Latin physalis edulis
Ground cherries, aka cape gooseberries, originate from the high altitudes of South America. The Aunt Molly variety was cultivated in Poland after ground cherries made their way to Europe in the early 1800's. Known for its abundance of fruit, earlier harvest and prized for its flavour this variety quickly became the premier choice for gardeners in northern climates. Like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant ground cherry's are part of the nightshade family. Despite their name ground cherries have no botanical relation to cherries. Their tropical flavour is unique and resembles a mix between citrus and pineapple.
Germination for ground cherry seeds can be quite slow and sometimes uneven so be patient with these ones. Fruit is ripe when the husk turns from green to a yellowish-white or when they fall to the ground (hence the name). Start them between 8 and 10 weeks before last frost. Mature plant will sprawl along ground or can be caged to encourage more vertical growth. Ground cherries can also be successfully grown in containers. Matures in approximately 70 days.
20+ Seeds Per Pack