The exotic Physalis is available in supermarkets all year round. However, if you want to grow the plant yourself, you have to be patient. The sweet and sour tasting fruits usually only ripen in September.
When is Physalis season?
The Physalis season in Germany begins in September, when the fruits ripen on home-grown plants, provided they were sown in March at the latest. However, physalis from different countries of origin are available in supermarkets all year round.
Physalis come from South America
Physalis, which is actually only sold under its generic name, is also known as Andean berry or Cape gooseberry. These two names illustrate the origin of the herbaceous shrub: South America. A large proportion of the fruit available in German supermarkets is imported from there, except in winter. In the months between November and June, however, the orange fruits mostly come from South Africa.
Home-grown Physalis fruit late
Physalis grown in Germany, on the other hand, fruit - provided they were sown in March at the latest - around September. Since the German summer is much shorter than the warm growing season in the subtropics, many fruits often do not ripen at all. It helps to overwinter the perennial plant - then you can harvest from July.
Tip
Physalis is grown in addition to South America and South Africa in other countries in the subtropical climate zone, for example in the south of the USA, in Australia and New Zealand, in India, Kenya and on the island of Java.