Variety Spotlight: Ground Cherry and Cape Gooseberry

[@notforu8340]

Many use Cape Gooseberry as a blanket term for all of these, but there is quite a difference between the varieties and that is size of the fruits, form of the plant and above all their taste. Cape Gooseberry (Physalis Peruviana) is the superior choice to grow as the fruits are much larger, they grow about the size of a small cherry tomato, and 5 or 6 fruits will fill your hand. Also this plant also grows upright where the Ground Cherry (Physalis Pruinus) grows more flat and trailing against the ground, which is also great if you want ground cover, or in your raised beds trailing over the edges. If you grow both and separate them in the beds it will bed more apparent, you will also notice a big difference in taste, Peruviana being the more superior tart pineapple flavor of the two types, and more orange in color. On the other hand the Ground Cherry are very prolific and look the size of popcorn or large dice as mature fruits, and as you see by your video to have a higher yield, though as I said noticeably smaller fruits, and in my experience do not have the full taste of the Peruviana. As the plant matures the larger the Ground Cherry fruits are as seen at 5:46 in your video. I say this as you mentioned what you harvested from the ground, and Ground Cherries also fall from the plant at maturity where as Cape Gooseberries do not, or at least to the same degree. I hope this helps, and thanks for your video

[@inchwormgardens]

Thanks so much! This is very helpful information. I saw "Goldenberries" for sale at my local grocery store. They were huge! About the size of a cherry tomato like you said. They looked way different than anything that came up in my garden. I feel maybe my seed packet was labeled wrong? I may try to find some Physalis Peruviana from another source just to make sure. Thanks again for the insight!

[@notforu8340]

@@inchwormgardens Your welcome...yes sadly many 'reputable' seed firms even pull a fast one here will just say 'Gooseberries' or similar of course claiming ignorance yet they know exactly what they are doing. Best way to make people aware is to have them order specifically 'Physalis Peruviana'. I live overseas now and translated they literally call them a large pineapple berry plant or small accordingly (Physalis Pruinus). Often with seed companies it comes down to cost per seed and I just spoke with a major tomato seed supplier and he told me how these seed firms call him and try to haggle price per seed down so they can package known expensive cultivars cheaper than competitors, basically wanting expensive seeds for a fraction of their prices. I also forgot to mention usually the larger berry 'Physalis Peruviana' has a 'pointier' leaf as well while the cherry berry is a more rounded leaf

[@inchwormgardens]

@@notforu8340 Wow! I can see why it gets confusing with so many slang names. "Large/small pineapple berry plant" that's pretty funny. I didn't realize seed companies did that. It makes sense though. They're a business trying to increase profits. I guess the best bet is to save your own seeds!

[@Lochness19]

Do you know if Aunt Molly's is a cape gooseberry or ground cherry? That's what I have. The plants are not ground cover-like, they're 3-5 ft tall now and who knows how much taller they'll get in the next 2 months. However the fruit seem relatively small, smaller than a cherry tomato (the husk might be almost cherry tomato sized).

[@markirish7599]

@@Lochness19 I have the aunt molly and the berries are small not like a cherry tomato at all

[@Mustafa-Kamal-Satar]

I bought 2 months ago a pack of cape gooseberry fruits in a supermarket near my house here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Expensive, just about 10 fruits cost me RM8 (USD3). But I saved seeds from 2 fruits, dried the seeds, and then I sowed them a week ago. Wow! Germination was 100%, all seeds germinated, and doing well. I am excited to wait till they get bigger to transfer them to a permanent place. The fruits I bought was imported from Colombia. Most Malaysians have never seen or tasted the fruits. I have no idea if the plat will grow well in Malaysia

[@inchwormgardens]

Wow! That's so smart to save the seeds from a store bought fruit! I'm not familiar with the growing conditions in Malaysia but I imagine you could grow them there just fine. Best of luck to you!

[@tzipikathleenhartson6275]

Let us know how your plants do!

[@Clarence_13x]

It should do excellent, just do a hydroponic setup. Also they clone readily, just as easily as eggplant.

[@iskandartaib]

These things are all over Thailand, in the supermarkets. Especially in the North, in Chiang Mai. I like to visit in February, it's strawberry season, and there will also be lots of gooseberries on sale. Apparently there was a Royal Project to get farmers planting them some years back. I first came across them years ago, they were being used as decorations on cupcakes at the KL Convention Center. And then I found them in Thai supermarkets. It turns out you can get seeds from Shopee. I still have a few fruits I brought back from Chiang Mai the last time I was there, am planning to try planting some seeds.

[@mariewirtz794]

The chickens love them.

[@fbt2007]

Your taste test did it for me. I am going to try this next season! Nice videos. I like your presentation style. Very pleasant and easy to listen to. I know your channel is really going to grow. Thanks.

[@inchwormgardens]

Thank you so much for this feedback! It really means a lot to me. I never know who is actually watching these videos. I appreciate the comment. Good luck with your Ground Cherries next year! I think you'll love them. They do well in containers too apparently. Very easy to grow. The germination and early stages were a bit long but once they get going, you can hardly stop them!

[@fridomsnowbird5398]

Hey, just so you know there is also a variety called Schoenbrunn ground cherry. The berries are 5 times larger than aunt Molly's cherries. Also when the calyx turns white is when they are ripe. They do not fall to the ground when they are ripe.

[@inchwormgardens]

Wow! I had never heard of that variety! Thanks for letting me know. I immediately looked it up and bought a pack of seeds 😄Gonna give 'em a try! Thanks again!

