Ground cherries are a tasty yet lesser-known garden plant--but one definitely worth learning more about!
Physalis pruinosa is the most common variety of ground cherry for home gardens, and there are multiple cultivars of it.
Ground cherry plants grow about three feet tall and three feet wide, taking up significant space.
Like most nightshades, ground cherries are tender annuals that should be started indoors or planted from transplants.
If you decide to direct-sow ground cherries, be sure your frost-free growing season is long enough. Otherwise, start from transplants.
Moisture control is a key factor in growing ground cherries successfully.
Container growing is an option for ground cherries as well.
It's easy to know when ground cherries are ready to harvest--they fall off the plant for you!