How to grow physalis from seeds: sowing and care. Physalis: characteristics of edible and ornamental species, growing conditions Physalis kinglet growing from seeds

Maybe you should try growing physalis? For residents of middle latitudes, attention should be paid to the earliest varieties. Low-growing ones can be grown in the ground, tall ones are better in a greenhouse, like tomatoes.

There are several types and varieties of physalis, which differ in the size of the fruit and the amount of sugars. Plant height and ripening time are also different. For residents of middle latitudes, attention should be paid to the earliest varieties. Undersized can be grown in the ground, tall ones are better in a greenhouse, like tomato mats.

vegetable varieties

Moscow early, Gribovsky unpaved, Confectioner, Confectionery, Korolek are large-fruited varieties. Their fruit weight is 30-60 g. Korolek gives fruits weighing up to 90 g. The earliest variety - Gribovsky ground - 80-90 days, and Moscow early ripens in 125 days.

Very interesting variety plum jam. It has purple-blue fruits, the color of which intensifies if the fruits lie in the sun. The variety matures in just 65 days.

Physalis is often compared with tomatoes - their fruits are very similar, only in physalis they are hidden in a green "flashlight". It is no coincidence that the second name of Physalis is the Mexican tomato. When the fruit ripens, the walls of the lantern crack. This is an indicator that it can be torn off.

We eat tomatoes fresh, so we also try physalis fresh. However, you should be aware that not all varieties of vegetable physalis are equally pleasant fresh. Kinglet and Confectioner can be consumed fresh. Terms of their ripening - 95-110 days.

Other varieties of vegetable physalis are grown for processing. Marinades, caviar and jam are prepared from them. Physalis contains pectin, which determines the good gelling properties of processed products. In this regard, Korolek and Confectioner stand out again, they have a high content of pectin substances.

berry physalis

This is usually called pubescent physalis (aka strawberry, raisin). Its fruits are much smaller than those of a vegetable, but they are very sweet, they contain up to 15% sugar. Before ripening, the "berry" is completely in the cap and does not open.

Ripe fruits have a pleasant aroma. Depending on the variety, it resembles strawberries or pineapples. These varieties make excellent jam, in which small bones crunch pleasantly. Raisins and candied fruits are also prepared from them. Fresh fruits are eaten by children with pleasure.

Gold scattering. The variety is early ripe (92-100 days). Suitable for cultivation in open ground through seedlings. Plants are compact, 30-35 cm high. The fruits are bright, golden, weighing 3-7 g.

Surprise - variety of strawberry physalis. From germination to maturity 120 days. The bush is sprawling, vigorous, does not require shaping. The fruits are yellow, weighing 2 g with a unique fruity aroma. Plants are grown through seedlings, sowing is carried out in mid-late March.

Physalis florida Philanthropist. Mid-season variety (120 days). It sets fruits well even under adverse conditions. The fruits are light yellow, weighing up to 1.5 g, the taste is sugary-sweet.

Physalis peruvian differs in high growth (1.5-2 m). Such plants can only be grown in warm climates or in greenhouses and greenhouses. Most famous varieties- Wizard and Columbus. From germination to maturity 130-140 days. The fruits of the variety Kudesnik have a dense skin, due to which they are well stored. The mass of "berries" is 5-6 g (up to 9 g). The flesh is orange, very juicy and aromatic.

The Columbus variety ripens later, its fruits are smaller, but they are superior in taste to the Magician. But the keeping quality of Columbus fruits is weak.

If you decide to plant physalis this year, grow it with seedlings. Early varieties can be planted in open ground, later - in the greenhouse. The timing of sowing for seedlings is calculated based on the timing of fruiting. So mid-season varieties (120 days) can be sown in early March. Harvest in the middle of summer. The cultivation technique is the same as that of tomatoes, but seedlings grow faster. In addition, physalis does not need to be pinched.

Do you have flashlights?

Physalis is a plant of the nightshade family. It came to Russia at the same time as the tomato, but it did not receive wide distribution, like tomatoes. Only a decorative species has taken root well with us - physalis Franchet. The name is rarely remembered, so when buying seedlings on the market, they usually ask for “red lanterns”. Sometimes "Chinese" is added. Why? Probably, "Chinese lanterns" is a stable phrase that everyone hears.

In its structure, Physalis Franche is not much different from other types of Physalis. The fruit is also surrounded by a cup-wrapper in the form of a flashlight. In summer it is green.

The peak of decorativeness comes at the end of summer, when the lanterns become brightly colored. Depending on the variety, the color may be bright orange or red. Against the background of lush greenery, they look very contrasting.

In autumn, the effect is even stronger. The leaves fly around and no longer cover the main advantage of physalis. It is especially beautiful when there are a lot of plants and they grow densely. Lanterns blaze like a fire. Despite its southern origin, the plant proved to be very resistant to bad weather. Lanterns do not fade, do not fly around and retain their color for a long time. Because of this, they are used for winter bouquets and other dried flower arrangements.

Growing physalis is very easy. It is enough to ask one of the neighbors for layering, because many people grow "flashlights". Survival - one hundred percent, even in the heat. If the stem dies, then the root will remain in the ground and sprout.

From seeds, physalis is grown like tomatoes, but you can sow directly into the ground. Before winter, the plants will get stronger and overwinter. Unlike vegetable physalis, decorative grows with us as a perennial. Winter hardiness is very high, plants do not freeze even in harsh winters.

For winter bouquets, physalis is immediately placed in a vase without water. The stems hold their shape well. Separate lanterns are also used, attaching them to thinner stems that curve beautifully. Often used such a technique as skeletonization. The color disappears, but the openwork base from the flashlight remains.

