Physalis can relate to both annual and perennial plants of the genus Solanaceae. There are about a hundred varieties of this representative flora. Most of them grow in the tropical or subtropical latitudes of America. Flowers of some varieties in decorative terms are of particular value. The fruits of some varieties of plants can be eaten. For some culinary specialists and traditional medicine, edible physalis is a very valuable product. Growing from seeds is the most common way to propagate this plant. This representative of the flora is not too whimsical.
Physalis edible
The fruit representatives of the flora are Mexican, Peruvian and strawberry varieties. They are very thermophilic. Most of all, Peruvian physalis loves the high air temperature. Growing from strawberry seeds is available even in the middle lane of our country. It is not so sensitive to temperature extremes.
The Mexican variety also belongs to edible varieties. This is an annual plant whose height can exceed one meter. The fruits of this physalis are quite large. They can be painted yellow, green or purple. The berries are preserved for a long time by a dry and dense cup. When the fruit fully ripens, it turns yellow.
There is also a decorative physalis. It belongs to perennials and has rather high shoots. The peculiarity of the decorative physalis is that on its branches there are many formations resembling Chinese red lanterns. In autumn, the shoots are cut, dried and used in decoration. This plant can be propagated by division of rhizomes.
Strawberry Physalis: Seed Growing
The bush of the strawberry variety is small - there are many lateral shoots, which are usually dotted with berries. The cup with the fruit is small. It is colored yellow and has a pleasant smell. The berries of the plant have an amber hue, with a sweet and sour taste and strawberry aroma. From the fruits of this representative flora make jam, which is very useful. Therefore, for cooks is a godsend edible physalis.
Growing from seeds does not represent its complexity - the plant multiplies well by self-sowing, thanks to berries that have fallen to the ground and sprouted after winter. However, with such a free breeding technique, it is necessary then to thin out the shoots due to the fact that this representative of the flora is growing rapidly. Therefore, many fruits do not ripen. When growing physalis of strawberry, it is necessary to put support for shoots. Otherwise, under the weight of the crop, they will bow down to the ground. This leads to decay of the fruit and reduces yield. The plant requires timely watering and top dressing.
Physalis Seedlings
Productivity with the seedling method of cultivation of strawberry varieties of plants is much higher. Therefore, it is much more profitable to grow seedlings than to sow physalis seeds. This is not difficult to do. Seeds are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, washed and sown in a container with soil. The soil used is the same as for tomato seedlings. In the phase of three leaves, the plant is dived, transplanted into separate peat cups. Seedlings need top dressing and watering. The cultivation of physalis seedlings is very similar in process and conditions to the cultivation of tomatoes.