Preciosa

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Solanaceae

Order

Solanales

Genus

Physalis

Species

pruinosa

Description

The Ground Cherry is an annual herbaceous plant belonging, together with tomato, aubergine and potato, to the Solanaceae family. With its bushy habit, it often requires supports as it can reach heights of up to 70 cm. It can be cultivated both in flowerbeds and in large pots, preferring a light, wind-protected exposure. Appreciated in the culinary field for its fruits, berries with a sweet-sour-aromatic flavour, which ripen from late summer until autumn inside the fruiting calyx with its peculiar lantern shape. The plant also displays a showy flowering during the summer period, which gives it added ornamental value.

Variety description

The species and variety is very special and not very widespread in the world. It is a variety that adapts to different types of soil, but a sunny exposure is of paramount importance. The cultivation cycle is relatively quick. Flowering occurs in the summer period. The flower has a parchment-like 'lantern' calyx, which is very characteristic. The fruit is a berry the size of a cherry with small orange-yellow seeds. The flavour is curious and peculiar, but sweet, and it is mainly used in chocolate-covered confectionery. In addition to agri-food use, the plant can also be cultivated for ornamental purposes.

Curiosities and special features

The generic term, physalis, derives from the Greek physa meaning bubble, full of air in reference to the typical calyx that forms a capsule similar to a balloon; the plant is commonly called the ground cherry because the fruits, similar to cherries or small round tomatoes, tend to fall to the ground once ripe.

Considerable interest is directed towards the culinary use of the berries, which are edible when ripe; rich in vitamin C and potassium, they can be eaten raw or cooked, lending a particular and unique sensory accent to preserves, jellies, fruit salads, jams, desserts and cakes.

Origin and distribution

A species native to the geographic range of South America extending from Mexico to western Venezuela, in seasonally dry tropical habitats.

Flower size

The flower is medium-sized, lending elegance to the showy bloom.

Leaf

The leaf has a lanceolate, oval lamina and is also tomentose, i.e. covered with a silky down to the touch.

Fruit

The fruit is a round berry, contains no seeds and has a firm consistency weighing between 20 and 40 g. The colouring is two-coloured and homogeneous, while the skin is smooth. From a sensory point of view, the fruit is not spicy (0-100 SHU) and has a characteristic sweet and sour flavour with a mild, mild taste. The aroma is delicate and fruity, while it is unscented. Ripening occurs in the period from summer to autumn. According to the technical evaluation, it is a variety with good organoleptic characteristics and an overall good fruit quality.

Flowering period

The distinctive and scenic flowering lasts from early summer to late summer for 80 to 90 days.

Leaf colour

Unicolour shades.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.8 to 1 m depending on the growing conditions.

Lifespan

Annual Plant.

Where to plant

Versatile in use, it is cultivated as a bedding plant , pot plant , large pots, open field, terraces

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is of medium size. It flowers from early summer to late summer, with a flowering period of 80 to 90 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

With proper cultivation care it develops medium to vigorous growth.

Plant habit

Variety with a sarmentose habit for which the use of supports or stakes is recommended.

Branching

Branching is Medium.

PH

The pH, an indicator of the acidity level of the soil, is of major importance for the proper overall development of the plant, in particular values between 6.0 and 7.0 represent the optimal range for this variety of ground cherry.

Soil preparation

Before transplanting in spring, it is very important to prepare the soil correctly; to this end, it is advisable to carry out light digging to eliminate any weeds, then continue by burying chemical or organic fertiliser and, with the aid of a hoe, break up the clods. Continue by creating a raised bed of 15-20 cm by ballasting the soil to obtain proper drainage of excess water, thus avoiding harmful water stagnation, then carefully level the surface with a rake, preparing the planting furrows according to a suitable density. After transplanting, insert the chosen stake about 10 cm from the plant, avoiding damaging the roots, and tie it to the stem with raffia, plastic or wicker without tightening it too much so as not to damage it; it is also advisable to arrange the stakes in a T or V shape in order to ensure better protection from wind damage. During cultivation, continue to remove weeds in the vicinity of the crop with a hoe so that they do not represent an obstacle to the growth of the seedling.

