Pineapple Ground Cherry (tasty) 60+ fresh organic seeds for 2026

Pineapple Ground Cherry (physalis pruinosa)
Fresh seed harvested in Sep-Oct. 2025, tested at 90%

Easy to grow fairly low maintenance plants. You can use the flimsyass pepper or tomato cages with them, you can grow them in containers (I recommend at least a 10 gal. for best results) or just put them in a plot. They do like water though, about 1.5" - 2" per week until they start producing fruit then back it down to 1" or so. They also excel with well drained soil. Couple of years ago I grew them in 3/4 ton shot truck tires filled with compost. (this serves two purposes: 1, they like heat and black tires not only absorb the heat up in the day but hold that heat at night for hours, 2, it also provides for really great drainage being elevated) That year I would say 250 - 300+ berries per plant and they continued to produce until the frost finally snuffed them out.

The fruit itself grows in a light green husk that matures into a tan color as the fruit turns from green to yellow and fully ripens at a golden orange hue. Generally, they are dime to nickle in size. They have a tropical flavor of tasty sweetness combined with a bit of tartness. Everyone in this neck of the woods likes 'em a lot, especially the kids.

Planting and growing:
I do not recommend mulching with straw (made that mistake before) because the ripe tan husk tend to fall off the plant and they are EXACTLY the same color as weathered straw which makes them very difficult to spot and gather. In plots if a person mounds the soil in a 3' diameter circle ( like a giant domed hubcap about 6-10" high and covers it with black row cloth you will improve drainage, heat, and you also will be able to see them much more easily--plus they tend to drop and tumble to the outside lower perimeter of the mound which makes for a easier harvest. Keep them 3' - 4' apart

Fruit begins to fully mature/ripen in 70-80 days from transplant. Seed should be started 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost (every year I get Molly upstarts 3-6 feet from where I grew them the year before- but they never make it to fruition in this zone)

I repeat this: They are easy to grow, much of the above claptrap is my own observations only to optimize the end results. They are also very tasty fresh or to make pies and lend themselves well with preserves because they are high in pectin content.

Notes:
I have never had much of any problem with birds or other assorted critters demolishing them at all.

Plant them deep like a tomato, their roots grow from the stem like a tom, just make sure you have 3-4 sets of healthy leaves above ground.

They keep well in the husk and will further ripen in them like a tomato will wrapped in a paper bag--several months in temps from 50-65F. They also freeze well but tend to stick together in a ziplock unless you pre-freeze them on a cookie sheet until they harden up before placing them in freezer bags for the extended cold storage.

Also, please note the seeds are very tiny and I use a measuring spoon called a smidgen for these which means you are probably going to get at least 70 seeds or perhaps close to 100 depending on the heap on the spoon.

Thanks for considering ZuluSeeds.
Cheers, J