Ground-cherry

Year-round

Ground cherry is a low, sprawling warm season annual related to the tomatillo. It is easy going in average garden soil as long as it gets plenty of sun.

• Give it full sun for at least 6 hours a day. More sun means more fruit.
• It grows more like a sprawling bush than an upright plant, so give it 18 to 24 inches of space in every direction and skip the stakes or cages.
• Once it is established it has a strong root system and can ride out short dry spells, but even watering while it is fruiting gives you plumper berries.
• Regular garden soil is fine. You usually do not need to add extra fertilizer.
• It is a warm season annual, so the whole plant lives, fruits, and dies back in one growing season.
• Ground cherry is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses.

Fall

Ground cherry keeps fruiting into fall until the first freeze, then it is time to clean up the bed.

• Ground cherry keeps fruiting right up until the first freeze hits, so you can keep harvesting into fall.
• The plant drops seed easily, so if you are not collecting every fruit, plan on some volunteer seedlings showing up next spring.
• Once cold weather ends the season, cut back the dead growth and clear out any leftover fruit and husks.
• If you want to save seed for next year, let a few ripe fruits dry fully before you scoop out the seeds.

Cutting back the spent plant and clearing dropped fruit keeps the bed looking tidy from the street as the season winds down.

Winter

As a warm season annual, ground cherry is finished for the year once a hard freeze hits. Clear the bed and wait for spring.

• Ground cherry is a warm season annual, so a hard freeze finishes it off for the year. There is no plant to protect or insulate.
• Clear away the dead stems and any leftover husks once the plant is fully done.
• Leave the bed bare or add a fresh layer of mulch until you are ready to plant again in spring.
• Watch for volunteer seedlings popping up on their own in early spring from seed the plant dropped last fall.

Clearing the dead annual stalks keeps the winter bed looking cared for instead of leaving brown debris in view.

Spring

Spring is planting time, whether you are starting seed indoors or setting out transplants once frost danger has passed.

• Start seed indoors about six to seven weeks before your last spring frost, or wait until after frost danger has passed to set out transplants.
• Pick a spot that gets full sun for most of the day.
• Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart since they spread out rather than grow tall.
• Keep the soil evenly moist while the transplants settle in, then you can ease back on watering once they are established.

Summer

Summer is the main growing and fruiting stretch. Keep it watered through the heat and start checking for ripe fruit.

• This is the main growing and fruiting season. Full sun and consistent water give you the best crop of berries.
• The plant can handle hot, dry stretches once it is established, but a deep watering when rain is scarce keeps the fruit from drying out.
• A layer of mulch around the base helps hold soil moisture and keeps the ripening fruit cleaner as it starts to drop.
• You will know fruit is ready when the papery husk turns tan and dry and the berry inside falls to the ground on its own.

Picking up dropped fruit regularly keeps the bed from looking messy near the front of the yard.