[@fitztastico]

I actually looked into these the other day. Depending on your area, you might be disappointed. I decided not to get them since I found an ongoing study in the state of New York with a researcher and volunteer farmers to determine whether it was a viable crop for the area. Based on several years of feedback, most farmers stated that they did not have enough growing season for the schoenbrunn to grow and ripen before the first freeze. You can find the results at projects.sare.org/project-reports/lne18-362/ with feedback from the farmers (you have to scroll down a bit) that might be quite helpful when you grow it this year.

[@inchwormgardens]

@@fitztastico That is very good to know! Thanks for sharing. I'm going to start those seeds indoors soon as they arrive. Hopefully I can get a good harvest before our first freeze!

[@josephlarsen]

@@fitztastico If you start them indoors like tomatoes 6 weeks before last frost you have a much higher chance of getting ripe ones, but even still there will be some that don't ripen. They have such an amazing tangy complex flavor. Some people don't like them at first, but they're just amazing

[@iamwooth1729]

That's a beautiful garden you have there! I doubt I'll get to that anytime soon but it's something I'm working my way towards! 😁 I just bought some seeds from Seed Savers for some ground cherries and I'm very excited to taste them. Gonna try my hand at some Cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers I've never tried before. Fingers crossed I have a good harvest. 😁

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey there! Thanks so much :) You're going to LOVE the ground cherries! Still my #1 favorite crop to grow in the garden. They're just so delicious and productive. I hope you enjoy them!

[@tzipikathleenhartson6275]

Excellent video, as always, and the helpful comments👍 I think these will work for both my Leviticus 23:22 tzedakah gardens, providing instant food along my garden borders for the homeless & in the winter "for the humble among us." I hope they are compatible with the tomato plants? Excited to try 2022! Thx everyone!

[@inchwormgardens]

Wow! Your garden sounds amazing! These would fit in perfect. Yes, they grow just fine with tomatoes. Best of luck!

[@prof.cecilycogsworth3204]

Where can I learn more about this type of garden?

[@patrick8287]

I got an insane amount of ground cherries. This is my second year. I eat bowls and bowls of them and still love them as much.

[@stevenbird8076]

Dude!! This video is amazing. I also love ground cherries.. I only grow the pineapple strain at this time but I gotta say it. WAY TO GO ON THIS VIDEO. this is very informative.

[@inchwormgardens]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that 😁Thanks for watching!!

[@puvaneswarikrishnan9805]

900th place 9

[@Yoyocreative]

I planted cape gooseberry this year! I planted the seedlings in full ground only a few days ago. I'm excited to see them grow and to eventually try them! 😊❤️

[@inchwormgardens]

Awesome! They take a while to get started so don't be discouraged! Once they're established they will grow like crazy. Best of luck to you!

[@Yoyocreative]

@@inchwormgardens I was amazed that the first bulb already showed a few days after planting! And other seedlings I started a bit later are already showing flowers with only a few true leaves 🤭 I've already seen growth in one of the seedlings, but sadly, two of them got raided by slugs 😅 so I'm glad I've got some backup plants!

[@Brainstormworldwide]

M

[@awebb470]

Hi I just like to say a fantastic video thank you for sharing it with us keep up the good work and be safe😍😍❤❤👍

[@inchwormgardens]

Thank you for watching! I appreciate the feedback!

[@notoioudmanboy]

In Australia, we make a distinction between what you have which we call cossack berries and cape gooseberries, they are just varieties of peruvian ground cherry. The cossack berries are the lower variety, cape goosberry are taller.

[@inchwormgardens]

This is a good way to classify them! The seed packets I hade were mislabeled unfortunately so it really confused me. These were both the exact same (cossack berry) but one of them was labeled as a gooseberry. I later grew a true gooseberry variety called the Schoenbrunn Gold. It was a huge, tall plant with big fruit. Very different than the low growing variety! Thanks for sharing!

[@OsirusHandle]

aaaah thanks for doing it properly. it was so hard to find good information on physalis species varieties.

[@inchwormgardens]

Thanks so much! I appreciate that.

[@stephenowen1644]

Good job on the video! I've been growing these for a few years and we love them!

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey! Thanks so much! I'm trying a new variety this year called "Schoenbrunn Gold" Have you tried that one before? I just recently found out about it!

[@stephenowen1644]

@@inchwormgardens i just looked up this variety and ordered the seeds, looking forward to trying these! Thanks for letting me know about this variety!

[@inchwormgardens]

Stephen Owen awesome!! I hope they do well for both of us! I’ll be posting the progress of everything so check back periodically if you’d like 🤙🏼

[@offshoot1008]

After lots of research to determine whats now growing in my yard i found out today i have 2 cape gooseberry plants . Im happy i did not have to spend money on seeds . I hope we will like them. They have some good nutritional benefits

[@inchwormgardens]

That's awesome! Thank you Mother Nature! Enjoy :)

[@MPMcDonald]

I have one growing between the neighbor's fence and my deck railing. There's only about 3 inches between the two. It might even just have come through a crack in the fence. I was sitting on my deck looking at it and wondering what those things were hanging from that plant were, and an app identified it as ground cherry. There are dozens of unripe ground cherries/gooseberries on it right now. I guess in a few weeks, I'll have some tasty berries! I think I might take a few and throw them in a better location and hope they grow next year.

[@inchwormgardens]

Score! There are a several plants that look pretty similar to these. I'm not sure if all of them are edible so just be cautious. Hopefully you get some delicious Ground Cherry's! That's a good idea to move them to a better location. They reseed super easily so you should have them every season if you want!

