Physalis berry

Physalis is a popular plant from the nightshade family. It is unpretentious, grows well and develops in all regions of Our Country, rarely suffers from fungal diseases. Useful fruits have not only a beautiful appearance, but also good taste. There are 3 varieties of physalis – vegetable, ornamental and berry. Growing and caring for strawberry physalis is not difficult, even a novice gardener can handle it.

The benefits and harms of strawberry physalis

The tribes of Central and South America were the first to learn about physalis 4000 years ago. Due to the large number of useful substances, physalis was used to treat many diseases. Modern scientists have proven that using the fruits regularly, you can prevent the occurrence of many diseases. Useful properties of physalis:

1. Due to the high content of K and Mg, it normalizes the work of the heart muscle. Reduces the likelihood of a heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis and aneurysm.
2. Antioxidants contained in the berry prevent the appearance of a malignant tumor.
3. Reduces the risk of joint disease. Physalis relieves the condition during exacerbation of arthritis and arthrosis. Removes salt from the body.
4. The blood sugar level returns to normal. Despite the fact that the berry is sweet, it can be used for various types of diabetes.
5. Due to the high content of beta-carotene, vision improves. Physalis prevents the appearance of cataracts, glaucoma and stops macular degeneration and clouding of the lens.
6. Strengthens immunity. Due to the high content of vitamin C, the berry saves from beriberi, colds and viral diseases, and also quickly restores the body after surgery.
7. Improves the functioning of internal organs. Reduces the risk of constipation, stomach cramps and flatulence. Fiber and pectin contained in the berry prevent the appearance of gastritis, ulcers and colitis.
8. It slows down cell aging, eliminates wrinkles, age spots and improves skin structure.
9. Accelerates the healing of wounds, burns and ulcers. Physalis pulp pulp accelerates cell regeneration, alcohol infusion – relieves scars and scars.
10. Due to the high content of B vitamins, efficiency increases, fatigue decreases, vitality is restored, the risk of migraine, muscle spasms and depression is reduced.

Despite the large number of useful properties, physalis also has contraindications. It is not recommended to include in the diet of pregnant and lactating women and people with high stomach acidity.

In physalis, only fruits can be consumed, all other parts of the plant are poisonous. Particularly dangerous are the lanterns covering the fruits.

Growing and caring for physalis strawberry

Many gardeners consider physalis an ornamental plant. But this opinion is erroneous, since berry or strawberry physalis is a delicious fruit crop that can be grown in all regions of Our Country.

Terms of planting

Physalis strawberry can be grown by seedling and seedless method. Sowing seeds in the open air is carried out from mid-April to the second half of May or in autumn, 2 weeks before the onset of frost.

To harvest an early harvest, physalis is grown by seedlings. Sowing material for seedlings is sown in mid-April, since the plant is frost-resistant, it can be planted in open beds in mid-May.

Growing physalis berry seeds

A seedless method of growing strawberry physalis is possible only in southern cities with a warm climate. In such conditions, the plant will have time to mature and give a high yield of tasty and healthy fruits.

Physalis strawberry is an unpretentious culture. It performs well in both clay and sandy soil. Since the berry culture of a small daylight hours, the beds should be done in partial shade. If the area is small, the plant can be grown among fruit trees, between shrubs or near a fence.

The selected area is dug up, weeds are removed and organic fertilizers are applied. Fresh manure is excluded, as it burns the roots and leads to the death of the plant.

Seeds are planted in open ground only after the soil reaches a temperature of +7 degrees. On the dug-up site, grooves are made at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Seeds are sown to a depth of 1,5 cm, maintaining an interval of 5–7 cm, covered with earth and covered with white non-woven material.

After the appearance of true leaves, the shelter is removed, and the sprouts are thinned out, leaving a distance of 20–25 cm.

Growing physalis strawberry seedlings

The seedling method of growing strawberry physalis will allow you to get an early harvest. This method is suitable for growing in regions with short summers and unstable climates.

Growing physalis seedlings is not difficult:

1. Before planting, the acquired seeds are immersed for several minutes in a saline solution. Those grains that have floated to the surface are discarded, those remaining at the bottom are washed and dried. To get strong, healthy seedlings, the seed must be disinfected. To do this, it is immersed for 6-8 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
2. After drying, seeds for seedlings are sown from late March to mid-April.
3. Cups with a volume of 0,5 liters are filled with nutrient soil. The soil is moistened and leveled.
4. 2–3 grains are sown in each container to a depth of 1–1,5 cm. Cover with foil and put in a warm, not very bright room. The optimum temperature for germination is + 23-25 ​​degrees. To prevent condensation from accumulating on the walls of the mini-greenhouse, it is regularly ventilated.
5. On the 7th day after the emergence of seedlings, the shelter is removed, the temperature is lowered to +20 degrees. Containers are cleaned in a well-lit place. For good growth, strawberry physalis needs 10-hour daylight hours.
6. Seedling care is easy. Watering as the soil dries out, nitrogenous top dressing on the 15th day after the emergence of sprouts, removal of excess, weakened specimens.
7. Harden off seedlings 20 days before planting outdoors. The containers are taken out into the open air, at a temperature of + 8-10 degrees for several hours, daily increasing the time spent on the street. For 2-3 days, the plant can be left outdoors all night.

Seedlings are planted in the last days of May, after it grows to 10-12 cm. The interval between the bushes is half a meter, between the rows – 80 cm.

