Physalis pruninosa (Aunt Molly Ground Cherry)

**Durgan** · 04-20-2009, 07:35 PM

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?Molly 20 April 2009 Physalis pruninosa (Aunt Molly Ground Cherry)

This plant grows close to the ground and spreads in about a four foot diameter with many branches. The fruit always fall off when ripe and is rather difficult to collect under the many branches. I place landscaping material under the plants for ease of collection, and to keep the fruit from falling into the soil. Physalis pruninosa is most prolific and the fruit is delicious cooked or raw. One plant will produce about a half a bushel of fruit under ideal conditions. No insects attack my plants-touch wood.

**never2late** · 04-20-2009, 08:45 PM

I love ground cherries! My mom used to have them in her garden and they would come up all over the garden from seeds being tilled in the year before. She never planted them in all of the years I can remember. I myself on the other hand have had quite a time getting them. I notice you started them inside - maybe that's my problem; I've been direct sowing them into the ground. One year I broke down and bought plants at the nursery - they were called ground cherries, but I ended up with tomatillas, and now they have managed to come back every year all over the place! Argh!

**Durgan** · 04-21-2009, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by never2late

I love ground cherries! My mom used to have them in her garden and they would come up all over the garden from seeds being tilled in the year before. She never planted them in all of the years I can remember. I myself on the other hand have had quite a time getting them. I notice you started them inside - maybe that's my problem; I've been direct sowing them into the ground. One year I broke down and bought plants at the nursery - they were called ground cherries, but I ended up with tomatillas, and now they have managed to come back every year all over the place! Argh!

There are many self seeders in the garden, but the season is marginal and the extra time gained by starting indoors makes a big difference in the quantity of fruit harvested.

**Durgan** · 05-14-2009, 04:22 PM

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PhysalisP 14 May 2009 Physalis pruninosa.
Three plants were placed in the outdoor garden. An old tarp which usually covers pools was placed under the plants to catch the ripe fruit when it falls off the branches. Rain water seeps through this type of tarp, and the fruit is kept free of earth, and pickling is simply scooping the fruit up.