , pichuberry , footing tomato plant , strawberry tomato , golden berry , Inca berry … and the inclination go bad on !

Close up of a ground cherry, the husk partially open, revealing the orange berry inside. Hanging from a branch, with soft focus green background.

Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin

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Whatever you call them , these piffling berry are a superfood that you may easily grow for yourself .

rent ’s dig in :

Close up of bright orange ground cherries, with their husks open but still in tact. Green and white lettering to the centre and bottom of the frame.

Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin

What You’ll Learn

What Are Ground Cherries?

Here ’s a member of the nightshade family that will urge on your sweet-scented tooth .

If the leaves and peak look intimate , that ’s because these plants are colligate to eggplants and love apple . In fact , they are sometimes referred to as “ husk tomatoes . ”

The plant life can grow humbled , hugging the ground , or more upright , depend on the variety and maturate condition . They have velvety leaves , purple - veined stems , and be given to sprawl .

A collage of photos showing ground cherry plants with ripe fruit in a garden setting.

Ground cherry efflorescence are bell - shaped and white-hot to yellow with purple center .

fruit grow inside of lantern - influence husks that turn from light-green to tan and take on a papery texture when the berry inside is advanced .

The chaff finally break down , leaving a exquisitely net encasement around the berry .

Close up of bright orange ground cherries, with their husks open but still in tact. Green and white lettering to the centre and bottom of the frame.

These toothsome orange - chickenhearted berries have a tropical taste that some describe as pineapple with a wind of vanilla , and others delineate as strawberry mark with Lycopersicon esculentum undercurrent .

It ’s their pronounced sharp-worded flavour that everyone will agree on .

Cultivation and History

The full term “ ground cerise ” refers to several species ofPhysalisplants . While there are at least 75 mintage ofPhysalis , not all of them have edible fruit .

One of the most distinctive appendage of this genus isChinese lantern ( P. alkekengi ) , a unique industrial plant that is raise as an ornamental rather than for its Chuck Berry .

eatable background cherries may not have the splashy color of Chinese lantern , but their stalk enclose a foodie ’s delight . While this fruit may be swerve as a superfood , it has been educate since the seventeenth century , agree to Karen Hager at the Roanoke Times .

Close-up horizontal image of a Physalis flower, yellow with a purple interior, with buds forming around it. Soft focus background of leaves.

One of the most usual types , P. pruinosa , is native to warm , subtropical Central America like its congener , tomatoes and miltomate .

Another species native to Peru and Chile , P. peruviana , is commonly called Cape Ribes grossularia or gold Charles Edward Berry .

Many specie of reason cherry red have naturalized in North America , but the most common place that many of us will find ground cherries is in heirloom source catalogue , rather than in our own backyard .

On the right of the frame, two hands holding a bunch of freshly picked ground cherries, with papery husks, on a soft focus green background.

Propagation of Ground Cherries

Speaking ofseed catalogs , are you ready to try develop your own ground cherry ?

you could institute transplants directly into your prepared garden dirt , jump come indoors , or even prove direct sowing .

From Seed

Most seed companies recommendstarting the seeds indoorsrather than direct sowing . But the ease with which these seeds grow as voluntary is substantiation that direct sowing is certainly an option .

If you do choose to direct sow , plant ejaculate after your last freeze . relax the soil and employment in some compost . Moisten the dirt then chuck it down gently without compressing it .

lay your seeds on top of the grime and then get across light with a thin layer of soil , about a quarter of an in . Pat territory softly .

Close-up horizontal image of a ripe ground cherry on the branch, with its papery husk turning brown. Soft focus leafy background.

water supply after planting seeds , and then day by day with a gentle atomiser from your watering verge until the seeds are established .

Seeds should germinate in just about five to eight day .

Ground cherry seeds have a low sprouting charge per unit , so plant more than you need . When seedling are well prove , thin them so plants have at least two square feet to spread .

A white plate, with floral design around the outside, on a wooden table, holding lots of tiny ground cherry seeds. To the left of the frame is a seed packet, and behind is a bag of soil, and some seedling pots.

From Seedlings or Transplanting

Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your last frost . You’ll regain all you need to know about starting seed indoors in our guide .

If you want to decamp the ejaculate starting business altogether , you may find organ transplant from heirloom seed company such as Seed Savers Exchange . Or ask your local nursery !

When engraft seedlings or transplants , look until two to four week after your last average frost . Harden off before transplanting into a sunny location with well - run out soil .

Close-up horizontal image of ground cherry seedlings, with soil at the bottom of the frame showing the furry stalks and green leaves on a soft focus background.

Ground cherry red are notorious self - seeder , so plant once and you may never need to plant them again !

How to Grow Ground Cherries

flora seedlings or transplants in well - drained grunge ameliorate with compost . Do n’t over water – they do n’t like to keep their animal foot wet .