Physalis skeletonization

We put dry or “fresh” lanterns in a saucepan and pour soda solution (1-2 teaspoons per 1 liter of water). Boil for 20-30 minutes (the smell is not very pleasant). After the flashlights have cooled, we take them out of the solution one by one and rinse under running water. warm water. Part of the tissues between the veins will be washed off with water, and to completely remove them, gently rub the flashlight between the fingers. We do not remove the "berry" inside, it will dry out over time.

When only one mesh remains from the physalis, we straighten it and dry it on a flat surface. Even without skills, in half an hour it is possible to prepare a dozen openwork lanterns.

Physalis pectin is very useful. It is able to bind and remove radionuclides from the body, heavy metals, microbial toxins, excess cholesterol. Steroid substances (withanolides) were found in the fruits, which have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and according to some reports, anti-cancer effect. IN traditional medicine fruits are used as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for urolithiasis: there is an opinion that the stones dissolve.

Number of impressions: 12250

Physalis is known to many only as a beautiful ornamental plant with bright flashlights. But the fact that there is vegetable physalis, and even more so - berry, is not known to everyone. However, these types of physalis are quite edible, and enthusiastic gardeners often grow them in their gardens. By the way, physalis belongs to the same nightshade family as tomatoes. But in Rus', physalis in the form of a widespread agricultural crop did not take root, remaining a plant that is grown by rare enthusiasts.

vegetable physalis

Physalis vegetable - a native of Central America, but no particular difficulties with its cultivation in Russia were noted. It is unpretentious, ripens early and keeps well. Sometimes vegetable physalis is called Mexican tomato and earth cherry. This is a fairly productive crop, which is not afraid of phytophthora. The fruits of vegetable physalis are large, can reach 150 g, in a mature state they are yellow in color. The only pity is that the fruits of vegetable physalis are tasteless when fresh. But they make good vegetable stew. In Mexico, hot sauces are made from vegetable physalis, put raw in salads. In our country, most often, the fruits of vegetable physalis are pickled. Pickled physalis tastes very similar to a regular pickled tomato. Some people make jam from vegetable physalis and claim that it resembles fig jam. However, physalis berry is more suitable for sweet blanks.

berry physalis

Physalis berry has a more modest size than vegetable. But it is exceptionally fragrant and tastes like fruits of physalis berry varieties reminiscent of strawberries, grapes and pineapple. The most famous varieties of berry physalis are Confectioner and Strawberry. Physalis berry is also native to Central and South America, but it is more whimsical than vegetable physalis. But unlike vegetable, berry physalis can be eaten fresh. From the berry physalis, good marmalade, jam and jams are obtained. It can be put in compotes and jelly. And there are also varieties of berry physalis, the fruits of which are dried in the sun or in the oven, and they get almost real raisins. Berry physalis is good as a filling for pies. Be careful: the unripe fruits of physalis cannot be eaten, they are poisonous.

Physalis is quite rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene, contains 18 types of amino acids and polysaccharides. However, physalis does not enjoy special love among the population. Some restaurants offer physalis as an original exotic side dish or use it as a decoration for desserts. So physalis is not a competitor to berries or real tomatoes.

- an unusual plant from the nightshade family, some of it edible species the taste is sometimes reminiscent of berries, so often the name of the species corresponds to the taste sensations. This beneficial plant has many names such as emerald berry, strawberry cranberry, Peruvian gooseberry, earth cherry and strawberry tomato. How many species and varieties of physalis exist?

Physalis has a large number of species, it is decorative and edible. Ornamental physalis is an inedible plant, it is used to decorate gardens, parks and home gardens. Its flowering does not cause delight, but the appearance of fruits in the form of berries covered with bright orange boxes is very pleasing to the eye.

They resemble Chinese lanterns, which is why physalis is often called “Chinese lanterns”. Such beauty appears at the end of summer, and many designers try to save it for decorative design rooms, ikebana, planters and bouquets of dry plants.

Decorative physalis come in the following varieties:

• alkekengi - they have yellow, orange or red caps
• longifolia is a two-meter plant, its fruits have a ribbed cream-colored cup
• franche - a bush with bright cherry fruits and an orange calyx

All these plant varieties are attractive in their own way and are often used in decoration. landscape designs gardens, parks, squares and rest houses.

Edible physalis is divided into two types: vegetable and strawberry (berry). Its edible fruits are yellow, light green or orange color, fleshy and resemble a small tomato:

• Vegetable physalis is of Mexican origin, in its homeland it is called "milomat" and "tomatil". Such a Mexican tomato product, inside it is fleshy and juicy. Mexicans use it as food and cook their favorite spicy stew with it.
• Peruvian physalis and strawberry are berry species, they are of South American origin. Their taste and aftertaste are reminiscent of familiar berries.

Edible varieties of physalis:

• Pineapple early. Its fruits are small but sweet. Their flavor is reminiscent of pineapple. It is consumed fresh and used to make jams, jellies and candied fruits.
• Gribovsky (2046). Medium-early cold-resistant variety. Abundantly bears fruit with round yellow and light green fruits, sometimes they are flattened.
• Strawberry. Low (up to 70 cm) small-fruited plant. Its amber-colored fruits have a strawberry flavor and aroma, hence the name. Used fresh, dried and canned.
• Raisin surprise. An early maturing annual undersized plant with strong pubescence, popularly called "pubescent". Absolutely unpretentious look. It is used for making compotes, jams and other preservation.
• Columbus. Late-ripening thermophilic tall plant rich in many useful substances.
• Confectionery grade (2047). Mid-season large-fruited variety. Abundantly bears fruit with round greenish fruits with sourness. Marmalade, marshmallow candy are made from them, since the variety is rich in pectins.
• Wren. Vegetable early ripe physalis. It is salted, marinated, caviar is prepared from it, dry wine is made.
• Tomatillo. Harvest variety, widely used in cooking.

