Physalis has gained popularity among gardeners due to the difference in taste, decorativeness of the fruits and the abundance of beneficial properties. In our country, it can grow in open ground only in the southern regions, but it is possible to grow physalis in a greenhouse in the central regions; with proper care, the plant gives a good harvest.
Description and characteristics of the plant
Physalis is a southern perennial plant of the nightshade family, its largest representative. He settled in Russian cuisine relatively recently, but has already acquired loyal admirers.The fruits are used for winter preparations, they are pickled, salted, and added to jars with tomatoes and cucumbers. Berry varieties are used to make jam, prepare marmalade and use it to decorate confectionery products.
Important: before eating, the fruits must be blanched to get rid of the bitter aftertaste.
Depending on the variety, the stem length is from 20 to 120 centimeters, oval, opposite leaves are up to 15 centimeters long, expanding towards the base. The large fruit is located in a box shaped like a Chinese lantern. As the fruit ripens, the orange box loses color and dries out.
There are decorative, vegetable, and berry varieties. Decorative varieties are not edible, but serve as an excellent decoration for garden plots.
Vegetable physalis looks like a tomato. Depending on the variety, the weight of the fruit is from 20 to 150 grams.
Berry, characterized by small fruits with a pronounced taste, berries from 1 to 10 grams. From one bush you can get from 2 to 5 kilograms of fruit. The most popular varieties:
- Vegetables:
- Wren;
- Moscow early;
- Large-fruited;
- Gribovsky.
Vegetable physalis is also called Mexican physalis, since Mexico is its homeland.
- Berry:
- Strawberry;
- Pineapple;
- Sugar raisins;
- Peruvian.
Berry varieties are difficult to grow in the Middle Zone; they need more heat and light than vegetable varieties.
How to plant physalis correctly
Physalis can be planted in a greenhouse in 2 ways: seedlings and cuttings.
Seeds for seedlings are pre-soaked for 30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate. The time for planting seeds for seedlings is February-March.After this, the seeds are sown in the soil, which is pre-steamed and, covered with film or glass, placed in a warm, sunny place. The temperature should be maintained around +19 °C. Plants under the film need to loosen the soil.
Water the physalis with warm water, avoiding drying out or waterlogging the soil. The planting is regularly ventilated. After the emergence of seedlings, the boxes are opened, and when 3 leaves appear, they are dived. It is better to use peat pots for picking as additional fertilizer. After 6-8 leaves appear, the seedlings are transferred to the greenhouse. Low-growing varieties are planted at the rate of 6-8 plants per 1 square meter. For tall varieties, 2 plants per square meter is sufficient.
Physalis cuttings can be planted by cutting off the tops of the shoots. Half of the cutting with 3 interstices is placed in the ground. They do this in July.
Features of growing in a greenhouse
This is a very unpretentious plant. The abundance of heat and light guarantees a good harvest. The soil for it should be neutral or slightly alkaline, loose and light. Low-growing varieties are planted at the rate of 6-8 plants per 1 square meter. For tall varieties, 2 plants per square meter is sufficient.
It must be systematically weeded, loosened and watered once a week. Tall varieties need to be tied up. The greenhouse must be regularly ventilated. In regions where there is little sun, grow berries Physalis varieties It’s difficult, but even gardeners in the Leningrad region grow excellent yields of vegetable varieties.
Care Tips
The plant does not tolerate weeds; regular weeding and care will allow you to get a good harvest. Perfect for plantings complex fertilizer for tomatoes, which should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Physalis does not like manure; it is better to use compost instead; The plant responds well to fertilizing with a solution of wood ash.
As the physalis ripens, the boxes dry out and fall off. Collect dried and fallen boxes. The fruits in them remain high-quality and tasty; the main thing is to harvest before the first frost.