If you have heavy clay soil , you may want toplant them in a raise bed . In my drylands garden , they do great in a sunken dustup .

If planting in container , verify the roots have plenty of room . Each industrial plant should be in a gallon - sized pot or larger .

A ground cherry bush, with unripe fruit, in green husks, surrounded by leaves, on a soft focus background of a house and garden.

Whether spring up them in the garden or in containers , make certain you give them room to sprawl – a single works can take up two to three solid feet .

They generally do not need to be staked , though some gardeners do bet on leggy flora .

Growing Tips

Cultivars to Select

Wherever you live you will probably find a cultivar or specie of ground cherry tree that will work for your clime .

P. pruinosagrows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8 , whileP. peruvianacan be considered a perennial in Zones 10 to 12 .

And there are many other edible species , include the “ clammy ” type ( P. heterophylla , aka Rowell ’s ground cherry tree ) , which is native to the US and hardy in zone 7 to 10 .

Physalis berries on the ground below the plants. Green stalks surrounding the yellow to green husks of the ripe berries.

Another US indigen , “ rough-cut reason cherry tree ” ( P. longifolia ) was used by Native Americans for food .

A garden full of a miscellanea of dissimilar mintage would be a beautiful thing ! But most probable , you ’ll want to initiate with the basics .

The most commonly available seeds are cultivar ofP. pruinosa .

Close-up horizontal image of two green, immature Physalis fruits, in green husks, on a soft focus leafy green background.

Aunt Molly’s

‘ Aunt Molly ’s ’ is the definitive ground cherry , the most widespread cultivar ofP. pruinosaand the most common mixed bag to purchase as a transplanting .

The fruit is sweet , tart , and tropical .

Ground Cherry

This open - cross-pollinate variety ofP. peruvianaproduces one - column inch , gilded fruits with a sweet , somewhat lemony flavor .

‘ Ground Cherry ’

seed areavailable at Eden Brothers .

A close up square image of ‘Ground Cherry’ tomatillos freshly harvested and spilling out of a wooden basket.

Mary’s Niagara

This variety ofP. pruinosais very low growing with a wider , three- to four - ft spread .

The fruits mature earlier than other sort , so it is good for clime with myopic growing time of year . It is say to have a subtle sweet flavor .

New Hanover

Some think this is better taste than the ‘ Aunt Molly ’s ’ cultivar . This is another sweet and fruity variety ofP. pruinosa .

Pineapple

Also known as ‘ Cossack Pineapple , ’ thisP. pruinosa cultivar produces fruit that tastes like – you guessed it – ananas ! The Charles Edward Berry are fruity and cherubic .

‘ Pineapple ’

Seeds areavailable from Eden Brothers Nursery .

Close-up square image of a Pineapple ground cherry, a bright yellow berry, on top of a cluster of berries still in their yellow husks.

No matter where you live in the US or which cultivar you cull , you should be capable to harvest fruit in one time of year .

Managing Pests and Disease

If you ’re a position back type of nurseryman , then soil cherries should be part of your repertory .

These flora are not particularly prone to bacterium , fungi , or viruses . Although they are seldom targeted by garden critter , occasionally you may see your plants visit by some unwelcome guests .

Herbivores

Ground cherry red may pull in the same types of animals as your other tasty garden goodies – squirrels , raccoon , rabbits , possums , and deer . Luckily the ripe fruit are fairly well - hidden , so most four - legged garden intruders will not witness them easily .

Fencing will sure help keep the bigger critters out , andfloating row coverswill offer even more trade protection .

Insects

While ground cherries are n’t particularly prone to insect problems , there are a few bug that might find your plant as delicious as you line up the fruit !

Cutworms can be a problem for young seedlings . Protect seedling with plant life collars or bysprinkling eggshellsorcoffee groundsaround the basis of new plants .

Be sure to right describe these guys , as they look similar to some beneficial butterflies .

Close-up vertical image of an unripe ground cherry in a green husk with a yellow and purple flower above. Soft focus background is leaves and a tree branch.

Read our concluded guide to cutworm control for more tips .

Tomato hornworms will munch on any nightshade plant , so ground cerise are definitely on the menu .

Inspect your priming cherry plants ( and other nightshades ) for these big , juicy cat and remove them . They makeexcellent kickshaw for your chickens , or can be squashed under your heel .

Close-up horizontal image of the leaves of a Physalis pruinosa plant. To the left of the frame, an unripe berry, in a green husk.

Learn more about combat Lycopersicon esculentum hornworms here .

These beetles are easy to spot – although they are on the small side , they look like lilliputian clowns with their bright yellow and fatal stripes .

If you find any on your plants , break up them off and slosh them .

Close-up vertical image of a Physalis pruinosa berry, with a papery husk around the fruit hanging from a branch, with leaves around it and a soft focus green background.

discover tips on colorado spud beetle control here .