[@febbiegemina5770]

When I was a kid I used to eat this, Here in the Philippines, we don't plant this. They grow during summer and free to pick and eat.

[@inchwormgardens]

How cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@drandall6731]

Did you just continue using your fertilizer liquid that you made way back in the spring, through the growing season? (Love the montage music! ;) And you eat them with such pizzazz! Love your vids.

[@inchwormgardens]

Thank you! I did use the compost tea and another liquid fertilizer. I think I stopped fertilizing everything around June. I probably could have continued but by that time everything was in full bloom and producing like crazy.

[@planetaustraliachannel]

Found your KZbin very interesting and full of so much information

[@inchwormgardens]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!

[@SaphsContainerGarden]

First time growing them and I have Baker Creek’s New Hanover Ground cherry which looks like your plants but they really grow low to the ground and sprawl sideways and not even upwards like yours. None of the cherries that fell on the ground were ripe. ???? Some ripened after sitting on my counter after a month but most just started to shrivel up green. And my plants died from mealy bugs. Was so disappointed. Will try growing again. Thankfully I have the Peruviana variety from store bought goldenberries. That plant grows tall and big and has fuzzy leaves. They took a Looong time to finally start bearing fruit but they actually fall to the ground ripe.

[@inchwormgardens]

A lot of ours were falling off green too! Not sure why that is. I saw those Goldenberries in the store too and they are huge! All mine were way smaller. Well, I hope we both have better luck next year with these!

[@jeff6899]

Nice summary, my friend ! But the Cape Gooseberry (also called the Inca Berry, etc.) is a little larger and a better choice. There is another video here on youtube by a gal who nicely specifies the difference. The Inca (or Cape Gooseberry) grows more vertical, keeping rats more at bay. First had it at a Farmers Market here in Metro Phx--was hooked immediately. May be sweeter. I have a Ground Cherry right now in a pot but afraid to grow for the rat problem and the rate of horizontal growth. But really enjoyed your production here !!

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey! Thanks for watching. I appreciate the info. I've had the opportunity to grow the true Physalis Peruviana (Cape Gooseberry, Inca Berry) since then. And you're right, they were really tall and much larger plants. My seed packets were mislabeled which led me to state incorrectly that they were "basically the same plant". 😩 This video still haunts me, haha.

[@jeff6899]

@@inchwormgardens Blessings to you, guy...you have a great, calm, informative delivery. Your honest humility will take you far ! You seem like a great guy. Really enjoyed it, in spite of the very minor inaccuracy...and I am a gardening addict ! (over 500 plants, 23 yrs at present spread; 8 certified habitats)...keep on keepin' on ! Cheers !

[@jeff6899]

@@inchwormgardens And I just subscribed for the basics ! 😁😁🤗

[@inchwormgardens]

@@jeff6899 Hey! Thank you so much! I really appreciate the support.

[@inchwormgardens]

@@jeff6899 yayyy! Thank you!!

[@lindsaygoodwin3140]

The goldenberry is bigger and tasts like a Raspberry - Tomato, rather than pineapple. I also think they may not fall to the ground, but im not sure yet. Still waiting for mine to fruit.

[@inchwormgardens]

That's what I've hear too! Unfortunately my seeds were mislabled so the "goldenberry" or "Cape Gooseberry" was actually the same variety as my other plants (Physalis Pruinosa). I'm trying a true Physalis Peruviana this year, the "Schoenbrunn Gold". Can't wait to try the fruit!

[@Arpin_Lusene]

At this moment I’m trying to grow them all around my house. Hopefully one day, I can also have more fruits than I could eat 😊

[@inchwormgardens]

Yes! You will absolutely have that! Best of luck to you :)

[@lindsaygoodwin3140]

There's also a red variety called lantern berry in Asia.

[@inchwormgardens]

oh wow! I'll have to check that out! I love finding new varieties. Thanks for sharing!

[@mweber5459]

Are they edible too?

[@lindsaygoodwin3140]

@@mweber5459 i believe so.

[@lindsaygoodwin3140]

@@inchwormgardens i highly recommend 'the fruit explorer' if you haven't seen his channel already

[@inchwormgardens]

@@lindsaygoodwin3140 I just subscribed! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@CampingforCool41]

Green tomatoes and tomato leaves also contain solanine- makes sense since they are in the same family (potatoes too).

[@inchwormgardens]

That makes sense!

[@jenniferpantermuehl3179]

Amazing! Great data!!!

[@mohk2558]

Love ur the video, very helpful. I still have a question, please. I discovered this plant during my trip to Egypt and bring back with some of the fruits to Algeria. I planted some seeds and got about 20 seedlings, some had good growth, and others were slower. I've just separated them into different pots. So my question is, what is the frequency of watering? we have a very hot summer here, it's about 42° celsius these days

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey there! I hope your 20 seedlings are doing well. I've found that this plant is pretty drought tolerant. The leaves aren't quick to wilt. I would judge the watering frequency on the feel of the soil. If the top couple inch or two is bone dry then it's time for some water. They may dry out quicker in pots than they would in the ground. If possible, try growing a few in the ground to compare how they grow in pots. Hope that helps!

[@accountsofsolon7598]

For Peruvian Did you only plant one ? Or did you grow a companion one for pollination ? Some saying you get no fruit if you only plant 1. That true ?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey there! I only planted 1 Peruviana and got a pretty good amount of fruit. From what I've seen and read they are self-fertile so you don't have to have 2 plants. Hope that helps!

