Ground Cherries

65 days. Polish heirloom variety has an unusually fine flavor—very sweet with a nice hint of tartness. 1/2-3/4-inch fruit is enclosed in a papery husk which drops to the ground when fully ripe. High pectin content makes this one an excellent choice for pies and preserves.

• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 7-21 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-90 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/8 inch
• Plant Spacing: 18" apart
  
• Frost Hardy: No
• Physalis pruinosa

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

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!

• 6-12 hours of Sun
• Sprouts in 7-21 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-90 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/8"
  
• Plant Spacing: 18"
• Frost Hardy: No
  
• Physalis pruinosa
  

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