In the nightshade family, which include tomatoes and potatoes, there is a rare unusual plant called physalis. For most, this culture is unknown and to many resembles the name of some exotic fruit. In fact, physalis grows both in the wild and as a cultivated plant. Among its various species, there are many decorative specimens and fruit-bearing varieties that are quite edible. Physalis fruits have beneficial properties and individual taste characteristics.
Physalis appeared on the territory of Russia at the beginning of the 19th century, and the plant came to Europe and Asia from the countries of South and Central America, which are considered its homeland. By the way, physalis was not known in its homeland as a culture with edible and healthy fruits, for a long time everyone considered it an ordinary weed.
Most popular types
Decorative physalis - perennial species with decorative, bitter-tasting fruits, the appearance of which resembles cherry berries or cherry tomatoes. During flowering, the shrubs seem to be decorated with yellow, orange or red lanterns-flowers. This species is able to become a real decoration of a garden or flower garden for many years. It is only necessary to carry out the thinning of the plants in time so that they do not occupy the entire free territory of the garden land.
Vegetable physalis - This is a fast-growing annual species that brings a bountiful harvest of medicinal berries with a high content of useful elements. These unpretentious plants easily tolerate moderate frosts and can reproduce by self-sowing. Berries of a high level of keeping quality can be used in food in various forms. They taste great in pickled and salted form, as well as as a hot seasoning and in a variety of sauces.
Strawberry Physalis Is a thermophilic annual crop that resembles enlarged strawberry bushes during active flowering. The orange-red fruits in the shape of a large strawberry look great against a backdrop of luscious green foliage. When flowering ends, the plants are left with many small, sweet-tasting red berries. They can be consumed fresh, dry, frozen and boiled. Marmalade, preserves or jams from physalis have a wonderful and unique taste and are suitable for long-term storage.
Not knowing all the secrets of growing this crop, gardeners do not dare to plant it on their plots. But in fact, these fears are in vain, since physalis does not cause trouble, it is not difficult to take care of it and it will not take much time for it. With minimal effort, you can get a bountiful harvest of healthy berries.
With proper preparation for planting and growing strawberry and vegetable physalis, as well as with basic care, a good harvest will delight gardeners every season.
How to grow physalis
Physalis reproduces in several ways: self-sowing, seeds, seedlings, rhizomes. The simplest and most common is the seed method of reproduction. Planting material (seeds) of good quality easily takes root in the open field or is used for growing seedlings.
Preparing seeds for planting
First, you need to soak the seeds in a saline solution made from 250 ml of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to cull them. Low-quality (empty) seeds will float to the surface - they are unsuitable for propagation, and those that have sunk to the bottom can be used.
After soaking, high-quality planting material must be rinsed under running water (you can use a sieve), and then dry well. About a day before sowing, the seeds must be decontaminated. As disinfectants, you can take fungicides, growth stimulants or a solution of potassium permanganate. In the purchased solutions, the seeds should be at least 12 hours, and in potassium permanganate - about 30 minutes.
The planting time is of great importance for the further development of the plant. Seedlings can be grown after April 15 - this is about 1.5 months before planting them in open beds. It is recommended to sow physalis immediately on an open plot of land in the fall (before the onset of frost) or in the spring, when the threat of frost at night has passed.
Choosing a site for planting and preparing the soil
Since the relatives of physalis are nightshades (for example, tomatoes and potatoes), planting in the area where these crops grew is undesirable due to poor survival rate and the risk of common diseases. But such precursors as cucumbers and cabbage have a beneficial effect on physalis.
The amount of harvest and the palatability of the fruit depend on the correct planting site. It must be in an open, sunny area.
The soil should be light, with good water and air permeability. This is possible if it includes: rotted compost (or humus), garden (or sod) soil - 1 part each, peat soil - 2 parts, cleaned river sand - 0.5 part. You can make this potting mix yourself.
Sowing seeds in open beds
The unpretentious physalis is not afraid of the vagaries of the weather, it can easily reproduce independently (self-seeding) and planting is suitable for it in autumn and spring. But still, there are some proven planting rules on which the quality and quantity of young seedlings depends:
- You cannot plant seeds deeper than 1.5 cm;
- Dense sowing is recommended, which will ensure that young plants will not stretch;
- It is necessary to leave a distance of at least 50 cm between flower beds;
- The favorable temperature for the emergence of seedlings is from 15 to 17 degrees Celsius;
- In case of sudden temperature changes at night and during the day, it is recommended to use a plant shelter (at night);
- When sowing, the seeds can be mixed with sand or with radish seeds, this will contribute to the appearance of uniform shoots;
- Soil temperature favorable for planting seeds is from 5 to 7 degrees Celsius (at a depth of up to 10 cm).
Radish seeds, when mixed with physalis, will not interfere with each other, because the radish harvest will be harvested much earlier than the physalis grows. It is very important to carry out timely double thinning of plants. After the first procedure, a distance of about thirty centimeters should remain between young cultures, and after the second, it should be twice as large.
With all these recommendations from experienced gardeners, even without seedlings, young seedlings will be healthy and strong.
Seedling method of reproduction of physalis
Growing quality seedlings will require separate flower containers and excellent seed material. The optimal time for planting seeds is April, for planting seedlings in open ground - from 15 to 30 May.
Preparing the soil at the selected site consists in clearing it of weeds and loosening it. For the rapid rooting of seedlings and full further development, it is necessary to follow the planting rules:
- Before removing the seedlings from the container, it is recommended to moisten the soil abundantly so as not to damage the young plants;
- Physalis "Decorative" and "Vegetable" must be planted no more than 5 copies per 1 square meter, and "Strawberry" - up to 10 pieces;
- To prevent the seedlings from pulling out, it is necessary to sow the areas free between the physalis with lettuce or radish;
- It is recommended to plant seedlings in the evening, when solar activity decreases, this will promote rapid rooting and shorten the adaptation period;
- It is undesirable to water immediately after transplanting, such moisture can lead to the appearance of a crust on the soil surface and will interfere with the normal penetration of air into the soil.
Subject to all the recommendations for planting seedlings of perennial physalis, in subsequent seasons, special efforts will not be needed to obtain a high-quality harvest. The main care will be to irrigate the soil and apply the necessary fertilizers.
Physalis care outdoors
It is important to timely rid the flower beds of plants with the first signs of disease. To prevent further infection, all diseased specimens are recommended to be burned immediately.
Liquid dressing should be applied during the period of active flowering (1 time) and during the formation of fruits (2 times with an interval of 15-20 days). Each crop will require approximately 500 ml of mineral fertilizers.
Watering is carried out 1-2 times a week throughout the summer season, and in the hottest and driest period - up to 4 times. From September, the number of waterings is reduced to 1 time per week. An excess of moisture must not be allowed.
Harvesting
Physalis blooms throughout the summer, and the fruits ripen from July until the first frost appears. When the orange physalis petals lose their color and dry out, this indicates that it is time to harvest the fruit. During this period, a pleasant smell appears on the beds, which spreads from ripe berries. For long-term storage, not only berries from a bush, but also "beads" that have fallen to the ground are suitable. But frosts have a negative effect on the keeping quality of fruits, so it is necessary to harvest the crop before they appear. With the onset of frost, unripe berries must be cut off along with the bush and left hanging in a dry room for final ripening.
