Physalis, a herbaceous and fast-growing plant from the Andes, has been enjoying growing popularity in this country for several years. The plant known as the Andean berry is relatively easy to grow, and it also delights the gardener with a bountiful harvest of up to 300 of its delicious berries - per bush.
Is Physalis annual or perennial?
The Physalis is a perennial plant that can easily live up to 8-10 years, provided it is overwintered properly. Overwintered plants begin to fruit earlier the following year, often in July instead of August or September.
Physalis – annual or perennial?
If you would like to grow the uncomplicated Andean berry and therefore buy a seed bag, then it usually says “annual”. This information can also often be found in specialist gardening literature. Ergo, it is hardly surprising that most gardeners do not know that it is actually a perennial plant. Physalis can easily live between eight and ten years and produce fruit every year - provided you ensure proper overwintering. The Andean berry, which is used to the subtropical climate, does not tolerate frost.
Benefits of overwintering Physalis
Physalis should ideally be overwintered at temperatures between 10 and 12 °C and not too dark, and the large, bushy plant takes up a lot of space. In addition, it grows and bears a lot of fruit within a year with little effort - so why should you put the Physalis in its winter quarters? The reason for this is quite simple: the older plant will begin to fruit much earlier next year. If you can generally harvest a one-year-old Physalis from August at the earliest, but more likely only from September, overwintered old plants often develop the first ripe fruits as early as July.
Overwinter Physalis properly
When overwintering the plant, do the following:
- Slowly reduce the amount of irrigation water from around the end of September / beginning of October.
- Do not fertilize potted plants from the beginning of September.
- Harvest all ripe berries.
- You can leave any green berries on the bush as they will ripen.
- If the plant is too large, cut it back by about one to two thirds
- Put the Physalis into winter quarters by mid-October at the latest.
- This should not be warmer than 12 °C (maximum up to 15 °C) and not too dark.
- If rotten shoots grow, you can cut them off without worry.
- Water moderately, do not fertilize.
From around the middle to the end of January you can water the plant more frequently again and slowly accustom it to more light. However, it can only go outdoors after night frosts are no longer expected. Physalis definitely belongs outdoors during the growing season because it is too dark indoors for it.
Tips & Tricks
If you have little space but would still like to overwinter your Physalis, then you don't need to put the entire plant in its winter quarters. It is enough to take one or more cuttings and overwinter them.
