Generally it is said that Physalis are grown like tomatoes. Both species come from the nightshade family and have similar needs. However, opinions differ when it comes to making the most of it.
Is it necessary to prune Physalis?
Should you prune Physalis? Pruning Physalis is not absolutely necessary as they can ripen fruit even without this measure. However, if the plant is growing too densely, blocking light and air from reaching the inner fruit, thinning out may make sense.
Maximizing – What is that?
Gardeners use the term “pruning” to mean breaking out or cutting side shoots. Without this procedure, bushy-growing plants such as tomatoes would put too much energy into growth, so that the fruits that have been planted would ultimately not be able to ripen at all. The aim of thinning is simply to obtain straight, single-shooting plants whose fruits receive sufficient light and air for the ripening process.
This is how you go about stripping out
- The unwanted side shoots grow directly from the leaf axils.
- They should be removed as early as possible.
- Simply clip off the soft shoots with two fingers (nails).
- You can also use nail scissors (€13.00 on Amazon).
- However, leave the large leaves alone!
- The pinching must be repeated whenever new side shoots appear.
Use Andean berries – yes or no?
The Andean berry also grows - just like the tomato - very bushy and produces many shoots. At the same time, one plant alone develops up to 300 berries - this means that if you want to get a significant harvest, it would be appropriate to prune. Many plants end up growing so densely that light no longer reaches the many fruits inside and they then simply rot. However, whether stripping is actually necessary depends on the individual case. Some people simply let their Physalis grow in the garden and have no problems with the fruit ripening. Therefore, pinching out Physalis is not quite as important as it is with tomatoes - but you can still use scissors if the plants grow too lush.
Tip
Physalis grow to a height of about one meter. Offer the plant a growth aid, perhaps in the form of a stick. This should be at least 1.50 meters high, after all the lower part disappears into the ground. Attach the main shoot of the Physalis to this (e.g. with the help of twine or clips) so that the plant has a more stable hold.