[@fasilfaisu1315]

Thanks doctor

[@blitzkrieg2003]

I have a question based on your hat. I garden in Northern Illinois, everything I've read said the Cossack seeds I got should be zone hardy for this area. I'm curious if you have seen them be perennial or do they just kind of self seed like dill, tomatoes etc. ?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey there! Those should grow really well for you as an annual crop. I don't think they will be a perennial for you in zone 5b. I'm in zone 7a and the frost kills them off each year. But yes, you should see lots of volunteer plants each year. If you let a few ripe fruit fall to the ground, they will happily come back next year. Good luck and enjoy!

[@blitzkrieg2003]

@@inchwormgardens awesome, thank you!

[@porkfied]

Thanks for the for the info,I just bought the seeds and the video very helpful.Thanks again.

[@inchwormgardens]

You're so welcome! Enjoy growing and eating them! The seedlings start off verrry slow and tiny so don't get discouraged. Eventually they'll be huge and productive!

[@JennySimon206]

When do you stop pinching the flowers and let them start fruiting? I have some that are about a foot tall in 6 inch pots. They want to flower so badly lol. Also my couple inch kabocha squash have flowers that I think I need to pinch off too. Right? I have the pineapple ground cherries.

[@inchwormgardens]

Hi Jenny! Honestly, I didn't pinch any flowers off my plants. I'd say stop pinching them once they're in the ground at least. For the squash, yes you could pinch those first ones off if you're not ready to transplant them. I've done it both ways (removing/not removing flowers) and didn't notice any drastic change in plant health or production. You're going to get tons of fruit either way! Happy gardening!

[@MadDogSmitty]

I WAS AT THE H MART IN TIGARD. THEY HAD THE CAPE GOOSEBERRY FOR $2.99 7/19/23 I am back In South Central Missouri and I do have both growing CAPE & the smaller ones from fruit I gathered from the rock roadside

[@inchwormgardens]

Nice! I love gathering wild seed like that. Hope you get some good plants from them!

[@JanetHamm1961]

Cool, thx for the info. I have some seeds. I'll plant them and see how it goes. 😊

[@inchwormgardens]

Awesome! I hope you have great success with them!

[@RitaRose-cy9fc]

Is the clammy ground cherry the same? It says physalis heterophylia and I have them in yard. Same husk, same yellow tomato inside but my plant finder says toxic to humans?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hi there! Looks like the clammy ground cherry is just a different species of the Physalis genus. Here's what I found on that specific variety: "The fruits are typical for the family (appearing like a tomatillo), and have a slightly bitter taste, though they are perfectly edible when ripe. The rest of the plant is poisonous, including to animals." So yes, the plant and leaves are considered toxic but the fully ripe fruit should be okay.

[@aarongentile7232]

Do the Deer like to eat the plants, like they do to my Tomatoes? I'm sure they do! My 1st year planting them

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey there! I haven't had any deer issues personally but I would imagine they would enjoy eating these plants and fruit. I found online that they are "generally considered deer resistant". Guess it depends how hungry the deer is. My advice is to grow some extra just in case!

[@oliviahamilton8654]

is that Toothache Plant in the bed behind you at the end? How do you like it? Does it serve primarily as a pollinator or do you use it medicinally?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hi Olivia, good eye! That is a Toothache plant. I enjoyed it! I actually did a full video spotlight on it. You can see me look like a fool eating it here : 🤣 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZeYdXalm82Xf8U I grew it just for fun. Didn't do anything with it other than have a good laugh showing it to my friends. I'd say it's worth a spot in the garden for sure!

[@oliviahamilton8654]

@@inchwormgardens Just checked out the video. Thanks for volunteering as tribute! It seems like a solid addition to the medicinal garden this year :)

[@inchwormgardens]

@@oliviahamilton8654 Yes! If you find any other useful applications let me know! I'm growing it again this year too. Good luck in the garden!

[@MrChristianDT]

"when they made it to the continental US" So, you've never heard of Virginian Groundcherry, Physalis Virginiana? Admittedly, there is barely a market for them, but they're native all over the Eastern Woodlands region.

[@andreagreen1467]

I have these in nc growing wild and was so excited

[@williamqwamdaayyyyyyy5074]

Hi, What do you think the best variety is for hot, but rainy, humid weather, and can be grown in a smaller space to not overcrowd other plants, Also what is more prolific in weight, and flavour. Also growing this as a annual.

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey there! I've been very pleased with the "Aunt Molly's" variety. It is relatively compact, it likes the hot weather and it produces a ton of fruit with great flavor. Works well as an annual. If you can start the seeds a little earlier indoors then you'll get a jump start on the growing season. Good luck!

[@janettelittle3347]

This is my first season with ground cherries and I really hope we like them!

[@inchwormgardens]

How exciting!!! I think you guys will love them! The kids especially enjoy them because their fun to "hunt" for when they drop on the ground. And the little paper covering is fun to peel an eat. Let me know how it goes!

[@Kodikat2]

This is my first year growing growing ground cherries, I have been harvesting the ground cherries off of the ground only. Some of them are still green, if I leave them on a windowsill will they continue to ripen like a tomato will. Thank you for your video it's been very helpful.

[@inchwormgardens]

Hi Judy! I'm happy you've found the video helpful. To be honest, I'm not sure if they will continue to ripen or not. My guess is they would. As long as the fruit is already starting to "blush" and is becoming slightly yellow. I don't think it would ripen from a dark green young fruit. But even if the fruit is only very light yellow it is still good to eat. Especially if it fell off the plant on it's own. They have a more tart flavor and are still delicious. I haven't experienced any negative effects from eating slightly green ones. I would just stay away from the dark green, unripe fruit. Hope that helps!

