I would appreciate any advice on growing these plants
hiya, carrottop, welcome to the site ;D
we've grown these this year, undercover, for the first time, they are thugs, I put them at 3' spacings, they take up at least 4'spread...still, they're loaded with fruit and I've a basketful that got knocked off that's ripening as we speak..there are lots of people on here, more experienced than us who will know more ;D
Hello carrottop.
In most places in the UK you need to grow them in a greehouse or tunnel, unless it is a very clement year! They need sun to ripen the berries which do not ripen off the plant.
Yes they are thugs :) They have very vigorous growth especially widthways. But a very attractive plant and tasty fruit. Start them off from seed in the warm and plant them out when they get bigger, or just buy a couple of plants, I had two and they grew very big!
I grew them outdoors in 2007 but it was too wet, I will try again in a warmer year.
I have five plants under glass and they have had no attention other than to tie them back to stop them from taking over the world!
I also grow Cape gooseberries, have done for the last few years. Easy to grow with little maintenace.
There are 2 main varieties, both no problem with good crop and flavour.
how do you use them, raw? or cooked? or both?
A plot neighbour grew them last year, but his family didn't like them so a few of us stood and ate the lot (at his invitation). They were so tasty (uncooked) that I grew some myself this year. They are outside and not going to ripen now I think. :( Only ever had them uncooked thifasmom, don't know how else to serve them.
well they sound easy to grow, but i haven't the space to grow them and i don't think i could justify taking a further 3 - 4ft of space in the conservatory, already pushing it with my chillies :-[.
I grow my Physallis in 12" pots outside. The variety I'm growing this year is 'Pineapple' which has smaller fruits than the the usual Peruviana or Edulis and has ripened really well despite the lack of sunshine here this year. I treat them the same as tomatoes ie start them off under cover in Feb/March and plant out late May. In pots they reach about 3 or 4 feet high and are managable. If you would like some seeds send me a PM. :)
G x
PS I eat them raw but I gather they make good jam too.
Quote from: thifasmom on September 10, 2008, 19:59:34
how do you use them, raw? or cooked? or both?
Eat 'em like cherries! Also good thin sliced/diced and mixed in a salad. Try part slicing and sticking on the rim of a G&T...!
Quote from: Georgie on September 10, 2008, 20:37:13
I grow my Physallis in 12" pots outside. The variety I'm growing this year is 'Pineapple' which has smaller fruits than the the usual Peruviana or Edulis and has ripened really well despite the lack of sunshine here this year. I treat them the same as tomatoes ie start them off under cover in Feb/March and plant out late May. In pots they reach about 3 or 4 feet high and are managable. If you would like some seeds send me a PM. :)
G x
PS I eat them raw but I gather they make good jam too.
so do you put them in a shelterd spot when you put them outside or does it not matter. thanks for the offer of seeds i might just take you up on that if i decide to try some.
Saw both sorts in a Wyvale 50p bin today... as most people wouldn't know what to do with them, virtually out of everything except flowers though!
;D
Quote from: thifasmom on September 10, 2008, 23:31:15
so do you put them in a shelterd spot when you put them outside or does it not matter. thanks for the offer of seeds i might just take you up on that if i decide to try some.[/color]
They need a warm spot I'd say - certainly the best sunny position you can offer. I'm less well versed on the shelter they need living in the city.
G x
Quote from: Georgie on September 11, 2008, 23:21:05
Quote from: thifasmom on September 10, 2008, 23:31:15
so do you put them in a sheltered spot when you put them outside or does it not matter. thanks for the offer of seeds i might just take you up on that if i decide to try some.[/color]
They need a warm spot I'd say - certainly the best sunny position you can offer. I'm less well versed on the shelter they need living in the city.
G x
I'm wondering would they be happy in a large container or pot, cause then i could put them in the best spot, and if they do well in the pot would they overwinter in the unheated greenhouse, or do they need resowing fresh every year? thanks for the reply to all these questions.
They are happy in containers providing they are watered regularly. I save my own seed and sow fresh every year. I think they can be overwintered in a frost-free place but I've never tried because I don't have the room.
G x
hmm! ok thanks for all the info i might give it a go next year.
here are ours, taking over ;D
Yes you can overwinter them, thifasmom, especially darn sarf like we are.
Does that mean that mine will ripen Amazin? So many fruits ...so very green :(
Leave them on the plant as long as you can, a couple of mild warm weeks .........hahaha ::) Might ripen them.
I have overwintered physallis outdoors in the past. I simply pruned them down to a stump, in spring some re-sprouted.
Great fruit, just don't eat them green.
Quote from: amphibian on September 14, 2008, 07:34:17
I have overwintered physallis outdoors in the past. I simply pruned them down to a stump, in spring some re-sprouted.
Great fruit, just don't eat them green.
did you mulch them to keep them warm?
Quote from: thifasmom on September 14, 2008, 12:47:24
Quote from: amphibian on September 14, 2008, 07:34:17
I have overwintered physallis outdoors in the past. I simply pruned them down to a stump, in spring some re-sprouted.
Great fruit, just don't eat them green.
did you mulch them to keep them warm?
No. They look toally dead, the old stem died back then regrowth occurred early in spring from the stump base. I moved house not long after so don't know how well they survived beyond that.