Ground cherries are also known as physalis, golden berries, Inca berries, cape gooseberries, and Poha berries. No matter what you call them, these little jewels are packed full of nutrition, flavor, and nutrients that will change your life forever! These berries are most commonly referred to by their scientific name: physalis. They’re round, firm fruits that are members of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family, which makes them cousins of tomatoes and tomatillos.
Tomatillo plants are almost identical to physalis in that they both create dry husk flowers around each individual fruit. In fact, there’s only noticeable difference between ground cherries and tomatillos. Once ripe, tomatillo plants will stay on the branch on which they grew. In contrast, ground cherries will fall to the ground once mature. This is actually how the ground cherry gets its common name.
This fruit is native to Central America, and although it comes in many varieties, it is always bright yellow or golden in colour and covered with a dry husk. These superfruits are full of vitamins such as Beta-Carotene (to improve your eyesight), Vitamin A (to improve your skin’s moisture layer), Vitamin C (to improve your immune system), Thiamin (to aid digestion), Riboflavin (to boost your energy levels), Niacin (to keep you in a happy mood) and so much more. Considering how good they are for you, who wouldn’t want to have these amazing fruits in their garden?
We’ve created an easy, five-step, how-to guide on how to grow these little gems.
Step 1. Where to Grow
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Before you even start digging, you will need to decide where you’d like to plant them. Since ground cherries are native to central America, they flourish well in moderately warm to hot climates where they will receive moderate to full sun. They also prefer a long growing season.
Ground cherries do not need overly fertile soil, as they are used to poor conditions. This allows them to survive in anything from clay or mulch to compost, depending on the variety. In fact, if the soil is too rich, they will develop lush greenery, but few fruits. This being said, however, ground cherries will benefit when planted in raised beds in order to have good drainage for their roots.
Keep in mind that this is a perennial plant. Wherever you decide to grow it, be aware that it will keep coming back (and spreading) year after year. Another important detail to note is that all parts of the plant except its fruit are quite poisonous. Going the raised bed route is ideal if you have pets and small children, as keeping physalis out of reach may keep little ones and furry friends safe.
Step 2: When to Grow.
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Whether you choose to plant seeds or seedlings, the most important thing to keep in mind is to plant them outside after the last frost is over. If you’re growing seedlings indoors first, be patient. Ground cherries usually take more than 6 weeks before they begin to form sprouts.
Expose the seedlings to outdoor temperatures bit by bit, so you don’t shock them. Once you plant them in the ground, consider using cloches—or even Mason jars—to protect them until they’ve grown a bit.
Step 3: Planting Physalis
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Plant sprouts with at least 2.5 inches of space around each stem. These plants are known to grow wide, both in their foliage and in their root systems. Make sure you place each ground cherry plant at least 3 inches deep in the soil, then cover with remaining soil and press lightly. You can keep these seedlings happy by watering them thoroughly at least once a week. Water more often during dry conditions.
If you’re thinking about companion planting, physalis has good and bad neighbours to be aware of. They grow well alongside basil, parsley, carrots, onions, and hot peppers. Avoid planting them near corn, potatoes, fennel, or dill.
Step 4: Harvesting
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Ground cherries typically hit maturity 70 days after being planted. First, you’ll see the bell-like flower transform into a papery husk. This husk will turn beige and then drop to the ground once the fruit is ripe. Some gardeners place a tarp or fresh grass trimmings beneath their ground cherry plants to keep the fruit from getting dirty. Additionally, this method also makes the berries easier to spot. Each fruit should be around 0.5 to 1 inches in diameter. Once you gather them up, peel those husks open to reveal the golden treasures within.
Step 5: Eating Ground Cherries
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Finally! Since ground cherries come in a vast array of varieties, these little beauties are very versatile. According to home gardeners, the most popular and edible ones are Aunt Molly, Pineapple, Goldie. The Aunt Molly cape gooseberry variety has been described as having a melon or grape-like taste, and is light when ripe. This variety works best in pies or marmalade recipes, as it has a high pectin concentration.
The Pineapple type gets its name from… yes, you guessed it: the fruit’s distinct pineapple flavour. Considering how it tastes, this fruit is best eaten raw, or processed in a smoothie. This variety is known for its heat-resistant properties, and is more golden-orange in appearance. Goldie is tart and juicy, making it ideal for salsa and salads. This has a classic golden tone, and also has one of the fastest maturity rates among ground cherry varieties.
If you choose to eat your physalis when ripe, they’re incredibly easy to prepare. All you need to do is remove the dry husk, wash each fruit, and then pop as many of them into your mouth as you please!
How to Store Them
If you choose to freeze them, however, you shouldn’t simply pop them into a freezer bag as you would ordinarily do with other berries. Contemporary chefs agreed that since these berries share anatomical traits with tomatoes, they should be frozen in the same way. The way to do this is to spread them out on a tray lined with parchment. Freeze them for approximately 5 hours, and then transfer the fruits into a freezer-safe bag.
If you’re just going to keep them in the fridge or cold cellar for later use, it’s best to store them with their husks still intact. In fact, you don’t even need a cold place to store them. As long as they’re left in their husks, they can be kept in a dark, dry place for up to three months.
Ground Cherry Preserves
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Another popular way to enjoy physalis fruits is by preserving them. To make ground cherry preserves, all you need to do is to simply combine 2 parts fruit to 1 part sugar. Mix that with ¼ part lemon juice in a saucepan that has been heated to a medium temperature.
Stir constantly for approximately 20 minutes, while constantly skimming off the foamy layer that forms at the top. Once your mixture has thickened, transfer it into sterilized, pre-heated jelly jars. Leave the top ¼ of each jar empty, and screw on the lids. Since ground cherries are rich in natural pectin, there is no need to add additional pectin powder, unlike other preserved fruit. For safety purposes, it’s best to preserve this jam with safe canning procedures, so process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool completely, and store them once the metal lids have popped downwards, creating a seal.
Ground cherries are also delicious when dried into a raisin-like state. For this method, all you have to do is leave the washed fruit on a clean surface, in a sunny place. Make sure to cover them with a light mesh covering to avoid unwanted pests eating the fruits before they are ready. Another drying method is to use a food dehydrator, which can be bought in any common household appliance store. Each machine is constructed differently, however, so make sure to read the instructions carefully.
A Recipe for You to Try!
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My mother is a huge fan of these amazing superfruits. In fact, at the time that this article was being written, she just so happened to purchase a container of them to make her delicious “Superwoman smoothie”. I have shared this recipe below, as it’s delicious, nutritious and incredibly easy to make.
“The Superwoman Smoothie”
Ingredients:
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- 1 cup of baby kale leaves
- ¾ c (6 oz) kefir, vanilla or plain
- ½ cup ground cherries
- ½ cup blueberries
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a blender, and pulse until smooth. Transfer into a glass and enjoy.
There you have it! Your very own, homegrown, fresh ground cherries. A great thing about them is that once they start growing, it’s hard to stop them. In fact, many farmers have concluded that if you leave ripe ground cherries on the ground they are likely to re-seed until you have a huge patch of them. Typically, each plant will generate 100-300 berries, and will keep bearing fruit until the end of the season. You’ll be able to eat these treats well into late autumn, and preserve plenty more to enjoy over the winter months.
Happy growing!