Article and photo by Donna Iverson So what is a ground cherry? Turns out, ground cherries are actually tomatoes. They resemble tomatillos in appearance. They taste like a cross between a tomato and a pineapple. Look for them this time of year at your local farmers market. A member of the nightshade family, ground cherries are ready to eat when they fall to the ground. They produce a husk that must be removed prior to consumption. Hence their name: ground cherry. A native of Mexico, ground cherries are an annual that can be planted from seed but self sow once they are established. Their hardiness zone of 4 to 8 includes Michigan. Once ripe, you may have to compete with squirrels and chipmunks at harvest time. They also attract bees. Disease and pest resistant, ground cherries like full sun and rich moist soil. They will require watering in a regular basis. Frost kills the plant. Ground cherries can also be grown in pots, that are at least 8 inches deep.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
February 2025
Categories |