fruit · Solanaceae

Ground cherry

Physalis pruinosa

A sprawling warm-season husk fruit whose ripe golden fruit drops to the ground and rewards a long, warm growing season.

Difficulty2 / 5
Cold toleranceVery tender
Space per plant~4.00 ft²
ContainerYes
Supportnone
Household planning

How many ground cherry plants?

A normal fresh-eating goal with the catalog loss buffer. Preservation needs and appetite can raise the count.

1 adult1–21 typical plants
2 adults1–32 typical plants
4 adults2–63 typical plants
Adjust household, appetite, preserving, and loss →
Season timing

When does it go in?

Typical first actionUsually transplanted
Maturity range65–90 days
Harvest window35–75 days
Latest planting buffer95 days before fall frost

Dates are frost-relative planning windows. Soil temperature, current weather, plant condition, and cultivar instructions can move them.

Calculate dates from my frost date →
Space and harvest

What does one plant ask for?

In-row spacing18–30 in
Between rows24–36 in
Yield range1–4 pounds
Yield confidencelow

Yield ranges assume a surviving plant and still vary with cultivar, soil, sun, weather, pests, watering, and harvest habits.

Container fit

A container can work.

5minimum gallons per plant
10recommended gallons per plant
14″minimum useful depth
Size a container for several plants →