Each variety has its own height of the bush, the size of the fruit and is distinguished by its taste. Only vegetable varieties of physalis are much larger than berry varieties.

Physalis, as a rule, has a branching stem, the height of which depends on the plant variety and ranges from 60 to 120 cm. It has beautiful serrated leaves along the edges. Its solitary yellowish flowers are bell-shaped, and the fruit is a round berry, which is wrapped in a bright parchment cup. When planting physalis seedlings, its maturity will come in three months. The bush bears fruit for a month and a half with an average of 100-150 fruits.

In berry physalis, the fruit weighs about 10 grams, in vegetable varieties - two to three times more. The yield also depends on the variety: the larger the bush and the more branches on it, the more ovaries and, accordingly, berries. Vegetable varieties also bear fruit well, and given that their fruits are larger, the harvest is also quite impressive.

Physalis is suitable for any soil, except for saline, waterlogged and acidic.

On fertile soil, the yield of physalis is much higher than on sandy or infertile soil. At the end of frost, seedlings of the plant can be planted in the ground. Seedlings should be 50-60 days from the date of sowing. Landing pattern vegetable crops 70x70 (for greenhouses 70x50x60), berry - 60x60 (in greenhouses 70x30x40).

Seedlings are planted in holes saturated with moisture and compost (300 g each). The root falls into the hole, sprinkled with soil, pressed tightly with hands and not watered (to avoid a dense earthen crust). A powerful bush makes it drought-resistant. Cold resistance and plant preference for shaded areas makes it possible to grow it in even northern regions.

Physalis can be propagated using seeds. They are sown in open ground, but in the middle and northern regions it is still better to propagate the crop using seedlings:

• Seeds for seedlings are planted in February or March, depending on the variety.
• After 90-120 days, they are planted in a greenhouse or in a garden (this is April-May).
• The beds with seedlings are watered, loosened and weeds are removed from them.

Physalis is watered once a week, and since August, watering is generally reduced to a minimum, so the bush stops growing and fruits begin to set on it. A sign of physalis ripening is a yellowed fruit and a dried-up flashlight. Physalis sown in winter will not be damaged by pests, and it will become more resistant to diseases.

Physalis does not stepchild and does not pinch, good branching forms more ovaries, and subsequently fruits. You can harvest the fruits in late autumn, when the calyx noticeably dries up, because the physalis can withstand even minus temperatures (-2C) and bears fruit at an air temperature of 0 C.

For long-term storage, the fruits must be removed slightly unripe, since the fallen fruits are not stored for a long time, they are most often used for processing.

Physalis is stored in bulk in a well-ventilated area for about 3 months. Vegetable physalis is blanched before harvesting, so it gets rid of its sticky substance. But berry varieties do not blanch, they do not need it.

Physalis is a medicinal plant. Its fruits contain dry matter (10%), sugars (4.5), organic acids (malic, citric, tartaric), ascorbic acid, carotene, pectin, fisalin, lycopene, as well as proteins, phytoncides, fatty oils and minerals.

The plant has the following effects on the human body:

1. relieves inflammatory processes
2. anesthetizes
3. is an excellent diuretic
4. works as a natural antiseptic
5. is a diuretic
6. has hemostatic properties

Medicinal are considered not only the fruits, but also the roots of physalis. They contain tropin, tegloidin, kuskggrin, pseudotropin. The leaves of the plant are also useful, they contain carotenoids: physoxanthin, lutein, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin and others, as well as steroids: campesterol, stigmasterol, systosterol and phenolcarboxylic acids.

Physalis fruits are successfully used in cooking. They are added to canned vegetables, jams and juices are made from them, soups and salads are prepared with them, as well as seasonings and sauces for them. Physalis is successfully used for the presentation of many restaurant dishes and confectionery.

IN medicinal purposes use fresh fruits, after dousing them with boiling water to get rid of sticky plaque. As medicines decoctions and tinctures from the roots and leaves of physalis are also used. Harvesting of raw materials takes place in the fall. Roots, leaves and berries are dried, dried and preserved.

Physalis is a well-known culture, but it is little cultivated by our gardeners and sometimes looks like an exotic plant in the beds.

Few people know that the physalis bush will be productive even in the coldest or, on the contrary, the driest year, it is not affected by diseases, pests, even the Colorado potato beetle, bypass it.
Do not be afraid to grow decorative or edible physalis in your garden. By choosing good seeds and the right variety for your region, you can grow excellent physalis bushes in your area.

More information can be found in the video:

The genus Physalis has over a hundred species. Only three of them are common in our country: strawberry physalis (Physalis pubescens), vegetable physalis, or sticky-fruited (Physalis philadelphica), and ordinary, decorative, or garden physalis (Physalis alkekengi). Although the latter is inedible, its overgrown calyx looks impressive in autumn in vases, when the case turns red. The fruit is poisonous, as it is saturated with solanine.

Quick reference:

Growing physalis seedlings

Physalis is grown through seedlings. Its seeds are small. They are sown in March, first in cassettes, then diving into peat pots in the phase of 3-5 leaves. Thus, non-sprouted and weak plants are rejected, which is often the case with crops with small seeds. To prevent the seedlings from stretching, the room should not be too hot. The optimum temperature is + 18-20°C. After picking, the seedlings are fed with a complex fertilizer for vegetable plants.

Landing in open ground

Water the plants 2-3 times a week, so that the soil gets wet through. In April, when warm weather sets in, the growing seedlings can be taken out to fresh air for hardening (during the day). In early - mid-May, it can be planted under film shelters. The age of seedlings for planting in the ground is from 40-55 days. Elongated plants are planted at an angle. Since nightshades do not like high humidity, they try to ensure that the top layer of soil under the film is not very waterlogged.

