Planting and growing physalis in the open field, description of varieties and care of the plant
Physalis is an ornamental plant - unpretentious, resistant to low temperatures, which allows novice gardeners to grow it. The plant attracts attention with unusual, bright fruits resembling lanterns in shape. Depending on the variety, they are an interior decoration or a delicious delicacy. To get a harvest of unusual physalis berries hidden in the "lanterns" in the open field, you should know the peculiarities of planting and caring for it.
Description and biological features of physalis
The plant belongs to the most numerous genus of the Solanaceae family, native to Asia, Europe and America. The name of the culture is translated from Greek as "bubble", it is associated with the unusual shape of the calyx of the plant, which has a bright, reddish-orange color.
Gardeners use more than one name for physalis - earthen cranberry or tomato, "emerald berry", "bubble", "pesya cherry", "marunka". Due to the fact that vegetable varieties of the crop belong to the Tomato family, they are often compared to this vegetable.
There is an annual and perennial physalis, this herbaceous plant can have branched, erect or curved, geniculate stems, glabrous or covered with a sparse edge at the top. Their height varies from 20 to 120 cm, and over time, the stems at the base become woody.
The plant has opposite leaves, solitary, axillary flowers that are located throughout the stem. The calyx of the flower is bell-shaped, as if inflated; it contains orange or red berries, similar to small balls. The fruits have a very pleasant aroma, and although physalis is an ornamental crop, in some of its varieties they are edible and even very tasty. The ripening period depends on the variety and conditions in which the physalis grows.
Popular types and varieties of physalis
There are a large number of varieties of this nightshade plant, but not all of them are most popular among gardeners. And besides, before the choice it is worth considering whether you need a bubble bottle to decorate the garden and home, or you want to taste its delicious fruits.
Vegetable
Physalis of this type is edible, it is highly resistant to low temperatures and gives a bountiful harvest of large (up to 50 g) fruits. They are used in cooking and can be stored for a long time.
Strawberry and berry
These berry crops can be classified as heat-loving plants, they produce small fruits - weighing no more than 10 g. Physalis berries of this variety can be eaten fresh, and various desserts are made from them - marmalades, jellies, jams, preserves.
Growers in the cultivation of berry physalis can face difficulties - it ripens longer than representatives of other varieties. But this disadvantage is fully compensated by the high yield and incredibly pleasant taste and aroma of the fruit.
Raisin
Physalis of this variety has very tasty fruits - sweet, with a slight sourness, they resemble pineapple in taste and smell. Physalis raisin juice is similar to tangerine juice.
The culture of this variety grows better from seedlings, the fruits are stored for up to 4 months, gradually wither slightly, which makes them look like raisins.
Franchet
More often an ornamental plant is cultivated as an annual, the height of the stem reaches 90 cm. Up to one and a half dozen "lanterns" - fruits, clothed in a bright cup, can appear on one shoot.
Gold placer
An early ripe variety of physalis, the height of the bushes does not exceed 30-35 cm. The berries are golden, weigh 5-7 g, as a rule, one bush gives a bountiful harvest.
Kinglet
It belongs to the early-ripening varieties, its berries are used to prepare desserts and canned vegetable dishes.
Pineapple
This variety, despite its southern origin, can be grown in central Russia. It ripens very quickly - the first harvest is ready by the end of June. The fruit of the pineapple bubbler has a rich sweet taste with hints of pineapple, can be eaten fresh and used for preparation.
Peruvian
Physalis from Peru loves light and warmth, so it is not often found in personal plots. And if summer residents decide to plant it, then only when providing protected ground.
The yield of the variety is low, the berries weigh 3-9 g, they have a high nutritional value and are a storehouse of useful trace elements and pectin. The pulp is juicy, bright or brownish-orange, with a strawberry and pineapple flavor.
Decorative
In the garden, this plant becomes a decoration - bright, festive, but at the same time, one should not forget about its toxicity. Blooming decorative physalis are covered in neat orange lanterns.
Physalis propagation
In addition to seed propagation, cherries can be grown with sand from lateral processes and cuttings. In ornamental species, many shoots are formed from the rhizome, therefore, in spring or autumn, part of the root system with shoots can be dug up from the main root and transplanted.
Another method is grafting; for it, in July, the tops of the stems with several nodes and internodes should be cut off and planted in loose soil, burying them in half and covering them with perforated film. When turgor is restored on the leaves of the cuttings, the film can be removed.
It is easy to care for the cuttings during rooting, they must be watered in a timely manner and protected from direct sunlight.
