Grow your own golden garden candy!
Tomatillo Ground Cherry, also known as Cape Gooseberry, is a delightful little fruit wrapped in a papery husk like a gift from the garden. With its sweet-tart, tropical flavor and golden glow, it’s a joy to grow and even more fun to snack on. These compact plants are easy to care for and reward you with handfuls of sunshine you can pop right into your mouth.
Variety: Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa)
Growth Habit: Compact, warm-season annual
Height: 12–24 inches
Flavor Profile: Sweet, tangy, and tropical, like pineapple meets tomato
Color: Golden-yellow fruit inside papery husks
Planting Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Harvest Timeline: Ready in 70–80 days
Uses: Snacking, jams, desserts, fruit salads
Fun Fact: These little fruits drop to the ground when ripe, nature’s way of saying “ready to eat!”
Ground cherries are the ultimate garden treat, just lift the husk and pop one in your mouth! Their tropical sweetness makes them perfect for fruit salads, homemade preserves, or even baked into pies. Kids love hunting for the fallen fruits, and adults love their unique flavor. They’re like nature’s candy, wrapped and ready for your next backyard adventure.
To Full Size
🌞 Choose a Sunny Spot: These sun-lovers thrive in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.
🌱 Sow the Seeds: Start indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant outdoors once the soil is warm, spacing 18–24 inches apart.
💧 Water Consistently: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during flowering and fruiting.
🌿 Support and Maintain: Though compact, they benefit from light staking or cages to keep fruit off the ground.
✂️ Harvest: Pick fruits when they fall naturally and the husks turn tan and papery. Let them ripen a few days indoors for peak sweetness.
