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Physalis questions
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Posted by lori_LondonUK zone 8-9 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 4, 05 at 9:34
| I started off some physalis seeds early in the year and now have a few plants, some of which have started flowering and forming husks, hooray! I am unsure of the variety, though, since the seeds were bought from Kings and they did not have the Latin name on the packet - only Cape Gooseberry. Leaves are heartshaped and velvety, and they haven't sprawled at all so far, so I'm not sure whether they would be physalis peruviana. The main stem has remained upright.
I have a few questions about taking care of them.
A couple of plants have a bit of veining and discolouration on one or two lower leaves - is this a virus and should I pick the leaves off?
I've also noticed that there are some sideshoots like tomato plants get - do they need pinching out or can they be left alone?
Also, (and this is well in advance of when I'll need it but I may as well ask), in winter I can either house them indoors in a warm centrally heated house on a west-facing windowsill, or in an unheated greenhouse. Which would be better for them, the increased heat from the house or the cooler temperature and higher light level in the greenhouse?
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Physalis questions
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| may be completely wrong but it sounds like yours is the mainly decorative physalis (Franchetti, or something like that) rather than the edible cape gooseberry. If so, they are completely hardy, look gorgeous but somewhat invasive. I am sure one of the many experts on gardenweb will sort out your query better than me though. |
RE: Physalis questions
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| I'm not too worried about invasiveness as they're in pots. I saw some franchetti on sale in my local garden centre today and it isn't the same plant - mine has more downy leaves and dark markings on the yellow flowers. So fingers crossed they will be decent-tasting. |
RE: Physalis questions
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I've grown both types of physalis from seed. The edible one was fine when I kept it on a sheltered staircase, but a later one in a greenhouse got really bad mould (botrytis?) and had to be put out of its misery. It gets very big and needs something it can scramble up/be tied up to. I never pinched it out, but didn't have huge amount of fruit on it. The berries have a tendency to split open, so it probably needs very regular watering.
I've grown ornamental p. (Chinese Lanterns) this year; most of them got slugged as soon as I planted them out.
The edible Cape Gooseberry had fairly light green leaves, slightly fuzzy - whereas the ornamental one is darker and glossy. Please forgive the complete absence of gardening jargon; I'm sure there is a technical term for 'fuzzy' leaf... |
Physalis in pots
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| 1- What pot size (upper diameter, and mabe depth) would you recommend to grow a physalis peruviana? 2- What spacing would be best in a trough/planter? I sowed seeds from fruit bought in a supermarket. They come from Colombia and are probably "physalis peruviana". There is a very high density of (2 inches-high) seedlings in tiny (2 inches-diameter) pots (20-30 seedlings per pot).
I want to put some of them in a bigger pot (1 per pot) and others in planters. I have around 200 seedlings and would like to put as many seedlings as possible in each planter, as long as they are not too tight. What will be the average plant high and diameter (plants are grown in a non-heated greenhouse, in Southern Scotland)? Thanks |
RE: Physalis questions
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| I have orwn some physalis from seed, ( cape gooseberry) and I would like to know if they have to have the side shoots taken out like tomatoes and If they can be kept in an unheated greenhouse over winter, I would appreciate any advice, as I know nothing about them. Thanks. |
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