Care instructions

The grown seedlings of strawberry physalis are planted in the evening in a moistened hole, until the first true leaf. To prevent the young plant from getting sunburn, it is covered with white covering material for 7 days.

Strawberry physalis is a culture for lazy gardeners, as caring for it is simple and does not require additional effort and time. Care consists of watering, weeding, loosening and top dressing.

The first irrigation is carried out a week after planting seedlings, the next is carried out as the soil dries.

Strawberry berries will not refuse top dressing either:

• 1,5 weeks after seed germination – nitrogenous fertilizers;
• during the flowering period – complex mineral fertilizers;
• twice during the formation of fruits with an interval of 25 days – phosphorus-potassium top dressing.

Is it necessary to fertilize physalis strawberry?

Physalis belongs to the nightshade family, but, unlike tomatoes, the plant does not need pinching. Since the crop is formed in the forks of the shoots.

Reproduction

Strawberry physalis is an annual crop, propagated by seeds. You can buy them or make your own. Large, healthy fruits are peeled, softened and dried. The process will go much faster if the berry is cut in half and soaked in water for several hours. After the pulp softens, it is sieved and planting material is removed.

Seeds can be obtained in another way. After the first frost, the bush is removed from the ground, hung in a warm room, spreading rags under it. As the seeds mature, they will begin to fall out. The collected seeds are dried, put in a rag or paper bag and cleaned in a dark, cool room.

The plant reproduces well by self-sowing. To do this, a plant with fruits is left in the garden and, as it ripens, the seeds spill out onto the ground. Seeds are frost-resistant, tolerate Siberian and Ural frosts well. But to be sure of germination, it is better to mulch the bed with straw or foliage.

Diseases and pests

Strawberry physalis has a strong immunity to many diseases. If the disease still struck the plant, it is irrational to treat it. The bush is removed from the garden, burned, and the soil is treated with a copper-containing preparation.

How and when to collect physalis berry

The first crop appears 100 days after seed germination. Productivity is high: from 1 bush with proper care, you can collect up to 3 kg of berries. Fruiting is long, continues until the first frost.

Harvest on a sunny, dry day. You can determine the degree of maturity by the bright color of the fruit and the drying of the leaves of the fruit box. It is undesirable to delay the collection of fruits. A ripe berry may begin to crumble and be affected by rot. And it is also necessary to be in time before the first frosts, since such fruits are not subject to long-term storage.

What can be made from physalis berries

Strawberry physalis is a tasty, healthy berry that has found wide application in cooking. Jam, compotes, candied fruits and raisins are prepared from fruits.

Jam

Physalis jam in our country is an exotic delicacy. For cooking, large, juicy fruits with no signs of rot are selected.

Ingredients:

• strawberry physalis – 0,3 kg;
• lemon juice – 2 st. l .;
• granulated sugar – 400 g;
• water – 150 ml;
• cinnamon stick – 1 pc.

Step-by-step cooking:

Step 1. The berries are peeled of foliage and each pierced with a toothpick.

Step 2. Prepared physalis is transferred to a container and covered with sugar.

Step 3. Pour water and cook over medium heat, without covering with a lid, until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Step 4. After the sugar syrup has formed, increase the fire, add cinnamon and, with constant stirring, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.

Step 5. The fire is reduced to a minimum, lemon juice is poured in and boiled for 2 hours.

Step 6. At the end of cooking, cinnamon is removed, and hot jam is poured into prepared jars. Enjoy your meal.

candied fruit

A delicious, sweet treat that will replace potato chips for kids.

Ingredients:

• physalis – 1 kg;
• granulated sugar – 1500 g;
• water – 250 ml.

Performance:

1. Prepare the berry: peel, blanch and pierce with a fork.
2. Sugar is poured into boiling water and boiled until the sugar particles are completely dissolved.
3. Berry is added to the sugar syrup and boiled for several minutes.
4. Remove from heat and leave to infuse for 8-10 hours.
5. This operation is performed 5 times.
6. Next, the physalis is thrown onto a sieve so that all the syrup is drained.
7. Lay out on a baking sheet and put in the oven to dry at a temperature of +40 degrees.
8. The finished delicacy is laid out in jars and stored in a dry place.

Raisins

Strawberry physalis, because of its taste and aroma, is suitable for making raisins.

Ingredients:

• strawberry – 1 kg.

Performance:

1. Physalis are sorted and sorted by size.
2. Spread on a baking sheet and put in the oven for half an hour at a temperature of 60-70 degrees.
3. Dried raisins are poured into a rag bag and put away in a dry place for storage.

Compote

Strawberry physalis compote is a tasty, healthy and fragrant drink that the whole family will like.

Ingredients:

• strawberry – 1 kg;
• water – 1 l;
• granulated sugar – 1 kg;
• citric acid – 15 g.

Execution:

1. The berries are sorted, washed and dried.
2. Sugar, citric acid are poured into boiling water and boiled for 5 minutes.
3. Hot syrup is poured over the berry and left for 4-5 hours to infuse.
4. Then the pan is put on the stove and boiled after boiling for 5-10 minutes.
5. Hot compote is poured into sterile containers and, after complete cooling, put into storage.

Reviews about physalis strawberry

Conclusion

Physalis is a beautiful and useful plant that has gained popularity among many gardeners. Growing and caring for strawberry physalis is not difficult, with a minimum of effort, you can harvest a generous harvest of berries, which make delicious preparations for the winter.