[@KatieJoMikell]

These are so delicious they are my absolute favorite! I’ve been purchasing them the last few years off of Etsy not the seeds the actual ground cherries so delicious!

[@inchwormgardens]

They are so delicious! You could save the seeds from those fruit and try growing some yourself! A little tricky to get started but once they get going you'll be set!

[@KatieJoMikell]

@@inchwormgardens but I live in Chicago I don’t have access to sun not a lot every day could I grow them inside?

[@KatieJoMikell]

Just a lil FYI. I buy from two different buyers one send them in a Ziploc bag one send them in a grocery store paper bag the one from the grocery store stays dry fresh. Ziploc bag I have to empty it out and get the humidity out.

[@inchwormgardens]

@@KatieJoMikell You could grow them inside but you'd need some grow lights which might be more hassle than you want. Sounds like you have a good system already!

[@inchwormgardens]

@@KatieJoMikell That's good to know! Storing them in the paper bag sounds like the better method. Thanks for sharing!

[@honestlee4532]

Many people call this plant a ground cherry but it's not. The 2nd half of the following video will show you the differences... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYayl2OeYqeag6s

[@inchwormgardens]

Thanks for sharing!

[@bibisalimaabdulla8374]

Does the plant have thorns. Where can I find the tree or seeds. I bought this in Africa while traveling in the bus. It was a road side sale

[@bibisalimaabdulla8374]

Thanks for sharing

[@inchwormgardens]

Hello! There are no thorns on the plant. Just fuzzy leaves. I've gotten seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, MI Gardener and Turtle Seeds. I'm sure many other seed companies carry them too. Hope you find some seeds!

[@rainyweather8685]

@@inchwormgardens I have a volunteer that popped up last year but I wasn't able to tend to my garden last year so I'm just finding the bush dead full of fruit this year. The only thing is it's full of thorns! Can anyone help me identify what it is. I don't see any noticeable husks, but they've been thru winter and storms etc. Many still on the plant. A bit more orange. Thank you so much!

[@inchwormgardens]

@@rainyweather8685 Interesting! I'm not sure what that could be. I did a google search for that description but it's hard to know without seeing it. Hope you can get it identified! Sounds like it grew really well.

[@adriennefloreen]

There are hundreds of varieties of this plant and some are cultivars and others can be found in the wild including in the desert in the USA where they've grown for thousands of years and some scientists think it's just a different variety of tomatillo with a sweeter fruit not a different plant, for the same reason that cherry tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes are not two separate species. When I found out they were called Poha in Hawaii I started calling them that because here in California they're commonly called "Peruvian Ground Cherries" and I absolutely despise made up names with formats like "Place name and similar looking unrelated American vegetable" and also, because in New Zealand they use Sonchus Arvensis leaves as a vegetable and call it Puha, so I can honestly tell people: I grow Poha and Puha and eat both, as a pun. And if you don't know what the plant I just mentioned is then its very likely you have pulled it out of your garden thinking it was a weed. Just FYI, if you are unaware, Baker Creek literally makes up never before heard and non existent names for foreign vegetables that actually have names in a foreign language and so does seeds of change, one example is "Osaka Japanese Purple Mustard Greens" which is, in Japan, called Takana and known to be from Kumamoto Prefecture which does not contain the city of Osaka. I think they made up the name "Cape Gooseberry" but when I commented on their Cape Gooseberry video on their KZbin channel the channel responded to my comment by arguing with me so I have no clue who moderates it but it's not their friendly CEO who called me on the phone to thank me once. He's probably not even aware his company does that, it's someone he hired.

[@inchwormgardens]

That's really good to know! It still bothers me that these seeds were mislabeled and caused me a lot of confusion. I noticed they stopped selling the "cape gooseberry" the following year so maybe they realized it was a mistake. Thanks for the info! You are very knowledgeable.

[@GrowingGoodHair]

Nice video but I thought they were somewhat toxic while green?

[@inchwormgardens]

Thanks so much! Yes, I've read they are mildly toxic while green. I discourage anyone from eating the really green ones. That being said, we've eaten quite a few of the green-ish ones with no ill effects.

[@FknNefFy]

Potatoes and all nightshade have solanine… but I just learned it’s okay to eat the unripe ones FYI

[@inchwormgardens]

oh nice! I actually like the more tart flavor of the less ripe ones so that's good to know. Thanks!

[@jannamwatson]

Ahhhhh. So these need to drop to the ground and are not picked?

[@inchwormgardens]

That’s right! For the Pruinosa varieties like Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry. I’ve heard the Peruviana variety hangs on the plant and turns whitish when ripe and doesn’t drop to the ground. My Peruviana seeds were mislabeled so all my plants were actually a Pruinosa variety 😅 good luck in the garden!

[@stanglova86]

I heard one pruinosa crawls on the ground and is sweeter than the peruviana which grows upwards and has a citrus flavor

[@inchwormgardens]

I heard that too! Unfortunately my Peruviana seeds were mislabeled so all my plants were actually Pruinosa. I’m growing a true Peruviana this year and it is noticeably different. Can’t wait to see it fully grown and try the fruit!

[@stanglova86]

@@inchwormgardens one more thing i noticed the cotyledons of the seedlings are not the same as well, the aunt mollys have a pointed cotyledons , while the ground cherry has a rounder cotyledons.