Physalis - care

The grown plants are fed with complex fertilizer for vegetable plants. To improve fruiting, you can do foliar top dressing. To increase the number of fruits at the end of June, plants pinch the growth point. Unlike tomatoes, physalis does not need to be stepsoned. If there are many fruits on the plants, the stems are tied up.

Harvest fruits as they ripen, before the first cold weather. They can crumble, but this does not affect the quality - fallen fruits can also be collected from the ground. Those that do not have time to ripen must be collected before frost. In a warm room they will ripen. You can dig up the plants before the onset of cold weather and hang them by the roots in the barn so that the remaining fruits gradually ripen.

Physalis fruits are hidden in yellow-green or orange caps. The surface of fruits, especially young ones, is sticky and oily. The most delicious are those that have ripened on the plant in summer, in sunny weather. Late fruits are medium in taste, it is better to make jam or marinate from them.

Before use, the physalis is freed from a dry case and washed with warm water to remove the sticky substance. If not washed off, the taste will be bitter. Fresh fruits are stored in a dry room at a temperature of +2-4 °C. without losing quality, 3-4 months, but they do not wash before use in food.

Fragrant fruits of strawberry physalis can be dried in the oven at a temperature of +40-50 °C. periodically airing the oven. They will not dry out in the air - they will quickly deteriorate. Dried fruits resemble dried apricots. In folk medicine, physalis fruits are used as a diuretic for kidney stones and bladder. Decoction and infusions of fresh and dried fruits - for inflammation respiratory tract, stomach, intestines.

New varieties of physalis - Likhtarik, Zharinka(Ukrainian selection)

Biochemical composition of physalis fruits (in % of the weight of the fetus)
Variety	Index
	Dry matter	Sugar (total)	Acidity (according to citric acid)	Pectins (according to Melitz)	Tannins	Vitamin C
Moscow early	8-9,4	3,2-3,7	0,65-0,73	0,25-0,4	0,14-0,32	24-28 mg%
Ground Gribovsky	7,2-9,48	2,91-3,1	0,92-1,32	0,24-0,31	0,15-0,41	17.5-23 mg%
Confectionery	7,66-8,2	2,12-2,65	0,7-1,37	0,3-0,39	0,15-0,44	20.0-26 mg%

Detail:

Origin of the vegetable

Physalis - annual plant of the nightshade family, which got its name because of the rounded shape of the calyx of the flower (fiza - in Greek means bubble), inside which there is a fruit with numerous seeds.

The genus Physalis is represented by 110 botanical species, most of which are weed-field wild plants. Several types of physalis have decorative and nutritional value.

Useful properties and use. decorative types physalis (common and garden) have small orange-red fruits that can be used as a diuretic, analgesic and hemostatic agent. The fruits of garden physalis are used as a harmless organic dye for food products. Of the branches with orange "lanterns" make up winter bouquets.

vegetable physalis

This species is more cold-resistant than berry. It tolerates small frosts, so it can be planted in the ground for 10-12 days before tomatoes. In addition, it is more resistant to common nightshade diseases, including the most dangerous - late blight. Vegetable physalis is cross-pollinated. Like the ornamental, the cases bloom in autumn, turning bright red. There are varieties of undersized (30-40 cm) and tall (up to 90-100 cm) with intermediate forms.

strawberry physalis

These plants are more thermophilic and self-pollinating. Strawberry physalis, which is popularly called strawberry tomato and dwarf gooseberry, is shorter, with small berries. Vil is less productive and much less common than vegetable, but its taste is more pleasant.

Physalis with edible fruits are divided into two groups. The first is of South American origin, Peruvian and strawberry, which have been known in culture for over 200 years. The fruits of these varieties of physalis are very small and therefore not widely used.

The second group of edible physalis includes vegetable species of Mexican origin. They are grown everywhere, including in Russia. They are more productive, less demanding on heat, and are distinguished by a variety of economically valuable traits. For this reason, we will dwell in more detail on the physalis of Mexican origin.

At home, vegetable physalis has long been cultivated under the name "tomatil" and "mil-tomato", i.e. Mexican tomato. The local population uses unripe fruits for making hot sauces with peppers, mashed potatoes, boiled and baked, as well as for salting. The fruits of zoned varieties of physalis contain sugar, a significant amount of vitamin C, organic acids, trace elements, pectin. Physalis is the only vegetable that has a gelling property and is therefore widely used in the confectionery industry. In addition, its fruits are eaten fresh, used to make jam, jam, marmalade, compote, caviar, they are salted, marinated.

biological features.

Mexican physalis is an annual cross-pollinating plant. Insects readily swarm on its large and fragrant flowers, which bloom until the onset of autumn frosts. Among the forms of vegetable physalis, there are semi-creeping (30-40 cm high) with a branching angle of up to 140 °, as well as tall (over 1 m), with branches extending from the stem at an angle of 35-45 degrees.

Within the group there can be both early-ripening and very late-ripening plants with fruits weighing 30-90 g, green, white, yellow, yellow-lilac, dark purple; in shape - flat, oval, rounded, from strongly ribbed to smooth; to taste - from sugary-sweet to sharp-sour with an unpleasant aftertaste. Calyxes (cases) of fruits are very diverse in shape, color and size - they are either too large, or, conversely, torn by a large fruit.

On the basis of Mexican physalis, domestic varieties Moskovsky early, Gruntovy Gribovsky and Confectionery were created, which can be successfully grown on household plots. The yield of these varieties with good agricultural technology is 3-5 kg ​​of fruit per bush.

Varieties:

Moscow early.

