Physalis (ground cherry)

CherryTom · April 30, 2017

Hello, I have multiple ground cherries but understand that there are multiple different genetics that are mostly self producing. I am wondering if anyone knows about cross potential of these guys.

Durgan · April 30, 2017

I grew them for number of years. The only one that was suitable for my season was the Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry). I tried two others not worth considering. Often fruit, but the season was too short for ripening.

Out of about six years I only had one good year and got around a bushel from about four plants. They are very hard picking. But a very nice fruit as a novelty.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WXDUB 4 October 2011 Ground Cherry. (Physalis Pruinosa) aka Aunt Molly Ground Cherry
Three pounds of ground cherries were picked from two plants. The cleaned weight is 2.5 pounds. They may be eaten raw or cooked. I prefer them cooked. They have a most pleasant taste similar to cooked peaches. They take a long season, so I start the seedlings indoors. They are prolific self seeders also. Any berries indicating green should be discarded, since they contain solanine. The same substance indicated by potatoes turning green when exposed to light.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LBXEL 23 October 2013 Physalis peruviana (Cape Gooseberry)
Plants still producing fruit after about five frosts over the last six weeks. This fruit, one pound, was plucked from the branches not off the ground. Plants are still producing flowers. There appears to be no frost damage and the quality of the fruit is excellent and all ripe.

CherryTom · May 1, 2017

Interesting, we have a wild variety here as well as the cultivated variety "Aunt Molly's". Production in Michigan seems heavy compared to what you are describing but I'll have to take weights this year to be sure.

April 30, 2017	#1
CherryTom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Michigan Posts: 5	Physalis (ground cherry) Hello, I have multiple ground cherries but understand that there are multiple different genetics that are mostly self producing. I am wondering if anyone knows about cross potential of these guys.

April 30, 2017	#2
Durgan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Brantford, ON, Canada Posts: 1,341	I grew them for number of years. The only one that was suitable for my season was the Physalis pruinosa (Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry). I tried two others not worth considering. Often fruit, but the season was too short for ripening. Out of about six years I only had one good year and got around a bushel from about four plants. They are very hard picking. But a very nice fruit as a novelty. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WXDUB 4 October 2011 Ground Cherry. (Physalis Pruinosa) aka Aunt Molly Ground Cherry Three pounds of ground cherries were picked from two plants. The cleaned weight is 2.5 pounds. They may be eaten raw or cooked. I prefer them cooked. They have a most pleasant taste similar to cooked peaches. They take a long season, so I start the seedlings indoors. They are prolific self seeders also. Any berries indicating green should be discarded, since they contain solanine. The same substance indicated by potatoes turning green when exposed to light. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LBXEL 23 October 2013 Physalis peruviana (Cape Gooseberry) Plants still producing fruit after about five frosts over the last six weeks. This fruit, one pound, was plucked from the branches not off the ground. Plants are still producing flowers. There appears to be no frost damage and the quality of the fruit is excellent and all ripe.

May 1, 2017	#3
CherryTom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Michigan Posts: 5	Interesting, we have a wild variety here as well as the cultivated variety "Aunt Molly's". Production in Michigan seems heavy compared to what you are describing but I'll have to take weights this year to be sure.