Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) and Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa) are cousins. Two selected varieties of Ground Cherry are Pineapple and Aunt Molly's (from Poland). I believe that Thompson and Morgan also sells a variety of one of the species above called "Golden Berry". Just to confuse things, there is also a tomatillo called "Pineapple" (Tomato Growers Supply). The Pineapple ground cherry is much smaller than the tomatillo. Ground cherries self-sow in many climates. Both cape gooseberries and ground cherries may be mildly toxic before they are ripe. Store ripening or ripe ground cherries at room temperature, in their husks. Here is a link that might be useful: Garden berries This post was edited by carolync1 on Fri, Aug 9, 13 at 1:21

I'll be growing (I hope) ground cherries outside for the first time this Spring. I came across them on a seed website. It looked & sounded so intriguing that I have purchased several varieties. I purchased Cape Gooseberry, Aunt Molly's, Goldie, Yellow Husk and Pineapple. I figure one of them must be successful. Although Cape Gooseberries harvest time is a bit long for my area (area 6). I've started growing my seedlings & they are tough to germinate. I think the secret lies in planting many, many seeds because so far, the seedlings seem to be FUSSY! You may want to buy alot more seeds, many of them only have a 75% germination rate. So far I have managed to grow Aunt Molly's & the Cape Gooseberry aeroponically. The Aunt Molly's are growing in a large Aerogarden and currently have calyxes all over but they aren't ripe yet. I also have a Cape Gooseberry growing in a 10 gallon bucket. It is 2.5 ft tall just started getting calyxes. I'm using the Cape Gooseberry as a mother plant for clones because I'm finding it easier to clone than growing from seed. I've read that the Cape Gooseberries taste the best but it also takes a long time to ripen. Some people in cold zones actually bring their plant in to winter over & then the next Spring it produces early because it's mature. That is another reason I'm cloning (growing cuttings) - - apparently when a cutting starts growing, it doesn't start from the beginning like a seedling. It picks up from the point it was when it was attached to the mother plant. I have a clone that is only 4" tall & it has flower buds already! I don't think I'll have to worry about this plants fruit ripening. So, if you get at least one plant to thrive, take cuttings it might be easier for you, too. I'm sorry for the long diatribe but it sounds like you're new to Ground Cherries, too. I am also a newbie so I've been reading everything I can find about them. I can't wait to taste them! One last thing, supposedly, when they drop to the ground they're ripe but several people say it's best to let them sit @ room temp a week or so before eating them (and they keep up to 3 months if left attached to the husk).

Mike I'm growing these for the first time, Physalis peruviana, and I have had a tremendous amount of advice on the New Zealand forum about growing them. I originally got the seed from my aunt in N.Z. and I'm pretty sure she told me that you squish the berry onto a paper towel, spread it out very thinly and let them dry. Then flick them carefully off of the paper towel. I was going to try a coffee filter as I think it wouldn't 'absorb' the seed so much. You might want to ask the question on my thread in the NZ forum and see what the response would be. Apparently, they grow like weeds there. Hope my friend Vetivert8 can help us because this was going to be my next question, too. Shauna Here is a link that might be useful: Cape gooseberries thread - NZ forum

Plummy- I would like to try your seeds. I got a Cape Gooseberry and loved it, but the plants from the seeds are not doing too well- so I'd like to have back-ups! I have 2 fresh purple caimito seeds and lots of fresh Soursop seeds. I also have fresh Ylang- Ylang seeds to trade. In a month or so, I will have fresh green caimito seeds. I also have fresh Chironja seeds (a cross between grapefruit and an orange) and mandarin seeds. If you are not interested in those, I can send postage. LMK- Gwenn