A ground cherry with an interesting story
Drotts Yellow physalis is a very productive and excellent tasting ground cherry with a unique flavour different than the other physalis we grew so far. Drotts yellow ground cherry or physalis is said to have been discovered by a Seed Saver Exchange lister Thomas Jerde in the US when he bought a home in Minneapolis in 1986 belonging to the Albert Drott's family. This physalis tastes very sweet and fruity and some would describe it as a mix between a strawberry and a pineapple though we beg to differ. Excellent eaten as a snack or for making jams. Seeds grown and seed saved in Cork, Ireland,
Scientific Name: Physalis grisea
Plant Life Cycle: annual
Optimal Germination Temperature: 24C-28C
Germination time in days: 7-10 days
Indicative Days to maturity: 80-85 days
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil requirement: well drained and rich.
Sowing and cultivation: Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your last frost. Place your seeds on top of the soil and then cover lightly with a thin layer of soil, about 1/2 cm. Pat soil gently. Water after planting seeds. Keep soil moist. Please note that ground cherries have a low germination rate so it is advised to sow more than you need. They also do not like overwatering. When the plants are established, thin them and give them about 70 cm to spread. If you choose to direct sow, plant seeds after your last frost.