Plants semi-recumbent, medium branching. The leaves are light green, oblong-ovate, smooth. The flowers are large, yellow, with brown spots in the pharynx. The calyx is large, usually covering the fruit. Fruits from flat-round to round shape, 40-55 mm in diameter, weighing 40-80 g. unripe fruits light green, mature - yellow to amber. Mature fruits are sweet, without a sharp sour taste. Early maturing, high-yielding (2-5 kg ​​/ m 2) variety.

Ground Gribovsky.

Plants are semi-erect, well branched, 80 cm or more high. The leaves are dark green, smooth, ovoid. The flowers are large, greenish-yellow, with brown spots in the throat; purple stamens. The calyx (case) is large, multifaceted, completely filled with fruit, sometimes open at the top; brown streaks along the edges of the calyx. The fruits are smooth, from flat-rounded to rounded, light green in color, weighing 50-60 g. The taste of ripe fruits is sour-sweet, without aftertaste. The variety is medium early, cold-resistant, high-yielding (2.5-4 kg / m 2).

Amateur vegetable growers will like the promising grade Confectionery, specially created at VNIISSOK for the confectionery industry. Plants of medium power, strongly branched, spreading. Leaves are ovate, smooth, dark green. The flowers are greenish-yellow, with brown spots in the throat, the stamens are purple. The calyx is rounded, with dark brown veins, almost always covering the fruit. The fruits are round, green, weighing 30-60 g, with high acidity. The variety is mid-season, fruitful, lying.

Below in the table we present the biochemical composition of physalis fruits according to Alpatiev (1989).

Features of growing physalis.

Mexican physalis is cultivated directly by sowing seeds. Its seeds germinate at a temperature of 10-12 "C. With the timely implementation of all agrotechnical measures, soil sowing physalis, as a rule, gives higher yields. In addition, such plants do not suffer from picking and transplanting, in which a significant part of the roots is lost, and in As a result, they develop a more powerful root system and get sick less.However, their fruit ripening lags behind compared to seedlings.

If an amateur vegetable grower wants to have more early harvest Mexican physalis, it is better to grow seedlings. It takes 25-30 days to get seedlings with five to seven leaves. Based on this, the sowing time of each species is determined.

Selection and preparation of a site for landing.

Under physalis, cultivated, well-lit areas that are not subject to flooding by melt and rain waters are allocated. It can be grown on all types of soil except acidic (pH<4,5). На почвах с повышенной кислотностью растения плохо развиваются и болеют. Поэтому такие почвы заранее известкуют.

The predecessor for Physalis can be any culture. However, after tomato, potato, pepper, eggplant, it is undesirable to plant it earlier than 3 years later, since these related plants are affected by the same pests and diseases. Physalis should not be placed on the physalis to avoid self-seeding (due to cross-pollination of the Mexican physalis, the offspring may be less uniform).

Physalis loves loose, fertile, well-aerated soil that is not clogged with weeds. Therefore, the area intended for growing plants is dug up in the spring to a depth of 20-25 cm, having previously scattered over it rotted manure or compost (30-40 kg / m2). The introduction of fresh manure under physalis can cause adverse effects.

Physalis responds well to the application of mineral fertilizers. For soils of medium and low fertility, their approximate consumption (in grams per 10 m2) in terms of the active substance is: nitrogen 30-40, phosphorus 10-15, potassium 40-50, calcium 40-45, magnesium 8-10. In the absence of mineral fertilizers in the spring, wood ash is used for digging, rich in potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and trace elements, at the rate of 1-1.5 kg per 10 m 2, or 2-3 cups per 1 m 2.

Preparing seeds for planting

The yield of physalis largely depends on the quality of the seed, its ability to provide friendly, viable seedlings. For sowing it is necessary to use only class I seeds. They should be large enough, leveled and conditioned in terms of sowing qualities.

Preparation for sowing begins with the selection of large and full-weight seeds, which give a higher yield compared to conventional ones. To do this, they are poured into a vessel with a 5% solution of table salt or mineral fertilizers and mixed thoroughly. After 6-7 minutes, light seeds and litter that have floated to the surface are removed, the solution is drained, and the remaining seeds are washed several times with water and dried to a state of flowability.

When, due to unforeseen circumstances, sowing is late, to accelerate the emergence of seedlings, the seeds, moist after soaking, are kept for 4-6 days at a temperature of about 20°C. The seeds that have hatched in warmed soil germinate on the 2nd-3rd day. Dry seeds sown at a temperature of 20–25°C germinate on the 7th–9th day, while at soil temperatures below 12°C they can lie in the ground for a long time without germinating.

To protect plants from fungal and viral diseases, the seeds are pickled in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, followed by washing with running warm water. Seed disinfection with a 20% hydrochloric acid solution is effective against tobacco mosaic virus (when preparing a solution, hydrochloric acid is carefully poured into water, and not vice versa).

Growing physalis seedlings.

Physalis seedlings are grown in unheated film greenhouses, greenhouses or in beds covered with a translucent film.

The soil mixture for sowing seeds should be loose, without dense inclusions and contain all the necessary nutrients.

Physalis seeds are sown to a depth of 1 - 1.5 cm. In this case, the crops should not be thickened, otherwise the plants are strongly stretched, lie down, and in wet weather they are affected by the black leg. For example, to get 50 plants, 0.2 g of Mexican physalis seeds and 0.1 g of Peruvian and strawberry seeds are required.

With the advent of seedlings, the temperature is maintained within 15-17 ° C, removing shelters in the absence of frost, so that the root system develops better and the seedlings quickly switch to independent soil nutrition.

