Ground Cherry
Physalis pruinosa
Ground cherry produces sweet-tart fruit inside papery husks on low spreading plants related to tomatoes. Transplants started indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost help short seasons, and ripe fruit often drops when the husk dries, simplifying harvest. Maturity is about 65–85 days from transplanting with moderate weekly water.
Plant family Solanaceae · Also called husk cherry, cape gooseberry
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Transplant after frost like other nightshades.
Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost about 0.6 cm deep. Germination is 7–14 days. Transplant outdoors two to four weeks after the frost.
Tender frost tolerance matches other solanums. Spreading habit benefits from mulch under fruiting branches.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Leave room for spreading stems.
Allow 45–60 cm between plants with rows about 90 cm. Plants sprawl rather than climb tall trellises.
Containers need 30 cm depth and about 20 litres. Optional support can lift branches off damp soil.
Core measurements
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.
Install support early when it is required or useful.
Keep even moisture while husks form.
Eight hours of direct sun is preferred. Husks color and fruit sweetness need strong seasonal light.
Moderate water at 25–35 mm weekly with pH 6.0–7.0. Even moisture supports steady husk and fruit fill.
Sunlight
Full sun preferred (8+ direct-sun hours/day)
Soil pH
A suitable acidity range for general growth.
Weekly water
Moderate water need.
Aim for even moisture and water deeply when the upper 2-3 cm of soil begins to dry.
Harvest when fruit drops and husks dry.
Fruit matures 65–85 days from transplanting. The key tip says ripeness often shows when husks dry and fruit drops.
Gather fallen fruit promptly and discard unripe green berries inside husks, which can be toxic like other nightshades when immature.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Fruit is usually ripe when the papery husk dries and drops from the plant.
Ground Cherry growing questions
How do you know ground cherries are ripe?
The key tip notes ripe fruit when the papery husk dries and fruit drops from the plant.
Is ground cherry started indoors?
Yes. Transplant crop with indoor start 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
What harvest basis is used?
65–85 days from transplanting, not indoor seeding alone.
Does ground cherry sprawl?
Growth habit is spreading with optional support listed.
Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S4,S5. Local climate and variety can change actual results.
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