growing physalis

[growingkasbar]

i found a place that supplys physalis trees. I love these fruits and they can be quite expensive and difficult to find in the shops. I thought about growing them and was wondering if anyone has tried them before? if anyone has any idea about when to plant them, when they fruit etc?

[Iamhanuman]

tried unsuccessfully from seed, but never tried plants!!
good luck.
there are definately Grapes on here who can advise - they are also known as Cape Gooseberries.

[Two_Sheds]

I found this with the search button: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...oes_14154.html

[blackkitty]

I've germinated some from shop bought fruit but found that it got too cold in the greenhouse (its not heated) before they fruited, I guess if you started them really early or had a heated greenhouse they would grow. We used to grow them in SA where they last for years and fruit like crazy.

[zazen999]

You need 2 for pollenation.

They grow to be quite big; 3-4 feet across and the same height. Can get a bit straggly and can need support.

Harvests around the end of the summer. If we get a bad summer, they harvest just before the frosts so you have to be quite diligent about not losing them. They do fruit like crazy once they get going though.

[rdmstff]

i found a place that supplys physalis trees. I love these fruits and they can be quite expensive and difficult to find in the shops. I thought about growing them and was wondering if anyone has tried them before? if anyone has any idea about when to plant them, when they fruit etc?

I bought 2 plants from dobies, have them in the greenhouse tonight I noticed some flowers, very excited.
I remember as a child late 30's my Gt aunt grew them for decoration and my sister picked all the fruit!

[growingkasbar]

Good luck rdmstff hope you get lots of fruits. They are rather tasty

[Scottishnewbie]

I germinated 6/6 of these this year and they are all growing great guns....I didn't know they could be tricky....beginners luck I imagine!

Didn't know you needed 2, so my 6 will be plenty I guess....maybe too plenty!

A quick question though, do you pinch out the tops or just let them do their own thing? And do I need to stake them - they are about 6 inches high just now.

Ta

Laura

[growingkasbar]

I have been reading about this and some people do pinch out the tops and some dont, both have said the plant fruits again. so i guess its your choice. sorry i know that was no help!

[Scottishnewbie]

Thanks growingkasbar, I'll pinch out a couple and leave the rest unpinched (I wonder if that's a real word!?!).

hopefully someone else can advise if they need to be staked as i have no idea what size they are likely to grow to!