Landing dates
When to sow seeds can be calculated using simple calculations. It is advisable to plant a plant on a permanent site at 45-50 days of age. You should choose the best day, based on the weather conditions of the region, and count the time when the sprouts are ready - 4-4.5 weeks. In the middle lane and in the Urals, this period falls on the beginning of April, a more accurate date can be checked according to the lunar calendar of crops of nightshade crops.
In Siberia, the climate is harsher, here you can expect spring frosts even at the beginning of summer, and autumn frosts already in August.Therefore, in the absence of a greenhouse, it is better to give preference to physalis, which ripens quickly, - Moscow early 2045 variety, Confectioner, strawberry.
It is recommended to sow seedlings in April, and then plant them not in open ground, but under agrofibre or film. The transplant is carried out from mid to late May, depending on weather conditions.
After the first ten days of June, the shelter is removed and returned by the end of the summer period.
Secrets of growing physalis in the open field
Not all plant varieties can be grown in such conditions, in addition, planting success depends on climatic characteristics. It is enough to sow some types of "bladder" with seeds in open ground, while others are grown by seedlings.
To grow physalis in the country, in the garden or in the garden, it is worth considering some of the needs of this unusual culture:
- The heat-loving "bubble" needs an abundance of sunlight, so you need to choose areas with good lighting for it.
- In the place where it grows, moisture should not accumulate and stagnate after rain.
- Sprouts thrive better in pre-cultivated soil, in which representatives of other cultures grew before them. This will promote more active planting growth and increase yields.
- Physalis grows poorly in the vicinity of weeds, so it will need regular weeding.
- Acidic soil is not suitable for an emerald berry, if the plant is placed in such conditions, it will not take root or will constantly get sick.
To make the soil more suitable for this culture, you can use liming - additional components are added to it: quicklime, wood ash, "Fluff" or dolomite. When using supplements, follow the instructions in the instructions.
Physalis preparation for planting seeds
The seed material of the "Chinese lantern" is small, so it is not worthwhile to deal with it piece by piece. To select good seeds, they should be tested in 5% saline solution. Those that surfaced are sent to marriage; seeds that have sunk to the bottom are considered suitable.
Before sowing, they must be disinfected - soak for 30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then the material is washed, dried and stored until planting.
If physalis is to be sown directly into the open ground, then these activities can be carried out on the personal plot, before placing the seeds in the soil.
Seed breeding
Gardeners are often faced with the problem of acquiring high-quality seed, so they try to get it on their own plot. The simplest selection is to select seeds from the best plants:
- in strawberry and Peruvian bubble worm, these are representatives with the highest yield, large fruits and high taste;
- with Mexican physalis, selection turns out to be more difficult - the plants inherit the characteristics of both pollinated and pollinated vesicles, therefore it is better to take seeds from the fruits of various bushes, and then plant them in separate areas.
Experienced gardeners can independently select crops by crossing different varieties in order to obtain the most productive plant with fruits that meet their requirements. But most often this is done by professional seed growers.
Growing seedlings
In many ways, growing Chinese lantern sprouts is similar to obtaining planting material for tomatoes. So basic knowledge of this process is enough to get a positive result.
Soil preparation
As a soil, you can use a finished product intended for other vegetable crops: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants. And if you have free time, then it is better to make the soil yourself. It will require:
- 40% peat;
- 25% humus (rotted compost);
- 25% of the land (garden or turf is suitable);
- 10% river sand (it must be washed).
The resulting mixture should be sieved, and in order to exclude the possibility of infection with fungal diseases and to reduce the amount of weeds, it is advisable to steam it for an hour.
Sow a bubble wort in the area from mid-spring to early May, placing the seeds in a thin strip in the furrows, the distance between them should be 25-35 cm.The seedbed must be thinned out so that the interval between the shoots is at least 20 cm, the remote shoots can be planted separately - they have a high survival rate.
Planting a plant on the site
An earlier planting of physalis sprouts with 3 leaves in the ground can be planned, but only with the provision of mandatory shelter. Plants with 6-8 leaves can be planted in open soil, but only if the weather is warm and the probability of frost is excluded. The most favorable air temperature is + 20 ... + 22 FROM.
Those wishing to get a bountiful harvest and beautiful vegetation should pay attention to the following features of the process:
- Seedlings of vigorous and medium-sized varieties require an intermediate transplant into a larger tank before rooting in the open field.
- All "young" physalis are shown hardening - the pots with seedlings should be held in a shady area where direct sunlight does not fall.
- Since most of the bushes of the cherry blossoms branch fairly well, it is better to replant the plants using a checkerboard pattern, the average step size is 50 cm.
- Representatives of tall varieties must subsequently be tied up, it is advisable to provide for this during their planting in the ground.
- The sprout should be immersed in the hole until the first true leaf.