[@stanglova86]

@@inchwormgardens how are they now ?

[@ashleyguantes7725]

I live where it gets like 110 in the summer should I plant in direct sun?

[@inchwormgardens]

I'd say plant in direct sun. 110 degrees is definitely intense. Just keep them watered and maybe be prepared to put up a little shade cloth if necessary. Best of luck!

[@arbiterlane1661]

FYI these plants can suffer pretty strong pest pressure. I had about 20 of these plants (a mix of both ground cherries and cape gooseberries) and the fruits were constantly DEVESTATED by little worms that would drill into the fruits. I thought that the calyx was supposed to PROTECT the fruits from pests, but it actually gives them a little home to munch and eat. I've lost THOUSANDS of fruits this year, pretty much the entire crop before I realized what it happening. Luckily they are very prolific so even losing all your crop, you can have more chances! To avoid pests, I would very much suggest to NOT grow ground cherries (sprawling variety), only the cape gooseberries (standing variety). The ground cherries sprawl along the ground too much, and then you can't clean the ground underneath them. The grass and weeds below will grow huge into the plant, encouraging pests, and there's nothing you can do. This also allows you to physically separate the plants more, helping prevent overcrowding and stopping pests from hopping from plant to plant. You also really do not need very many of these plants for a family garden. They are so prolific, you will get more than enough from 1 or 2 plants which you focused on keeping pest-free, so there is no need to overcrowd with 20+ plants like I did! I hold off pests now by 1) spraying with pyrethrin weekly and 2) teabagging the thousands of individual fruits. Way too much work -- learn from my mistakes and be prepared!

[@inchwormgardens]

Wow! I love your dedication to keeping those pests at bay! Thanks for sharing your successful actions!

[@birtanemaskm7864]

What is the difference between this gooseberry and those comes in green and red and have many seeds inside? I need the names because I need to explain and give the puiples the right information. I found that one in the video called cape gooseberry and sometimes golden berry. Please I need the american name can used in schools. And that fruit Amal is a Family of gooseberries too?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hi there! I'm no expert in this area. The different common names can make things confusing. Here are the scientific names to look into: Physalis pruinosa and Physalis peruviana. I looked up the Amla (Indian Gooseberry) which is Phyllanthus emblica.

[@birtanemaskm7864]

@@inchwormgardens yes it's confusing. Thank you so much. But can you tell me what is used in schools there so I'll use them here. Cas I'm filling dizzy I can't stend on a specific answer from all what I've seen

[@ellatessler1634]

How would I overwinter it in NJ?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey there! I've never tried overwintering this before. It comes up so fast in the Spring / Summer so you can always start from seed. You could try starting them in large pots and then bring them inside during the winter. Good luck!

[@tehilagracie6466]

Which state/country?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hello! These were grown in Nashville, Tennessee USA. Thanks for watching!

[@lionellloyd9003]

They make good jam.

[@inchwormgardens]

Yes! Absolutely!

[@moongypsysc]

Mine are getting ate right off the stem. Growing like crazy though!

[@inchwormgardens]

What is eating them off the stem?? Hopefully you 😅 I've been dealing with ants or something eating mine this year. More than I've ever had before. Same with my tomatillos. Not sure what that's about. Glad they're still growing like crazy!

[@jenickjohnson4361]

These plants are huge. I have this plant here in India they are small. I don't know nowadays the leaves are turning to skeleton by an unknown insect. The plant is not growing enough big, is it because I don't transplant it from my small tray.

[@inchwormgardens]

Hello! I would try planting it in a larger pot or the ground preferably. They should grow pretty big! Good luck!

[@mattw5840]

okay they're the same plant, sweet

[@atwaterurbanhomestead1244]

You said you have 6 plants together, is that how many you recommend?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hey there! I've learned that they do better when they're spaced further apart. When they're grown close together like this, they tend to grow more upright to compete with the light. When given space, they have more of a spreading habit and seem to produce more fruit. So I'd recommend giving them a bit more space!

[@atwaterurbanhomestead1244]

@@inchwormgardens thank you

[@abhaymangla]

where to get those seed from share some links plzz

[@dingpongcrate]

Thx for the video. Recently travel to Vienna Austria and met a man who is from Colombia who lives in Europe who told me about physalis. When is a good time to plant them?

[@inchwormgardens]

How cool! The seeds take a while to germinate but once they're established they grow fast! You can plant them the same time you would plant your tomatoes and peppers (after any threat of frost). Good luck and I hope you enjoy a huge harvest!

[@dingpongcrate]

@@inchwormgardens got the seeds and will plant them. hopefully, physalis will germinate fast

[@inchwormgardens]

@@dingpongcrate Awesome! Enjoy!

[@prishapandey1435]

Do we have to replant it next year? I mean is it perrenials?

[@inchwormgardens]

In my zone it's an annual so I have to plant every year, BUT they always end up reseeding by themselves after dropping so many fruit over the season so you should get lots of volunteer plants each year!

[@ceciliaglynn6975]

Per INaturalist ground cherries genus physalis is native to North America

[@inchwormgardens]

Good to know! Thanks for sharing.

[@lionellloyd9003]

T he cape gooseberry got its name from the fact that they have a covering. They wevkr e called CAPED gooseberry. Nothing to do with a cape at all. The name came about because they wore a hoody

[@inchwormgardens]

Haha, so cool!

