Their orange fruits in thin lantern shells can be found in health food stores from the end of August: the Cape gooseberries (also known as Andean berries or physalis). They are delicious and can be made into jams and marmalades. If you want to enjoy them, you don't have to spend a lot, you can also plant the Cape gooseberries in the garden or on the balcony. We explain how to use Physalisharvest and when the Cape gooseberries are ripeare.
Harvesting Physalis: When is the right time?
With proper care and sufficient sunlight in summer, the Physalis fruits are ready to harvest from the end of August - beginning of September. However, it is very important that one is only completely ripeharvests fruits. Unripe fruits are inedible, contain toxins and are dangerous to humans and animals.
When are the Cape gooseberries ripe?
When the perennial produces its fruits, the husks are light green. Over time they turn yellow. The changed color is a sign that the fruits are currently ripening. However, they are not yet ready to harvest, even if they fall to the ground in July and August. Only when their lantern covers dry out completely and fade or turn brown (both variants are possible) are the Physalis fruits ripe. The wrappers should look like parchment paper.
You can then gently shake the perennial and collect the fallen fruits or pick off the fruits including the husks. Carefully sort out the yellow and orange fruits - they are edible. You should not eat any Cape gooseberries that have a green shade.
Can you harvest the fruits green and let Physalis ripen?
The physalis cannot continue to ripen. If the fruits are still green before the first frost, you can transplant the whole plant into a container and place it in a warm andBring sunny winter quarters. Cape gooseberries need a lot of light to ripen.
Otherwise, you can store the ripe fruits with the lantern covers in a dry and cool place. Just before eating, remove the husks and rinse the fruit thoroughly to remove the sticky layer.
Harvesting the Cape gooseberries when there is frost: is it possible?
In regions with a mild climate, Cape gooseberries are ready to harvest by mid-October at the latest. In tropical countries, Andean berries can even bloom and bear fruit several times a year. In this country the ripening period extends until the end of October. In addition, the Cape gooseberries cannot tolerate frost at all. Often all the fruits fall off prematurely after a cold night outdoors. If you see that the Physalis are not yet ready to harvest and the temperatures are rising quickly
Harvesting physalis in the garden
Garden plants in particular are often exposed to frost and thrive outside in autumn. However, a trick can help the Physalis become ready for harvest earlier. If you want to save this year's fruits, you can take the plant with youCover with fleeceand thus protect against frost.
The Andean berries overwinter
To ensure that the fruits ripen faster next year, you can overwinter the plant. Proceed as follows:
- First dig up the plant including the roots and plant it in a pot.
- Then cut the shoots back close to the ground and overwinter the plant in a bright and cool place. An unheated winter garden or a bright garden house with large windows is ideal.
- In winter, water the perennial sparingly and only as needed. Never let the soil dry out; it should always be fresh.
Harvest physalis on the balcony
How quickly Physalis fruits ripen on the balcony depends primarily on its orientation. On the south and west balconies, the plants have enough sunlight to become ready for harvest more quickly. On the east or north balcony, the fruits will certainly need more time to ripen.
You can help: Keep the plants as warm as possible and protected from wind and rain. If necessary, you can cover them with fleece in the evening to protect against frost. As early as mid-October, wrap the pots with fleece to keep the roots warm.
From the end of October, before the first night frost, you have to bring the Physalis indoors. To do this, cut the plant back heavily and overwinter in a bright, unheated room at temperatures between 5° and 8° Celsius. During the rest phase, water the perennial sparingly and stop fertilizing. In spring, just before the start of the gardening season, you can slowly increase the watering.
Why do Physalis fruits fall off?
Possible reasons why the perennial suddenly loses all its fruit include:
- Too few hours of direct sunlight daily. Physalis really needs full sun so that it can bear fruit and then ripen.
- Too little water. The perennial needs regular watering. The soil dries out much more quickly, especially in a pot. Therefore – check every two days and always keep the soil moderately fresh.
- Too much fertilizer. Physalis, even as a container plant, does not require fertilizer during the flowering period and afterwards. Too much of a good thing can lead to over-fertilization and then the fruit will fall off.
- The plant was brought outdoors too early in the spring or overwintered too late. The less time physalis spends at low temperatures, the soonershe will bloomand bear fruit.