In the phase of one or two true leaves, the plants are thinned out or dived into pots or boxes, leaving a distance of 5-6 cm between them, and 8-10 cm between rows. 1.5-2 hours before this operation, the seedlings are watered abundantly. When picking, in order to better preserve the roots on the plants, the seedlings dig in and choose along with the ground. They are placed in small boxes and sorted, discarding the weak, rumpled, affected by the black leg. Seedlings dive with a pointed peg 10-15 long and 1.5-2 cm thick. They make a small hole and plant a plant in it. Then, with a peg, the earth is pressed against the root of the seedling, and the seedling is supported with the fingers of the other hand so as not to fall asleep at the top (growth point).

Seedling care is a crucial period in its cultivation. At this time, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for the growth and development of plants, for which fertilizing, watering, and ventilation are provided. By the time of planting in open ground, the plants should be strong, not stretched, with a well-developed root system and large buds. Therefore, at an outside temperature of 10-12 ° C, the frames or film are removed from greenhouses and ridges. If the seedlings are grown in boxes, they can be taken out into the open air. However, plants are accustomed to full coverage gradually, otherwise they may have burns from the sun's rays. First, the plants are taken out into the open air towards the end of the day, then in the morning and evening hours. Only after 3-4 days on sunny days (on cloudy days - earlier) the seedlings are left open for the whole day, and if there is no threat of frost, then at night.

Water the seedlings in the morning, so that by the evening the greenhouses or ridges are ventilated. Watering is carried out not often, but plentifully. In cold weather, the water is heated to a temperature of 16-20 "C. The soil under the seedlings is maintained in a loose and weed-free state.

Top dressing of seedlings is carried out continuous or selective (plants lagging behind in development) every two weeks. At the first feeding, if the leaves of the plants are pale green and the stems are thin, ammonium nitrate is preferred (15-20 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water). More effective is feeding with bird droppings or mullein, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15 and 1:10, respectively. In this case, one watering can (10 l) of a solution of mineral or organic fertilizers is spent on 3 m 2 of area.

In subsequent top dressing, it is better to use a mixture of mineral fertilizers (for 10 liters of water, 10 g of saltpeter and 10-15 g of potassium salt) at the rate of 10 liters of solution per 1-1.5 m2. After 10-12 days, the seedlings are fed with superphosphate (25-30 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water). The consumption rate is 10 liters of solution per 1 mg of plantings. After fertilizing, the remains of fertilizers are washed off the plants with clean water from a watering can with a net to prevent leaf burns.

Before planting, when the seedlings are growing rapidly, the number of waterings is reduced, however, preventing the plants from wilting.

Physalis seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June (7-10 days earlier than tomatoes). On the morning of planting, it is watered abundantly so that the root system suffers less from mechanical damage. The site is marked in such a way that there are 3-4 Mexican physalis plants and 5-6 strawberry plants per 1 m2. For better use of the plot area, the ridges are compacted with lettuce, radish, the harvest of which is harvested even before the formation of fruits.

physalis. It is best to plant plants in the ground in the afternoon, and in cloudy weather it is possible throughout the day. After planting, the plants are not watered from above, so that a crust does not form on the soil, which interferes with the access of air to the roots.

In wet areas, it is advisable to grow physalis on ridges up to 30-40 cm high in order to avoid the accumulation of stagnant water near the plants.

Growing physalis from seeds. The time of sowing physalis seeds in open ground approximately coincides with the period of planting early potatoes, when the soil at a depth of 10 cm warms up to a temperature of 4-6°C. Sow seeds in loose, well-fertilized soil, clean of weeds. The seeding rate is 0.1 g/m2. Since the seeds of physalis are very small, sand or fast-growing seeds of radish or lettuce are added to them in equal proportions as a lighthouse culture for more uniform sowing. These plants serve both as row markers for early row spacing and as a compact crop for additional yield. Sowing is carried out in rows, the distance between which should be 50-60 cm.

With the advent of mass seedlings, the plants are thinned out at a distance of 50 cm, so that by the beginning of flowering there are no more than 4-5 per 1 m 2.

Landing Care

During the growing season of physalis in open ground, the soil is kept loose and free of weeds. Depending on the development of plants, they are periodically watered and fed. The first top dressing is given during the period of mass flowering, the second - during fruit formation, the third - after 2-3 weeks, using solutions of mineral fertilizers, as well as slurry (1 part of the fertilizer is diluted with 5 parts of water in dry weather and 3 parts - in wet weather), mullein (1:10) and bird droppings (1:12-15).

To feed physalis with a mixture of mineral fertilizers, 10 g of saltpeter, 10-20 g of superphosphate and 10-15 g of potassium salt are dissolved in 10 liters of water. The consumption rate of the solution is 10 liters per 1 m 2.

It should be borne in mind that ammonium nitrate with simple superphosphate can be mixed only if the superphosphate is previously neutralized. To do this, 0.1 kg of limestone or chalk is added to 1 kg of superphosphate.

Unlike tomato, Physalis plants do not stepchild and do not tie up. On the contrary, it is necessary to strive to obtain more powerful, strongly branching plants. Physalis fruits are formed at the branching of the stem, so the more the plants branch, the higher the yield will be. Amateur vegetable growers can be recommended to pinch the tops of branches in the middle of the growing season in order to enhance branching and increase the number of fruits on plants.

Diseased plants are removed.

In rainy summers, as well as in low, humid areas, hilling of plants is recommended, which helps to strengthen them, reduce morbidity and improve fruit ripening.

Since physalis is an insufficiently common crop, compared to tomato or pepper, it is less susceptible to mass damage by diseases and pests. However, with untimely control of them, yields and fruit quality are reduced. It is possible to prevent the widespread spread of diseases and pests and reduce the harm caused by them, if preventive measures are observed and methods of systematic control of them are applied.

