Matures in 75 Days From Setting Out Transplants A member of the tomato family, ground cherries are not cherries at all, but the golden, cherry-sized fruit of a vine native to Eastern Europe and the Americas. Each fruit is encased in a papery husk with a flavor like tropical fruit; pineapple, apricot and vanilla with some tomato mixed in! Vines are lightweight but sprawling and benefit from support. Each plant produces 100’s of fruits to enjoy fresh, cooked, preserved, or made into salsa. SOW…seed indoors 6 weeks before the last frost date for your area. In warmer/long season climates, seed can be sown directly in the ground. Plant ¼” deep in fine soil and keep consistently moist until seedlings emerge. Plant in a sunny location or provide 10-12 hours of direct light from grow lights. THIN…to 15-40 inches apart, depending on if you plan to allow them to sprawl or stake each plant. GERMINATION…8-15 days, depending on soil temperature and moisture conditions. REMARKS…Fruit often fall to the ground before fully ripe. Gather fruit and allow to ripen in the husks until deep apricot in color. Fruits are high in pectin and sugar and were traditionally used to make jam.
