Physalis Herb Safety Facts
Species of physalis are known as winter cherry, ground cherry, Cape gooseberry, Mexican husk tomato, Chinese lantern, husk tomato and strawberry tomato. Physalis is a genus of plants in the nightshade family.
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Eating Physalis
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Most variety of Physalis produce small, sweet fruit similar in size to cherry tomatoes. Three varieties of the plant are most often harvested for food: Physalis peruviana, Physalis pruinosa and Physalis ixocarpa. The unripe fruit can be toxic if consumed but is completely safe and edible if ripe. The ripe fruit is eaten raw or made into sauces or preserves.
Cultivating Physalis
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Physalis is easily cultivated and grows very fast. This plant grows quickly and easily in either full or partial sun. It likes most soils and prefers moisture levels that are average to moist. It will grow well in containers. If planted as a border plant, it must be constrained to keep it from aggressively spreading throughout the bed; it is considered very invasive.
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Harvesting Physalis
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Harvest the fruit when the pods turn orange. Physalis blooms in midsummer with small white flowers. The dangling fruit ripens in early fall, encapsulated in bright orange pods. The fruit should be harvested as soon as the pods change from green to orange.
Other Uses for Physalis
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Physalis makes a nice table decoration. The fruit and leaves have been used medicinally as a diuretic and as a treatment for gout and rheumatism. Fresh leaves and pods make nice table decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving. To dry the fruit for decorations, strip the leaves from the cut stems and hang them upside down in a warm, dark room to dry.
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