The main and general measures for the protection of physalis against diseases and pests are:

• harvesting seeds, if possible, on your site, only from healthy, productive plants after preliminary testing of sowing;
• dressing seeds before sowing;
• compliance with crop rotation;
• systematic control of weeds and pests, which, in addition to direct harm, serve as carriers of many diseases;
• removal of plant residues from the site (into a compost heap) and autumn digging of the soil, which contributes to its biological improvement and increase in crop yields;
• proper agricultural technology, ensuring the normal growth and development of plants.

Phiasis diseases

Blackleg develops with excessive moisture, thickened sowing, poor ventilation of plants. The stems at the root neck turn black, the plants die.

Control measures.

Thinning seedlings, rare but abundant watering in the morning, airing, loosening row spacing. Decontamination of the soil and its components with microgranules (MG) of basamide is effective (50-60, depending on its moisture content).

Mosaic characterized by the appearance of light green spots on the branches. The causative agents of the disease are viruses of perennial physalis, weeds and the remains of pumpkin crops that have overwintered in the soil. Infection occurs through insects and mechanically.

Control measures.

Compliance with crop rotation, agricultural technology, weed control.

Streak first appears on plants as a mosaic. In the future, the branches become brittle. The fruits develop poorly, have a lighter color, often with cracks on the surface, tasteless, corky. The control measures are the same as with the mosaic.

Physalis pests

Medvedka- an insect of dark brown color, up to 50 mm long, with pronounced digging legs. Most often found in damp places: near rivers, ponds, especially on humus-rich soils. It hibernates in the phase of the larva and adult insect in the soil or manure and from early spring begins to damage crops. Laying horizontal passages near the surface of the soil, the bear and its larvae gnaw through the roots and stems of plants.

Control measures.

Loosening row spacing at the end of May and during June to a depth of 10-15 cm to destroy eggs.

One of the most reliable ways to deal with a bear is to build hunting nests. After harvesting the crop, several holes are dug on the site with a depth of 40 cm and a diameter of 70 cm, where several manure shovels are placed. Looking for warmer places for wintering, bears climb under manure, from where they are removed and destroyed.

The smell of kerosene, naphthalene, which is used to treat their places of accumulation, repels pests.

To protect greenhouses from pests, grooves are dug along them, pouring naphthalene or sand moistened with kerosene into them.

The genus Physalis is the most numerous of those in the Solanaceae family. It has more than a hundred species that are distributed throughout the globe, except for Australia and Antarctica.

Representatives of this genus are annual or perennial herbs. Their shoots branch weakly, they can be a little covered with fluff, and their growth, depending on the species, ranges from 20 cm to 1 m and even a little higher. The base of the shoot gradually becomes woody. The foliage of this plant is mostly opposite, may be regular. Flowers solitary, placed anywhere on the shoot. A fruit is hidden under the flower, which in many species can be eaten.

Varieties and types

Edible physalis is conditionally divided into vegetable and berry. And, if the Vegetable species exists, although this definition is often extended to a wider group of species, then the berry is used to refer to species with sweet, dessert properties.

This is a berry variety with sweet and sour fruits. Berries of this species are not stored for a long time. The most popular varieties are Pineapple And Strawberry .

Or glutinous or actually Physalis Vegetable tastes more like tomatoes than others. Can grow very tall. Its berries are noticeably larger than those of other species. They can be yellow, green or purple.

Representatives of this species do not need such careful care, and they are less thermophilic than berry species, but differ from them in taste. The most popular varieties: Confectionery , Wren .

Or Chinese lanterns the fruits of these species are completely inedible due to their toxicity, but due to their high decorative properties, they are very popular with gardeners.

The most famous variety is franchet , which reaches a height of almost a meter. It has rounded slightly oblong foliage. More than 10 flowers can fit on one stem.

The bushes of this berry physalis can grow up to one and a half meters and branch well. The berries are large, yellow or purple, as in other species, covered with a flower.

It is a perennial that grows up to half a meter tall. This plant has white flowers that fade to red, revealing an edible fruit.

Physalis cultivation and care

Physalis is easy to grow and care for. During the growing season, this plant needs good watering, after which it is necessary to loosen the soil and get rid of weeds.

If the summer turned out to be wet and cool, then you need to spud the bushes, you also need to spud if your climate is generally not very warm.

Stepping should not be carried out because the more branches the stem has, the more berries there will be and it will be difficult for the bush to bear them.

Brunfelsia is also a member of the nightshade family, a very pretty flower that is cultivated when cared for at home, you can read the cultivation recommendations at the link.

Fertilizer for physalis

Every 2 weeks, top dressing should be applied to the soil, alternating organic matter and mineral fertilizers (a spoonful of full top dressing per bucket of water). An infusion of mullein in a ratio of 1 to 8 is well suited as an organic.

Harvesting physalis

Harvesting of this plant is carried out with dried flowers on a clear, dry day, about one and a half to two months after planting the seedlings in the soil (somewhere in late summer or early autumn).

It is worth paying attention to the fact that ripening does not occur simultaneously and the lower fruits ripen faster.

Seeds can be obtained from ripe fruits. To get them, you need to cut the fruits in half and pour water for a day. After that, the pulp is rubbed, the seeds are washed and dried.

Pruning decorative physalis

In autumn, the ground part of the perennial decorative Chinese lantern is cut off, and the growing place is covered with peat mulch. Annual species are disposed of, and the site is dug up.

Growing physalis from seeds

In warm places, physalis is sown simply in the soil, because this plant tolerates cold well, and also reproduces by self-sowing.

It is better to take fresh seeds for sowing, although in general the seeds of this crop remain viable for up to 3-4 years. First, soak them in a 5% saline solution and discard the seeds that float to the top. After that, the seeds are washed and kept for about 30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate.

