How to grow ground cherries

Physalis pruinosa · solanaceae family · annual crop

Ground cherry — hero (AI-generated reference image) — AI-generated reference image. Have a photo of this plant? Suggest one below.

Growing basics

Ground cherry is a warm-season crop, usually started indoors and transplanted.

Seeds germinate once soil reaches about 65°F.

Varieties in the library run 65 to 75 days to maturity.

Grows best in full sun.

Frost-tender: plants go out after the last frost.

Space plants about 24 inches apart.

Sources

3 ground cherries in the library

Aunt Molly's · Cossack Pineapple · Goldie

Each has a full cited page in the library.

Pests and diseases we cover

Aphid
Leaf-footed bug
Tomato hornworm
Two-spotted spider mite
Whitefly
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)
Fusarium wilt
Powdery mildew

Identification and treatment for each, with photos, in the library.

Row & Bed covers 3 ground cherry varieties, each with a cited care timeline and fertilization schedule, identification and treatment for the 5 pests and 3 diseases that reach them, and planting windows worked out for your ZIP.

Set up your garden

See something that does not match your garden? Write to andy@rowandbed.com.