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Bright “lanterns” of yellow, emerald and bright orange colors are considered the best decoration of a flower bed. However, growing and caring for physalis requires certain knowledge and skills of gardeners. Today we will tell you how to plant and grow exotic flowers in a summer cottage.
Description and biological features
Physalis, which is commonly called the Chinese lantern, earthen cranberry, emerald berry and dog cherry, belongs to the most numerous genus of nightshade crops. In nature, there are about 1200 species. The shrub grows mainly in Europe, Asia, North and South America.
Physalis is a herbaceous annual or perennial crop. There are shrubs with branched, articulated, angularly curved and erect stems. Extremely rarely, the upper half of the stem has a fleecy edge. The height of the herbaceous shrub ranges from 20 to 120 cm. The upper leaves are formed oppositely, the lower ones alternately or in pairs. The color of the leaf plates is rich green.
Single type axillary inflorescences are formed along the entire length of the stem axis. Swollen bell-shaped cups. The flower has a bright color: orange, deep yellow or emerald. Inside the “lanterns” two-celled berries of red and orange colors are formed.
Video “Cultivation of physalis: from sowing seeds to harvesting”
This video shows how to grow Confectionery vegetable physalis in the garden or vegetable garden.
Vidy and sorta physialisa
Only 5 main types of culture are represented on the territory of Our Country. It is noteworthy that the plant can be planted and grown in any region, including the Volga region, Siberia and the Urals. The main rule of gardeners is the choice of the Physalis variety that corresponds to the climatic and geographical conditions.
Vegetable
Mexican tomato, or vegetable physalis is used in cooking. Dishes from an exotic plant are found in the best vegetarian restaurants in the world. Fruits are consumed fresh, salted and pickled. They are used to make salads, sauces and seasonings, candied fruits and sweets, jam, marshmallows and preserves.
The best representatives of the salad-canning group are the Confectionery, Early Moscow, Korolek, Large-fruited and Gribovsky ground varieties.
Strawberry and berry
The second group is strawberry physalis, which is often called berry, pubescent and Florida. Miniature fruits the size of a regular pea have a persistent aroma and pleasant taste. Technical maturity is determined by the degree of color of the berries. At the time of harvest, the skin of the fruit should be a rich amber color. About 3 kg of berries are harvested from one adult bush.
Common varieties: Philanthropist, Strawberry and Candy.
Raisin
Most gardeners combine this type of “Chinese lantern” with strawberry. However, the raisin variety is distinguished by its taste characteristics – sourness and mild notes of pineapple are inherent in the berries. The taste of mandarin familiar to everyone is felt in the juice.
Peruvian
A refined sweet-sour taste with a characteristic aroma of grapefruit is a distinctive feature of the Peruvian physalis. Small, flattened berries are distinguished by an orange-strawberry aftertaste.
Bright representatives of this exotic group are the varieties Kudesnik and Columbus.
Decorative
The very name of the plant suggests that the herbaceous shrub is used in landscape design. The average height of the shrub is 60 cm. The decorativeness of the culture manifests itself in the autumn period, when the rest of the plants begin to shed their leaves and prepare for winter. The decorative bush is transformed for the better – bright orange flowers appear. Gradually, the “lanterns” lose their color, cherry-red berries are visible through the transparent petals.
Popular varieties: Longifolia and Franchet.
Growing physalis from seeds
Experienced gardeners are of the opinion that physalis is a dream plant for a beginner or “lazy” grower. Subject to a number of simple cultivation rules, the culture is highly viable and prone to rapid fruit ripening.
Sowing
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out at the very beginning of spring. In regions with a temperate climate, seeds are planted in open ground, in the northern regions – in wooden or plastic boxes.
Before sowing, a selection of high-quality material is carried out. All seeds are immersed in a salt solution (5%). The floating grains are discarded. The specimens that have sunk to the bottom of the container are washed with a solution of potassium permanganate, rinsed with running water and dried. The sowing material prepared in this way is planted in shallow grooves no more than 0,3 m long. The scheme for planting seeds in wooden boxes and boxes is 6×8 holes.