- If the seedlings have overgrown, then they are planted as follows: 1.5 liters of water are poured into the recess and the seedling is placed with a slope into the water, this will allow the roots to straighten themselves; then the hole must be covered with soil and compacted.
- The sprouts that are planted in due time do not require such manipulations: they are placed in the ground in the traditional way, and after the procedure they are well shed.
To facilitate further care of the crop, it is recommended to mulch the soil using peat.
Physalis care features
Having planted the shoots of an exotic plant in the ground, you must continue to take care of them. Care is reminiscent of growing tomatoes, only physalis does not need pinching - fruits are formed on lateral branches.
Loosening
It is important to avoid crusting and cracking the soil. To do this, you should take the time to loosen it.
Watering rules
It is recommended to water the seedlings regularly until August 15-17, later it is better to reduce the frequency of watering - this will speed up the ripening process of the berries. Physalis is not afraid of heat and drought, it is highly resistant to such conditions.
In the heat, you can water the bushes a couple of times a week, and when the air temperature is moderate, one watering every 7-8 days is enough.
Weeding
It is necessary to hold this event, but it is enough to do it once every 3-4 weeks, not more often.
Top dressing
After half a month after transplanting the seedlings into the ground, you can start feeding them. Experienced gardeners recommend fertilizing after watering. You can use both organic and mineral compositions, but the best result can be achieved if you alternate them every one and a half to two weeks.
For physalis, the following fertilizers are allowed:
- Ammonium nitrate - a solution is prepared at the rate of 10 g of substance per 5 liters of water. It is better to use it after a pick, when the leaves become pale greenish in color.
- Organic (bird droppings, cattle manure) - mullein is bred at the rate of 1:10, droppings - 1:15, about 5 liters of the composition are introduced for every 1.5 sq. m. Such dressing is very useful for weakened vegetation, effective after picking, during flowering and fruit formation.
- Superphosphate is a complex fertilizer for vegetable crops. The composition is prepared from 15 g of the substance per 5 liters of water.
- Wood ash - it is recommended to apply it during the entire growing season; dilute at the rate of 15 g of substance per 5 l of water.
During the introduction of fertilizers, it is worth being careful and making sure that the compounds do not fall on the leaves and stems of the physalis, as they can cause a burn.
Pest control
There are several especially "stubborn" and dangerous pests that are not indifferent to earthen tomatoes and can ruin them and deprive the owner of the crop:
- Medvedka is a large orthoptera insect that harms the physalis root system by gnawing the roots. You can protect the culture from it by spring and autumn digging of the soil - this event will lead to the destruction of the pest's nests. In summer, it is recommended to loosen the soil by at least 20 cm. You can scare off the bear by watering the plant with a solution of bird droppings, as well as planting marigolds next to the bubble.
- Aphids - this dangerous parasite is a carrier of late blight. Insecticides are used to protect against it, with which the bushes should be treated 3-4 times per season.
- Wireworm - the larvae of all click beetles are a thunderstorm of roots and tubers, which cause serious damage to the underground part of the plant. It is recommended to add ash to it while digging the soil - alkaline soil is not to the taste of the larvae of beetles.
Disease protection
In general, Physalis is a healthy crop that is disease resistant. However, under negative conditions, the risks of developing diseases are present.
Seedlings growing in conditions of high humidity can be affected by fungal pathology, which is called "black leg". It is not difficult to notice the disease - the base of the stem turns black, and the sprout dies.
As a rule, with proper care of seedlings and seedlings - loosening, watering, thinning, it is possible to avoid the disease.
Another disease that does not spare all nightshade is late blight, which poses the greatest threat to crops during the ripening of fruits. The fungus infects the berries, and they become covered with brownish subcutaneous spots, such fruits are inedible.
In the fight against late blight, spraying the ground part of the plant with Bordeaux liquid, from which the solution is prepared, is most effective. The event is held in advance, before the bushes are covered with ovaries.
Physalis: harvesting and storage of crops
It is necessary to collect the fruits of the bladderworm together with the surrounding "flashlights", which by this time dry up. It is better to do this in dry weather, 45-60 days after planting the seedlings in the ground.
Ripening of berries is uneven: fruits from the bottom of the stems ripen first and crumble. If collected immediately, they can be eaten or processed. They are also suitable for the extraction of seed.
For physalis to be well stored in winter, it should be properly prepared. Dry bouquets of amazing beauty are obtained from decorative perennial varieties. To do this, you need to cut the plant, remove the leaves, and hang the stems with "bubbles" filled with berries to dry.
It is advisable to mulch a plot with perennial bushes with peat for the winter period.
An annual physalis, after collecting the fruits, must be disposed of, the soil is dug up.