[@PeasLovePineapples]

Love both, most of the time mislabeled, actual ground cherries are not the same as the actual Golden berry AKA gooseberry. There are notable differences

[@inchwormgardens]

I agree, both delicious! I learned a real lesson on how seeds can be mis-labeled. Thanks for watching!

[@nunyabiznes33]

I ate a jelly that says it's "uva spina". Ran that through Translate and it came out as "gooseberry". I wonder if it's the same as cape gooseberry.

[@inchwormgardens]

Hi there! From what I can tell, "uva spina" refers to the European Gooseberry. That fruit looks like a small grape with little hairs or spines on it. "uva" is Latin for "grape" and "spina" could be "spines". It's tricky when so many different plants / varieties have the same or similar names!

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@inchwormgardens thanks a lot. Looked that up and I don't think it'll grow in the tropics.

[@Lashay7]

I can’t ever get my seeds to germinate. I have tried seeds from baker creek about 5 diff times in soil and in paper towels. I have covered seed and uncovered seed. Still no luck !

[@inchwormgardens]

That is frustrating! It sounds like you're doing everything right. What variety do you have? I had the most difficulty with the "strawberry husk" variety from Baker Creek. The "Aunt Molly's" variety I got from MI Gardener had better germination and bigger, healthier seedlings for me. Might be worth a shot trying a different variety/source. I think it's worth the effort. I want you to be able experience them :) I'm not sure how many seeds you're planting each time but another suggestion is to just go for broke and plant like 30 seeds in a cell. That will at least increase your chances for 1 to pop up! You'd have to thin them out of course but that's okay. Once you have a single mature ground cherry plant, you'll never have to buy seeds again so I think it's worth the gamble! Best of luck!

[@adrianemaristela5623]

Does Cape Gooseberry can grow in a Tropical Country?

[@inchwormgardens]

Yeah! It would grow great in a tropical climate. Give it a try!

[@alya4064]

Hi, how many days does it take for this variety to harvest?!

[@inchwormgardens]

Hello! I believe the day to maturity is between 75-90

[@alya4064]

@@inchwormgardens wow, how do we know that the fruits are ready to be picked!

[@inchwormgardens]

@@alya4064 the papery husk around the fruit will become dry and "crunchy"! The fruit will also fall right off the plant to the ground. Enjoy!

[@ittsacrazyworld]

Do you ever have to worry about bugs inside them?

[@inchwormgardens]

Nope! The paper husk acts as a layer of protection so the fruit is usually perfectly clean and bug free. The only issue I've seen is ants getting to them but those are only the ones left on the ground for a long time. I was just out in the garden snacking on these. Still my all time favorite garden crop!

[@benburden9323]

I have one too mine is ground cherrybarrys

[@inchwormgardens]

Awesome! How are they doing for you so far this year?

[@sorathonthiebsronshai5844]

I'm newbie here and I'm interested in your videos.

[@inchwormgardens]

Glad to have you here! I hope I can provide some inspiration for you :)

[@OsirusHandle]

solanine is toxic but seemingly not that bad in small doses. apparently the plants are poisonous enough to kill people but i suspect this, like tomatoes, was mostly bred out in the commonly eaten species.

[@inchwormgardens]

Yeah, that's good point. No need to freak out but try to limit your intake of it.

[@OsirusHandle]

@@inchwormgardens i actually deep dived it the other day after i harvested 600g of green tomatoes from our dying tomatos, and seemingly, NOBODY REALLY KNOWS, even if tomatoes HAVE solanine in them vs "Tomatine" and other very similar chemicals. its SHOCKINGLY poorly studied. But I decided screw it and ate about half of them over a week and didnt get side effects. Wierdly solanine is supposed to be extremely bitter but i decided to nibble some potato leaves as an experiment and, as in the green tomatoes, I couldnt taste any bitterness at all. All very confusing ;_;

[@mysanisa]

Love from India

[@inchwormgardens]

Thanks for watching! Much love from the USA

[@JohnSmith-gy4qj]

How mamy seasons before theu die off?

[@inchwormgardens]

Hi John, I missed your question! These grow as an annual in my zone - zone 7. They start to die off at the end of one season. Maybe in a frost free climate they could be grown longer. Good luck!

[@Youdontknowmeson1324]

Not variety different species there is a cold hardy Perenial version physalis latifolia and Chinese lantern are Perenial cold hardy species.

[@inchwormgardens]

Oh cool! Thanks for letting me know. Those Chinese Lanterns are really pretty.

[@amiflores3677]

From the research I've done a proper Cape Gooseberry plant should be poisonous where a ground cherry plant is not supposed to be. I was watching your video and hopes that you might clarify this but it looks like I might have to just grow both and eat some leaves to figure it out

[@inchwormgardens]

I've only heard about eating the fruit, not the leaves. But that is certainly the best way to research something; Try it for yourself!

[@amiflores3677]

@@inchwormgardens I want to grow plants that when the season is done I can feed the leaves and things to my rabbit that way I'm making the best use of my small space

[@inchwormgardens]

@@amiflores3677 that's a great idea! Have you ever tried growing Long Beans? (sometimes called Noodle Beans) They are super productive and easy to grow. The beans taste pretty good and all the leaves are edible and have been used as animal fodder for decades. You could grow a lot of rabbit food with a few of those plants!

[@navajo6931]

Where do you buy the seeds

[@inchwormgardens]

Hello, I bought my original seeds from Baker Creek Seed Company (rareseeds.com) but one of the packets was mislabeled. I've also gotten them from MI Gardener. They have become pretty popular and most seed companies have them in stock. Hope you find some!