It is not necessary to sow the seeds very thickly, when the sprouts begin to break through, they will need to be thinned out so that there are about 20-30 cm between the individuals. The torn seedlings can not be thrown away, but transplanted.

You can also sow in open ground in the middle of autumn, before winter.

Sowing physalis for seedlings

In colder conditions of the middle zone, it will be more correct to use sowing for seedlings. Seeds a month and a half before transplanting into the soil are sown in half-liter pots, or in large boxes, but in this case, the seedlings will need to dive.

Germination of the material is carried out at about 20°C or slightly warmer. If the temperature is too low, the seedlings will be delayed.

When germinating, keep an eye on soil moisture. Moisten the flower from time to time, but make sure that the water does not stagnate in the substrate, and the humidity is not high, because seedlings can easily get sick.

If the seedlings are very weak and strongly stretched, despite the normal temperature and good diffused lighting, then they need to be fertilized with a weak solution of bird droppings (the ratio of droppings to water is 1 to 20).

Planting plants in the soil is carried out when 5 leaves appear on them.

The soil for physalis should be nutritious, have a neutral acidity reaction or be slightly alkaline. The area needs good lighting.

This crop grows well in places where cabbage is grown, and where there were other solanaceous plantings before, it is better not to plant. About a month before planting seedlings in the soil, the site must be dug up with humus and ash. Fresh manure cannot be applied as fertilizer.

Pits for seedlings are dug such that the plant is immersed in them to the first leaf. Landing holes are watered immediately before planting.

Physalis vegetative reproduction

There are also vegetative methods of propagation of physalis.

Lateral shoots, which appear especially strongly in the decorative Chinese lantern, are simply separated from the bush and planted.

Cuttings are cut in the middle of summer. To do this, they take the top of the shoots, on which there are a couple of nodes, and plant them in light soil, covering them with a film. When the foliage becomes elastic again, the film can be removed. It is important that the cuttings are in shading until they are fully rooted.

Physalis diseases

Physalis is much less sick than its relative tomato, but viral mosaic can still hit him. First of all, this happens if the plant is poorly looked after.

The virus is not treated and all plants from the site must be burned, and the site itself must be disinfected with potassium permanganate.

During the cultivation of seedlings, with excess moisture, it may suffer from black leg .

The worst disease for nightshades is phytosporosis , which is manifested by the darkening of the fruit, and appears with great dampness, when the fruits ripen. To protect against this disease, the bushes are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux solution.

Physalis pests

Among the pests most often appear bears And wireworms .

The first one is hard to get rid of. But this pest has many natural enemies (moles, lizards, centipedes), which usually do not allow it to multiply too much.

In order not to have problems with the wireworm, physalis should be planted next to legumes.

If there are a lot of pests, then you can bury baits in the form of beets or carrots. Mark these places, and after a few days, get the bait and destroy the pests.

Before plowing the site, it can be treated with insecticides, as well as a solution of potassium permanganate.

Physalis useful properties

Physalis, thanks to its constituent substances, has a number of useful properties. The fruits of this plant are popularly used as an antiseptic, diuretic, and pain reliever. They are also used to reduce inflammation, help with bronchitis, rheumatism, and swelling.

But remember that the fruits of ornamental physalis are poisonous and should not be eaten or treated with them. Flowers are also poisonous, so the cups that cover the plant must be completely separated.

Physalis is not only used for making salads and generally consumed raw, but is also used in canning. Here we will give several recipes for making physalis for the winter.

To preserve vegetable physalis you need to take:

• 3-4 cloves,
• allspice,
• Bay leaf,
• currant and cherry leaves,
• horseradish leaf,
• clove of garlic,
• one and a half tablespoons of sugar,
• a teaspoon of salt
• a teaspoon of 9% vinegar.

All ingredients are designed for one half-liter jar.

First, you need to completely remove the flowers from the berries and wash them.

Put spices, sugar, salt in sterilized jars. Then spread the physalis and pour boiling water. After that, the jar is left for 20 minutes. Next, the brine is drained, brought to a boil and so on three times.

Before pouring the brine into the jars for the last time, vinegar is added to it, and after that you can roll up the jars. After a couple of weeks, pickled physalis will be ready.

The fruits of the berry physalis, say jam or strawberry, can be used to make jam.

Berries and sugar are taken in a ratio of 1 to 1, you will also need a lemon and 200 ml of water.

The berries must be thoroughly cleaned of the flower and rinsed well with hot water. The lemon is thinly cut along with the peel and boiled for about 5 minutes in water.

Half of the sugar is added to this lemon water and boiled until it is completely dissolved. After this, berries are added and boiled over low heat for 10 minutes.

After that, the jam is left to infuse for 4 hours. When this time has passed, you can add some seasonings, for example, ginger, vanilla, etc. Next, the jam is brought to a boil again and boiled for 5 minutes, and then again sent to infuse for 6 hours.

You can also skip the syrup. Then you need to let the berries stand with sugar and let the juice flow.

From physalis you can cook excellent caviar for the winter. To do this, take a kilogram of physalis, a pound of carrots, 300 grams of onion, a tablespoon of salt, one and a half tablespoons of sugar, 100 grams of tomato paste, 100 ml of vegetable oil.

Physalis is well washed and thrown into boiling water for a minute, and then cut into pieces and grinded in a meat grinder.

Finely grate the carrots, and cut the onion. Next, the vegetables are sent to a frying pan with vegetable oil and, after frying, mashed physalis berries are mixed with them, salt, sugar and paste are added. Thus, the mixture is stewed for 20 minutes and poured into jars.

Physalis compote

Also, compote can be made from sweet types of physalis, the preparation of which does not differ from the preparation of compote from ordinary ingredients.