Ground Cherry Seeds, New Hanover
New Hanover Ground Cherry fruits in a bucket with some chocolate-covered fruits.
New Hanover Ground Cherry fruits in a bucket with some chocolate-covered fruits on a wooden background.
Ground Cherry Seeds, New Hanover
New Hanover Ground Cherry fruits in a bucket with some chocolate-covered fruits.
New Hanover Ground Cherry fruits in a bucket with some chocolate-covered fruits on a wooden background.

Ground Cherry Seeds,
New Hanover

4.418 ReviewsSKU: #GR166Min. seed count: 25
Price
Regular price $4.00
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Description

Ground cherries are close relatives of tomatillos, considered a type of “husk tomato.” The flavor is often more tangy than sweet, and tastes more like a vegetable than a fruit, but not the New Hanover: it’s sweet, fruity, and addictive. It can be hard to save seeds from these because you’ll want to eat every fruit! Preserved by the late Katie Hoffman Slonaker (1903-1983) in New Hanover, Pennsylvania, until becoming a part of the Roughwood Seed Collection; this variety is likely to become popular once again. We think it tastes better than common cultivars. At a tasting held by the American Institute of Wine and Food, it beat all other ground cherries tested!

Growing Tips: Start transplants indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Cover lightly with soil. Do not allow soil to dry out.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Physalis pruinosa
Life Cycle
Annual
Sun Requirement
6–12 hr.
Days to Germinate
7–21
Days to Maturity
70
Planting Depth
⅛ in.
Plant Spacing
18 in.
Ideal Temperature
70–90°F
Frost Hardy
No

When to Grow

Start transplants indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date, keeping the seedlings warm on a horticulture-grade heat mat, then set them out in full sun after your last frost; the plants are not frost hardy. Sow the seed 1/8 inch deep at an ideal germination temperature of 70 to 90 F. New Hanover reaches maturity in about 70 days.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Start transplants indoors 6-8 weeks before last average frost date.
  • Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep.
  • Ideal germination temperature is between 70-90 F and seedlings can be kept warm with a horticulture- grade heat mat.
  • Seeds will germinate in 7-21 days.

How to Grow

  • Space plants 18 inches apart in the garden with a nice layer of mulch (plastic, burlap, or straw mulch work great).
  • Plant in full sun, provide average moisture.
  • Fruit will drop to the ground when ripe; plastic or burlap mulch helps to catch the fruit and keep it clean and prevent rot.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • A generally pest- and disease-free plant

How to Save Seeds

  • Isolate different varieties by 500 feet. In order to ensure a strong genetic diversity, be sure to save fruit from a minimum of 5 plants.
  • Seed saving this fruit is easy; just remove husks and blend the fruit with water.
  • Allow the watery mix to separate. Pour off the separated pulp and water and save the seeds that settled on the bottom.
  • Strain seeds and air dry, then store them in a dark, dry, cool location.
  • If properly stored, seeds will remain viable for up to 6 years.

FAQ

How does New Hanover taste compared with other ground cherries?

Ground cherries are close relatives of tomatillos and are often more tangy than sweet, but New Hanover is sweet, fruity, and addictive. At a tasting held by the American Institute of Wine and Food, it beat all other ground cherries tested.

Where did New Hanover come from?

It was preserved by the late Katie Hoffman Slonaker (1903-1983) in New Hanover, Pennsylvania, until it became part of the Roughwood Seed Collection.

Does New Hanover have pest or disease problems?

Ground cherry is generally a pest- and disease-free plant. Space plants 18 inches apart in full sun with average moisture, and lay down mulch; plastic or burlap underneath catches the fruit as it drops, keeps it clean, and prevents rot.

Customer reviews

4.4 / 5 18 Reviews

What gardeners are saying

  • Sweet, fruity flavor: Pineapple and citrus notes when fully ripe; some find it odd.

  • Heavy producer: Shrub-sized plants drop ripe fruit daily all season.

  • Ripe when it drops: Wait for dry husks and fallen fruit; picked early it is sour.

  • Self-seeds readily: Volunteers come back on their own the next year.

  • Growing tips: Seeds start slowly; keep warm and moist, and be patient.

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