[@marilynfelicilda5841]

Ang daming ganyan sa Philippines,Ang Akala namin nakakalason yan. Kaya kahit kami hindi kumakain niyan. But Ang mahal pala niyan

[@inchwormgardens]

Wow! Alam kong maraming iba't ibang uri. Hindi ko alam kung may lason ang mga meron ka dyan o hindi. Mas mainam na palaguin mo ang iyong sarili para sigurado ka. Good luck!

[@johnskillen6208]

we grow them in zone 2. they reseed easy

[@inchwormgardens]

Awesome! You're absolutely right about that! I have so many volunteers each year. It's great :)

[@dvhaltemam]

Canning ground cherries??? I found jam and such recipes but NOT ONE recipe for canning plain ground cherries. I did it anyway. Used 1/2 C honey to 2 C water for the syrup and steam canned pints for 15 min. Does anyone have experience with canning ground cherries? NOT JAM

[@inchwormgardens]

Great idea! I have yet to dive into canning but I really need to learn! Thanks for sharing.

[@FknNefFy]

Trying again mine didn’t ever pop up last year

[@inchwormgardens]

They are notoriously tricky to germinate. Hope you get a great harvest this year!

[@febbiegemina5770]

We called it "Tino-tino".

[@inchwormgardens]

Oh wow, haven't heard that name before. So many different names for this plant!

[@mstrack3417]

I i wont this golden beryys sedd

[@cvbenjaminb]

Yummy 😋

[@sweetiemoosweetiemoo5983]

I had spent a lot of $ buying the seeds, and none of them successful.

[@inchwormgardens]

sorry to hear that! They can be very tricky to germinate! I hope you'll give it another shot. Maybe from a different seed supplier.

[@Resistor-u7e]

Just use paper towel

[@sanyasirajugvssn9519]

Can u send Torentea seeds red colour

[@inchwormgardens]

I don't have any of those, sorry!

[@robinbelgrave3554]

Are they sweet

[@inchwormgardens]

They sure are! Super sweet when fully ripe. A little tart when less ripe but great either way :)

[@febbiegemina5770]

The children in my small community are being forbidden to eat this ground cherry. Because the elders thought that this is poisonous.

[@SuperRpena]

It is poisonous if it is not ripe. As are the leaves, stems and the paper lantern.

[@inchwormgardens]

oh wow! My understanding is they're okay to eat when fully ripe. The unripe fruit and the other plant material do contain some toxins. Better safe than sorry I suppose! My kids eat them up and we haven't seen any adverse effects. Thanks for sharing!

[@inchwormgardens]

That's right! Thank you

[@mastmolamm5604]

Leafs on the plants have infection or bugs as many leafs are yellow. Use baking soda and soap mix spray once a week

[@inchwormgardens]

Thank you!

[@LastManAliveProject]

Nice work. Sub

[@inchwormgardens]

Thank you so much!

[@LastManAliveProject]

@@inchwormgardens I get a lot of the same seeds, so it's coop to see

[@randalllaue4042]

Thanks! Show cut in half!!

[@inchwormgardens]

Good idea! I will show that this year when I grow some more! Thanks for the suggestion :)

[@randalllaue4042]

@@inchwormgardens had heard that most of vitamins are in seeds, still confused about the tomato aspect. Both are in the nightshade family? (The lantern part proves it) what exactly is the science of the nightshade family? Was told effects joints and arthritis. Yet there seems to be no warnings on potatoes. You were the first one to mention that the actual plant and unripe fruit is toxic, the green parts of potatoes is supposed to be toxic. Same reason?

[@inchwormgardens]

@@randalllaue4042 Good questions! Yes, Ground Cherries and Tomatoes are both in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae) Here's an article I found that talks about the toxic effects and health benefits of nightshades. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321745#health-benefits Yep, green potatoes and green (unripe) ground cherries both contain a toxin called Solanine. This is from that same article: "Nightshades contain an alkaloid called solanine, which is toxic in high concentrations. Solanine is found in trace amounts in potatoes and is normally safe, though the leafy stalks of the potato plant and green potatoes are toxic, and solanine poisoning has been reported from eating green potatoes." Hope that helps!

[@elizabethblane201]

They are not the same plant.

[@inchwormgardens]

Hi Elizabeth, you're right! I made an edit in my video description noting this. My seed packet was actually mislabeled! So annoying. I'm growing both varieties again (for real this time) and I can already see a major difference in how the plants look. Can't wait to see the fruit! Thanks for watching :)

[@elizabethblane201]

@@inchwormgardens There was a lot of confusion about this for me, too, until I researched it. I got my seeds for the peruviana by buying "Golden Berries" from Trader Joes and planting the seeds. Those are grown in Colombia, South America. I've watched a lot of videos in Spanish about that farming and I've seen that the plants are 6-7 feet tall and have larger fruit than the P. pruinosa. Gardening is so fun!

[@inchwormgardens]

@@elizabethblane201 Wow! I didn't realize they got quite that tall. Thanks for the letting me know. My Pruinosa were only like 3ft tall and spread pretty far out. The variety of Peruviana I got this year is called "Schoenbrunn Gold". I ordered it online from Turtle Tree Seed Co. This plant has so many different names, it can really be confusing! I did quite a bit of research myself at first but when my "Peruviana" seeds from Baker Creek looked identical to the Pruinosa it really threw me off! I agree, gardening is so fun and there is always so much more to learn. Sharing our experiences with each other like this helps in that pursuit of knowledge. Thanks for taking the time to share! Have a great 2021 growing season

[@sislertx]

THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.