Growing ground cherry

Jens the Beekeeper

This year my youngest daughter asked for growing ground cherry as she really like the fruits.

So I ordered a seed pack and yesterday we starter the first part of the seeds indoors on the window sill. We will start another batch as written on the seed package in March but as a lot of internet based growing instructions suggest starting early we opted for the split approach.

Does anyone have experience with ground cherries and how they grow? Out last frost date is early to mid May and first frost is late October.

Wanted to plant them outside directly in the ground and some in pots

Monek Marie

I love these. They are so good to eat plain or make jams and deserts from

In my area I usually start then a few weeks earlier just to get an early crop but they will do ok planted outdoors. And I agree with the split starting method.

They are pretty easy to grow. they remind me a lot of tomatoes.

these will reseed if you do not disturb the soil too much. nice bonus!

water2world

@Jens the Beekeeper Yea for your daughter---this sounds like I want to try this also!

shllnzl

I bought some seeds myself because the plants seem tough enough to grow in my area. It should be a fun experiment.

Jens the Beekeeper

@Monek Marie thank you for the info. I too thought they seem to be much like tomatoes.

@Sheila@Sheila @shllnzl the low water needs was one bonus point I found

vickeym

What zones do these grow in or how long for maturity? I have tried growing tomatillos and really did not do that well. Not sure any of them actually matured and ripened, but don't really remember the details for their actual planting and growing. Did I get a late start and that sort of questions.

Sounds like a better as a tomato substitute or addition?

kfoto

@Monek Marie i haven’t grown these. So are they on the sweet side of life? I make a moroccan jam that uses tomatoes. Maybe this would be fun to try with ground cherries.

Monek Marie

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/909462#Comment_909462

They make a great jam!~

I also make a spicy tomato jam that is delicious with meats or just alone.

Merin Porter

I haven't heard of these! I just did a quick Google search -- @Jens the Beekeeper do you know if the Latin name of these is Physalis pubescens? Am I looking at the right plant?

Jens the Beekeeper

@Merin Porter yes that's the one plant.