Physalis

[RaptorUK]

I picked 9 ripe physalis in the GH today.

Aren't you supposed to let them fall off so you know they are ripe rather than picking them ?

[veggiechicken]

Most of them had fallen, the others fell when I touched them
Maybe I should have said, "picked UP"

[AllInContainers]

They will ripen off the plant, but fairly slowly. I grew them indoors last year and they took over. Once I'd decided they had to go I went around picking all the fruits off and put them aside to ripen before hacking them down and moving the pots outside to suffer the cold and wet.

This year I had a few seedlings if Inca Berry, and black and golden huckleberries, but culled this to just a single inca berry plant to be grown outside. I reckon my windowsill will look a lot nicer with a dwarf pomegranate and a couple of chilli plants than those sprawling monstrosities ... although the fruits are gorgeous!

[darcyvuqua]

Found my pack today phew there edible ones

[Scarlet]

than those sprawling monstrosities ... although the fruits are gorgeous!

You can get dwarf ones that are more suitable for a pot

[AllInContainers]

This year it'll be outside Scarlet, so not an issue Besides, I think the dwarf pomegranate and chillis will do better there (assuming I can get the pommie to fit there - bit of a side project that one).
From what I've read, I also didn't do myself any favours by trying to support them, which seems to make matters worse. I decided to try them ouside unsupported this year to see how differently they react

[sparrow100]

I grew the Unwins 'Little Lanterns' variety last year outside in pots. These turned out to be the dwarf variety. The berries are smaller, yellow and much much sweeter than the physalis in the shops. Small Child and OH loved them. They certainly are prolific. Am trying the giant version this year.

[andy_j]

Be very careful, some species of Physalis are absolute thugs...i (foolishly) planted some in a border at work and now they're coming up everywhere....up to 10 foot away from the original planting area and they've only been in 2 years.

Might be worth growing them in a tub.

[eospete]

Seeds or runners Andy?
I'm trying them for the first time this year starting under glowlights then in the greenhouse
Wong physalis Peruvian. Just started sprouting this week.
Will follow this thread with interest.

[BertieFox]

We grow them in the polytunnel where they come back every year from the roots. The current ones are the Physalis peruviana types but the best we grew were the Physalis pruinosa ones which have slightly sweeter fruit. I find them an acquired taste and don't enjoy more than the odd one, though they might be better cooked. They take up a lot of space. I am sure in a sheltered sunny spot they would do really well in the garden, but not in a very wet summer as ripening would be a problem. Unripe fruit is supposed to be toxic as are the calyxes themselves. To keep the plant overwinter, you can dig up the roots and store them in a frost free place in a large pot with soil or compost, and then start them into growth in the late spring.

[andy_j]

Seeds or runners Andy?
.

Runners....and lots of em !!!!!!

[eospete]

Great background info BertieFox and Andy. Thanks.
P

[Raybon]

I planted my seeds in unheated greenhouse about four weeks ago, only just germinating! Am really excited. My sister grows them in the South of France and they self-seed generously every year.....delish!

[AllInContainers]

I had a few germinate on my windowsill this year, but reduced it to just the best one as that was all I had room for. Now I've introduced more trees I don't have space for that one either, so I'll be gifting it to my brother

[johnjohn]

I've tried to germinate 3 packets of seed so far this year and had no success whatsoever, I know they can take a long time though. Think I'm going to cheat and buy a few plants instead