The bushy, approximately one meter high Andean berry with the strong orange-red, tasty fruits also grows excellently in Germany. So that you can hope for a bountiful harvest in early autumn, sowing should not be done too late.
How is Physalis sowed?
Physalis seeds are best grown on the windowsill in February as the plant requires warmth and has a longer growth cycle. After growing, the young plants can be placed outdoors or in pots on balconies and terraces from May onwards.
Prefer Physalis if possible
The warmth-loving Physalis takes a long time to grow, bloom and set small, cherry-like fruits. In addition, due to the risk of frost, the seeds should not be sown outdoors before mid to late May. Both reasons mean that the German summer is too short to harvest ripe Physalis in time before the end of the growing season. For this reason, it is advisable to grow the plants on the windowsill in February if possible and to put the young plants in the outdoor bed from May onwards. Alternatively, it is also possible to keep the pot on the balcony or terrace.
Prefer Physalis
When growing the plants, proceed as follows:
- Take small plant pots (€13.00 on Amazon) and fill them with standard potting soil.
- Using a finger, make a hole about 5 millimeters deep in the middle of the substrate.
- Drop three to four seeds into it and cover them loosely with soil.
- Spray the seeds with water. Keep them evenly moist – Physalis needs a lot of water.
- Alternatively, you can also take a balcony box and place a whole row of seeds in the substrate.
- Place the pot/box in a bright and warm place (e.g. windowsill in the living room).
- As soon as the plants have developed between three to four leaves, you can prick them out, i.e. H. Transfer individually to a larger pot with a diameter of approx. 10 to 12 centimeters.
Sow Physalis directly outdoors
Of course, direct sowing outdoors is also possible, but at least for the Andean berry (as well as other non-frost-hardy Physalis species such as the pineapple cherry) not before the end of May. However, it will then probably be too late for a harvest in the same year, as the fruits that ripen in August/September with sufficient sun and warmth can no longer reach maturity due to the autumnal coolness. Contrary to much information on the internet, at least the Andean berry is a perennial plant, i.e. H. You can safely overwinter it and it will bear fruit next year. However, it is best to cultivate the Physalis in a pot because it is not hardy. Physalis planted outdoors, on the other hand, are actually only annual as they do not survive the German winter. An exception is the lantern flower.
Tips & Tricks
If you already have a Physalis in the garden, then you no longer need to buy seeds. You can dry the seeds and collect them for sowing the following spring, or you can lightly crush some of the fruits and bury them under a thin layer of soil in the garden. Compost is also very suitable for sowing.
