Cape gooseberry Kapstachelbeere - cape gooseberry seeds

Physalis peruviana - Cape Gooseberry

A perennial bedding plant with expansive growth. It reaches a height of 60 - 120 cm. Undemanding, easy to grow and propagate. In spring, it is adorned with inconspicuous flowers, which are later replaced by inflated bladders whose colour transitions from green, through yellow to bright orange and red. The bladders closely resemble lanterns and conceal small spherical fruits that are red, orange, or yellow in colour. Depending on the species of physalis, the fruits may or may not be edible.

As mentioned above, there are over 100 species of physalis. Among the best known is the Cape gooseberry (P. peruviana), whose fruits are edible and have a pineapple flavour. Chinese lantern (P. alkekengi) is grown primarily as an ornamental plant. Tomatillo or Mexican husk tomato (P. ixocarpa) is an annual physalis species. Its fruits are edible and are grown in America as a vegetable.

The berries of edible physalis have a piquant, sweet-sour, very refreshing taste. They contain small amounts of sugars, pectins, provitamin A and vitamin C. In terms of minerals, the content of potassium, phosphorus and calcium is significant. The fruits can be used to make jams, sauces, and can also be consumed raw or stewed with honey. Chinese lantern is among the most sought-after ornamental plants. Its lanterns can be used for various creative activities. The lanterns can be made into a dried arrangement for a vase, or they can be plucked and incorporated into autumn wreaths, or peeled to create little stars that you place in a bowl as decoration. However, the greatest advantage of physalis is their rapid growth.

How to Grow Physalis

• Plants require a sunny to partially shaded location. Water the plants as needed. In our conditions, it is grown as an annual. It grows very vigorously. Therefore, carefully consider where you plant it. There is a risk that it will suppress other plants in the bed.

• Sow seeds in March to April in special substrate designed for sowing and propagation. Plant grown seedlings in their final location only in May after the last frost. For one plant, it is advisable to allow a space of approximately 0.5 x 0.5 m.

• Chinese lantern does not require any special soil. The most suitable is a nutritious, permeable, moist substrate with a slightly alkaline reaction.

  Cape gooseberry requires deeply worked humus-rich soil.

• Plants do not need to be fertilised in nutrient-rich soils, especially Chinese lantern does not need fertilising. Cape gooseberry requires fertilisation every 14 days in the form of liquid feeding with complete NPK fertiliser. It is suitable to choose, for example, Cererit or Kristalon - fruit and flower.

• Plants are not attacked by any pests or birds.

• Harvest Cape gooseberry from September to October. Their ripeness can be recognised by the brownish colour of the lantern. Pick them with the calyx, which must be removed after harvesting to prevent the fruits from becoming bitter.

  Harvest Chinese lantern intended for decoration as needed. It can be dried in a warm, dark and airy room.