Flea beetle are tiny beetles that will masticate jam in the leaf of your earth cherry plant life . In good for you industrial plant , this will likely only be an aesthetic business concern . Plant basil nearbyto repel these pestilence .

Read our guide on flea mallet control for more baksheesh .

P. pruinosa fruit in their light green, papery husks shown on the surface of the soil, underneath the plant. With plant matter in the background.

Your master scheme for keeping your ground cherry plants insect - free should be inspecting your plants regularly .

And since nightshade - loving pesterer tend to eat any appendage of this plant family , keeping your tomatoes , eggplants , peppers , spud , and ground cherry separated with non - nightshade will keep those pestilence from smooth gliding on the barren food expressway !

Harvesting Ground Cherries

Ground cherries have so many things going for them – they are tasty , leisurely to spring up , and even well-off to glean .

How do you recognise when it ’s clip to reap them ? When the Chuck Berry ripens , it fall to the ground in its protective stubble – thus the name !

The Chuck Berry will ripen step by step after the plants reach maturity date , usually pop in July or August and up until your first frost .

Three harvested ground cherries, their husks dry and almost transparent, on a green background.

On ripe fruit , straw will be straw - colour and papery while the yield inwardly will be somewhere in the yellow to orange range . Leave gullible - husked yield on the plant life to ripen .

Once you start noticing ripe fruit , look underneath the plant every day or so to collect any pass berry . mulch under your plants will make harvest easier .

Usefloating row coversto put out your growing season , but when it ’s time to put the garden to bed for winter , you’re able to harvest unripe berries in their straw .

A jar with a spoon in it, containing bright orange Cape gooseberry jam, on a light colored woven background. Around the jar are fresh fruits, some with their husks still intact, others showing the orange berry.

storehouse unripe fruit at room temperature in a single stratum to ripen . Smaller yield may not mature fully – only eat those that are advanced , as the leaves , stems , husks , and unripe fruit may be toxic .

As for ripe fruit , they will keep longer in a cool environment , such as a fridge , cellar , or root basement . For longer repositing , just make certain to keep them plebeian and in their husks .

Ripe ground cherries can be stored for three months in the right conditions .

A white bowl with dried Physalis fruit in it, on a wooden surface, surrounded by freshly picked fruits still in their papery husks.

Preserving

Another affair to make love about these members of your garden is that a single plant can produce century of berries .

These berries are a great source of antioxidants like vitamin A and C , as well as various B - complex vitamins . Consider preserving your harvest time if you grow a bumper crop .

Before preserve , remove straw , and rinse berries . you may preserve them by making crush , dehydrating , freezing , or fermenting .

Close-up horizontal image of two Cape gooseberries cut in half, showing the bright yellow flesh dotted with tiny seeds, on a dark soft focus background.

go out fruits whole or edit out them in one-half for muddle . Jam made with flat coat cherry will clear up up your winter and make exciting gifts for your gastronome friends .

Find tips for get to your own jam and jellieson our sis site , Foodal .

you may desiccate earth cherry in much the same elbow room as you would desiccate grapes to make raisins .

A white woven basket, with wooden handles, on a light wooden table, containing ground cherries. Some are in their husks, and others have the husks pulled back to reveal the bright orange fruit.

Dehydrating concentrates flavors , so you’re able to use your dehydrated harvest to flavor muffin or cookies , add them to drop back mix for a burst of acerbity , or sprinkle them on top of your oatmeal . Read more about dehydrating the garden ’s bounty here .

The fruit can also be block for later use .

Place clean fruit on a baking plane , then place the baking sail in the freezer . Freeze for half an hour or so , then remove the baking shroud and put the flash - flash-frozen ground cherries in a glass container with a lid . Store the container in the freezer .

Read more about the ins and out of freeze garden producenow on Foodal .

Cooking Ideas

If you do n’t eat them all in the garden , cook the berry is a toothsome path to transform them .

manipulate them down into a sauce to mizzle over vanilla ice cream or plain yogurt . Or chop them up with some red-hot Piper nigrum , onions , and cilantro and turn them into a peppy salsa !

When I lived in Paris , I would often see a single ground cherry red placed as a garnish on top of a sweet with its papery stubble folded back like wings . So pretty !

Quick Reference Growing Guide

A Taste of the Tropics, Fresh from Your Garden

Ground cherries will append an exciting new flavor toyour vegetable garden , and when you kill capable that jar of ground cherry jam mid - wintertime , its sourness will contrast beautifully with the wintertime weather .

If you want tolearn more about nightshadesor growing rare fruit , here are a few more guide you ’re bind to need :

Photos by Kristina Hicks - Hamblin © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . to begin with published on October 19th , 2019 . Last updated March 4th , 2023 . Cartesian product photos courtesy of Eden Brothers . Uncredited picture : Shutterstock .

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Kristina Hicks - Hamblin