Growing and Sowing Ground Cherry

Ground Cherry, also called husk cherry, husk tomato, strawberry tomato or golden berry, is a lovely fruit for the vegetable garden. The plants form husks, which look like a paper lantern. They change colour from green to dark yellow/orange to brown.

At first there will appear green berries in the husks, which turn orange as they ripen. When the husks fall off the bush, the berries are ripe. The taste is sweet/sour, somewhat similar to pineapple. This fruit is also often used as a garnish. In the vegetable garden it is a great eye-catcher.

Growing your own Ground Cherry from seeds

Ground cherry belongs to the nightshade family. It is a bushy-growing Physalis with tasty fruits. The taste of the berries is fresh, fruity and aromatic and is somewhat similar to that of pineapple. The plants first form flowers that grow into husks. This produces the fruits, which ripen further inside the husk. When they are ripe, the husk dries out and falls to the ground. This is the time to harvest.

Ground Cherry, also known as golden berry, is native to South America. It is a plant that needs relatively a lot of heat and is an annual in our climate. The harvest is therefore very dependent on the weather. They can also be grown in a pot or raised container. The advantage of this is that you can better protect them in bad weather by bringing them indoors or covering them. 

Buy Ground Cherry Seeds Online > 

Sowing and planting Ground Cherry

To give the plant sufficient time to grow in our climate, the ground cherry must be pre-sown indoors. This is possible from February to April. When the plants are large enough, they should be repotted into larger pots. After ice saints, when no more frost is expected, place them in the garden in a sunny, sheltered spot.

Position and soil for Ground Cherry

In order to get a good harvest, it is important that the plants have a sunny and sheltered spot. A normal, slightly moist soil is ideal. Soil that is too nutritious, especially nitrogen, causes a lot of leaf growth and few fruits. Ground cherry grows poorly on clay soil.

How to care of your ground cherry plants

As the plants grow larger, it is recommended to support them to prevent them from blowing over. Regular watering and giving nutrition from time to time is sufficient. Make sure there is not too much nitrogen in the fertiliser.

When and how to harvest ground cherry?

You can harvest the ground cherry when the fruits fall from the bushes. This is often from July to October, depending on the weather. Be aware that other parts of the plant and the still very unripe berries can be poisonous. So, as a precaution, only consume the ripe berries.

How to preserve ground cherry

After harvest, ground cherry can be stored in a cool place for up to a week. Preferably not in the fridge. Unripe fruits can continue to ripen at room temperature. They can be frozen, but there is a chance they will burst open and become mushy. So, to keep them longer, it is better to process them into, for example, juice or jam.

Is ground cherry healthy?

Ground cherry is a healthy berry. In particular, it is high in vitamins B3 and C and low in calories.

Ground cherry seeds in our collection

In our range we have the ground cherry seeds from the brand ’Buzzy Seeds’ and Organic Ground Cherry Seeds of De Bolster brand. With these seeds you grow a very productive and low-growing plant that starts to bear fruit early. The fruits are ripe and can be harvested as soon as the husks fall from the plant.

Tips to grow ground cherry

Support the plants, as they grow, to protect them from falling over during heavy rain and wind. Give the plant the sunniest, sheltered spot you have in the garden.

Buy Ground Cherry Seeds Online >