Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Anyone have experience growing ground cherries (Physalis pruinosa) or Cape Gooseberries (Physalis peruviana)? I read up on them and they sounded pretty easy to grow, and I've tasted Cape Gooseberries and liked them, so I bought some seeds of both. But I'd like to hear from anyone who has personal experience growing them.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

I've grown plenty of tomatillo pretty much the same ?

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Good question. Tomatillo are the same genus and I think growing them is pretty much the same. But normally tomatillo are harvested green, before ripe, at least when used in salsa. Ground cherries and Cape Gooseberry are harvested ripe and are sweet, though I read that tomatillo get pretty sweet if you let them ripen rather than harvest them green.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

That's an interesting bit. The possibilities!

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Interesting what names sellers of seeds come up with!

Husk Tomato = Physalis pruinosa.
I don't believe I've ever seen this plant.

Peruvian Groundcherry, Cape Gooseberry = Physalis peruviana.
A favorite around here.

Tomatillo, Cutleaf Groundcherry, Mexican Husk Tomato = Physalis angulata.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Tony and Richard, any hints on growing tomatillos / Cape Gooseberries? I read that they don't need much: just a little fert and nothing else special. Treat them like tomatoes and they'll be happy.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Exactly.

Tomatillos are fast growing and often spindly. If you are using 1-foot square tomato cages, plant two per cage.

Peruvian groundcherry definitely trails. I grow them in 14" pots and let them trail over the side.

Avoid fertilizers with proportionally high nitrogen. For example, I wouldn't use fish emulsion.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Mark, I have some seeds of them that I should get planted now that you reminded me.

I saw Alex Silber had them growing at his and his father's nursery in Woodland Hills (Papaya Tree Nursery). I've heard that my season might be a little short to grow them well here but I'll try to give them a try.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Thanks Harvey. I also saw the ones that Alex was growing. They're supposed to be easy to grow from seed, which is good because I usually can't justify paying Alex's prices -- only when I save my pennies for something I can't get elsewhere!

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Haha, I bought a plant from Alex once. I committed to buying a plant without a price tag on it. Last time I'll make that mistake!

I'd also like to get one of his grafted Santa Fe carob trees but not for $125!!!!!

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Yes, not putting prices on your plants is a good way of suckering someone (like me) into buying a hard to get plant. I've bought several plants from Alex, but only a couple with prices that really made me think twice. I've had to walk away from several after hearing the price!

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Okay, here's a photo of the ones I got my seed from.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

I've only grown it one year, was easy to grow, only trouble i seemed to have was getting the plant to consistantly ripen the fruit fully before dropping them. Most seemed to drop around 75% ripe. Still edible, but not as good as when they are that nice dark orange

-Luke

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

How hardy they are?

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

I've heard they're sensitive to frost as well as very hot weather and require a long growing season, that's why I've started them indoors early.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

My experience is that they are sensitive to temperatures below 45 F. But for the growing season, I would say it does not require a long season in my temperate climate -- instead it has a long productive season and out-performs its relative the tomatillo.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

I think for up here folks have had a hard time getting them in the ground early enough to fruit so they need a longer season than tomatoes, I guess or maybe folks just have been more used to buying tomato transplants and don't get started with their cape gooseberry soon enough. Mine were planted 2-3 weeks ago and should do okay, I hope.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

A 16" to 17" pot works great.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

I might do that if I really like them but that's pretty heavy to move around much.

Re: Physalis: ground cherry and Cape gooseberry
 

Oh I won't move it, just performs better than putting it in the ground.