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Sun exposure

It prefers exposures in full sun, sheltered from the wind.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 18 and 28 °C. It is suitable for temperate climates and fears frost. The biological temperature is between 10 and 35 °C.

Use

Due to the fruits produced and the flamboyant flowering, it is cultivated at all levels of expertise for the following fields of application

Agribusiness Ornamental Outdoor Landscape Design Landscaping

Hardiness

Variety of medium hardiness, prefers bright exposures and warm temperate climate.

Soil

Suitable for different soil conditions, however, the best condition is medium-textured, structured, well-draining soil with organic matter; a specific soil for horticulture is recommended for use in pots.

Difficulty

Cultivation of the ground cherry is fairly easy, requiring a medium level of management effort with fertilisation and irrigation in proportion to the plant's needs.

Growing tips

Some useful cultivation tips for optimum vegetative growth and a suitable final production level:

Balanced fertilisation Avoid over-watering Keep the substrate moist at all times Put outside when there is no longer a risk of frost Expose the plant to maximum light Keep the substrate dry at low temperatures

Intercropping/combination

In horticulture, intercropping with radish is suggested.

Planting

For use in flowerbeds or open fields, in view of the habit and growth of the variety, an average planting density of 3 plants per square metre is recommended in order to allow proper vegetative development of each specimen.

When transplanting, use young seedlings with intact root systems by positioning them on a raised bed with the vegetative apex above the soil surface, avoiding completely sinking the lumps and irrigating immediately after planting, preferably during the morning hours.

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Pruning

Harvest when the berries are ripe, in the summer-autumn period; take care to collect ripe fruit left on the ground by the plant in good time.

Propagation

Propagation can be by cuttings or by sowing in containers.

Repotting

Repotting in spring in a larger container with suitable substrate if the plant shows stunted growth.

Watering

The water requirements for the species are not high, however it is necessary to increase the frequency of intervention during the period of greatest growth and during the summer due to the warmer temperatures.

Use rainwater, or alternatively aqueduct or canal water with an optimal neutral pH, intervening manually or by drip irrigation or sub-irrigation.

When transplanting, assist the seedling to ensure it adapts properly to its new site, guaranteeing constant humidity but avoiding excessive water supplies that may cause root rot.

Then take care to allow the soil to dry slightly between one watering and the next, keeping it moist but free of stagnation, and do not water the aerial part of the plant during the afternoon/evening.

In the case of sowing, it is advisable to keep the soil wet until the sprout emerges, after completely burying the seed and covering it with substrate and non-woven fabric.

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Fertilising

In the pre-transplant soil preparation phase, use an organo-mineral fertiliser for basic fertilisation to ensure the nutrients the seedling needs in the very early stages of growth. Subsequently apply a specific water-soluble fertiliser for horticulture in the correct doses and frequencies, to be diluted with fertirrigation in the water according to the plant's requirements in the various development phases. Specifically, in the period following transplanting, use a complete fertiliser with a predominance of phosphorous for better root growth, in the growth phase use a complete fertiliser with a higher nitrogen content, and in the ripening phase use a fertiliser with a higher potassium content.

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Pet safety

Ingestion toxicity of ripe berries not known; consider your specific case and consult your veterinarian.

Edibility for humans

The ripe berry, raw or cooked, is the only edible part of the plant.

Toxicity for humans

Ripe berries if ingested in suitable quantities are not toxic, however, consider the individual case.

Avoid ingesting unripe berries, flowers, leaves, stems and roots.

Tip

Only transplant when the minimum temperature stabilises above the biological minimum of the species/variety as it fears frost. Particular attention must be paid to the detection and control of pathogens and pests, which must be stopped preventively in the case of cryptogams and only if the damage threshold is exceeded in the case of pests. In order to encourage good plant development and to obtain attractive and healthy fruit, supports or stakes must be used.