I bought several Ground Cherry plants last year, the pineapple one, and they were such a pleasant surprise. The kids just loved checking the ground around the plants for ripe ones. I had planned to make jam, but the kids didn't really leave me enough for that. The texture is similar to a tomato, but less juicy, and the flavor I'm not really sure how to describe, but if it's a fruit or a vegetable, and the kids are excited about eating it, you can bet I'll be growing it again!

The plants did not survive the first frost. They are in the tomato family, so I would start them at the same time you start your tomatoes.

I didn't have much luck saving seeds from mine, so would love some tips in that area. I did purchase some seeds from ValueSeeds before they shut down, so I'll be wintersowing some this year too, probably in March for my zone.

Bonnie

Thanks Bonnie. That's great to hear that your kids liked them. Maybe mine will too. Where did you buy your ground cherry plants? I suspect that some taste better than others and I wouldn't mind trying different sources. Reading some older posts on Gardenweb, a few people commented that they liked physalis pruinosa 'Aunt Molly's' best, but a couple sources said physalis peruviana has a better flavor. There are some other named varieties too but I don't think they're easy to find.

My plants came from a small, local, organic nursery. It was late in the season, and they practically gave them away. I'm hoping with an earlier start this year, I'll be able to harvest enough for a batch of jam, or a pie.

I haven't tried the Aunt Molly, but maybe I'll order some seeds for that one too, that way we can do a taste comparison with the pineapple.

My grandmother's came back every year. They must self seed easily if some fruit is left to go to seed and not harvested for seed. She made the most delicious preserves from them, can't describe the flavor but similar to the ones you can make with little yellow tomatoes. I did make some of those one year, can't remember where I got the yellow tomatoes, they turned out well IIRC. I added a little ginger and lemon rind or juice but usually go easy on ginger.

I've had seeds, don't know if they are the same as cape gooseberry, but never got them planted. Personally, those I think I'd try to direct sow or at least hold some seeds back and try both. Probably shouldn't mulch if you want them to come back.

I tried ground cherries from seed this last year for the first time. I got the seed from Jung's. Seed Savers sells seed, too, I believe.

I planted mine like a WS tomato, and I use Trudi's method of continuing to add soil around the plant as it sprouts to create a strong root system. I started them in April. Mine didn't get real big and they took a while to grow. They started producing ripe fruit in August and September. We had a very cool summer, so this probably affected the growth. My tomatoes, as a comparison plant, were sure sad and sorry last summer.

My kids loved collecting and peeling the cherries out of the husk.

I left a few on the ground to see if it would reseed this year.

cheers,
Norabelle

A few years ago a neighbour gave me some seeds she saved - just put them on a plate over winter and they dried and left seeds. I direct sowed them early spring, and they did quite well, but I did not like the flavour. However, they do re-seed because I've had a volunteers. This year one volunteer, near my tomatoes, escaped me until it was well-grown. It produced some fruit which the kids ate.

It's encouraging to know that they volunteer even in areas north of me and will still have time to fruit before frost. Surely I can get a few to grow here.
Thanks

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).

Hi! Just wading in here from a colder Zone 2b (3 if we're lucky). l've grown Molly's 2 years now and get a decent crop before frosts start end-Aug/beg Sept. I start the seeds with my tomatoes-they are not difficult at all but like 25°C. I get close to 100% germination and they also don't take 2 weeks at this temperature, it's closer to 1-week. The seedlings are slow to start but do well closer to May/ June. I think they like a longer day length so my suplimental lights help. Our nights are routinely 8-10°C and our summers are 25C, so essentially if I can grow them here then anyone can grow them!