Care of seedlings
Depending on the climatic features of the region, the first shoots appear after 7–28 days. For good growth and development, seedlings must be protected from drafts and cold. The optimum temperature regime is +20 °C. Scattered bright light promotes active growth and rapid maturation of seedlings.
As they grow, young plants are fed with chicken manure diluted in water (20: 1). Remember to moisten the soil before fertilizing.
Picks
The picking of seedlings is carried out after the formation of two or more leaf blades. You need to work very carefully so as not to injure the processes of the root. Picked plants are transplanted into separate containers and cultivated separately until planting in open ground.
Planting physalis in open ground
The next stage of physalis agrotechnology is planting seedlings in open ground. At the same time, it is important to adhere to a certain placement scheme and observe the landing dates.
What time to plant
The optimal period for planting seedlings in open ground is determined by the plant itself. There should be at least 5-6 correctly formed leaves on the bush. The procedure should be carried out on a warm and calm day. Therefore, check the weather forecast in advance.
Landing features
Physalis loves sunlight and neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Avoid areas where tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes used to be grown. For 15–20 days, the site is fertilized with humus and wood ash.
Seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern. The recommended step between planting pits is 50 cm. First, 1–1,5 liters of water are poured into the hole. Without waiting for the water to soak into the soil, seedlings are planted. Please note that the branched root system of the seedling should straighten itself out. Then the plant is covered with soil and abundantly mulched with peat.
Flower care in the garden
Despite the fact that growing physalis is considered a simple and labor-intensive process, improper care can lead to illness or death of the plant. Consider the basic rules for caring for the “Chinese lantern”.
Watering, fertilizing and fertilizing
Watering shrubs should be systematic – as the topsoil dries out. After each moistening, the soil is loosened. Loosening prevents the active growth of weed grass and promotes the flow of oxygen to the roots.
Physalis prefers top dressing to organic fertilizers. During the growing season, the plant is fertilized with mullein or chicken manure diluted in water in proportions of 15:1 and 10:1, respectively.
Reproduction
Most often, physalis is propagated by seed. A decorative type of shrub can be propagated by layering or cuttings. When propagated by layering, the lower side shoots are bent to the ground, fixed with metal staples and sprinkled with earth.
The shoots are separated from the parent bush when each of them has at least 5-6 leaves.
Cuttings are carried out in the middle of summer – in July. The upper parts of the shoots, on which there are several developed internodes, are cut off and half rooted in loose soil. At first, the cuttings are under a film or agrofibre. Shelter is removed when the leaf plates return to their original turgor.
Preparation for wintering
In anticipation of winter frosts, “Chinese lanterns” are cut off almost to the very base. Then the plants are insulated with sawdust, hay, pine spruce branches, covered with non-woven material from above. It can be agrofibre, white polypropylene bags or burlap.
Diseases and pests
Physalis is considered the hardiest member of the Solanaceae family. In rare cases, shrubs are affected by pathogens of late blight, black leg, mosaic, fusarium, white and gray rot. Culture can become an object of attack by wireworms, bears and aphids. To protect plants from diseases and harmful insects, modern fungicidal and insecticidal preparations are used.
In order to prevent diseases and pest invasions, it is recommended to spray the crown with Bordeaux liquid (3%).
Ideas for decorative compositions with physalis
Physalis is used in landscape design for garden arbors and summer kitchens. The plant is also used to create interesting decorative compositions: watering cans and teapots, garden benches and chairs, topiaries and lanterns. The best “neighbors” are immortelle, kermek, lunar, gypsum-loving and spherical gomphrena.
Autumn is not a reason for sadness and despondency. This is how bright physalis bushes can be characterized. Adhering to the rules and recommendations described above, plant such an interesting plant in your area that will constantly attract attention and delight the eye.