Anybody else grow and use ground cherries?

[SKR8PN]

Ground Cherry

An old, and by old I mean 85 y/o, friend of mine turned me onto them last summer. I bought a couple of plants to try this year, and I am hooked. These things make a great snack when added to some homemade yogurt!

Anyone else??

 

[patandchickens]

I grew them last year, meant to repeat this year but a lot of things never got started this spring what with one thing and another, next year for sure! My now-6-yr-old son LOVES them, picked as a snack while waiting for school bus.

Good for pies and jams, too, depending on variety.

Pat

 

[xpc]

I tried a few when in a tavern a while back, never would of thought about eating one by just looking at it in the husk, of course drunks will eat anything and was surprised they weren't pickled. That was over 10 years ago but remembered that they were tasty, also had my first deep fat fried mashed potato balls there too.

 

[TanksHill]

Ooo oooo me me!!!! I direct seeded mine when I got home from Mo. in April. The bushes are huge and covered with fruit. They have not dropped yet. This will be my first real berry crop ever. I can't wait to try them.

Wifezilla has them this year as well.

gina

 

[ksalvagno]

That looks interesting. Is this something that you have to plant every year?

 

[Henrietta23]

A friend of mine grows them and gave me some plants this year. I thinking they self seed but I'm not sure. I LOVE them. We don't have enough to "do" anything with, we just eat them raw. Even DS likes them!

 

[TanksHill]

That looks interesting. Is this something that you have to plant every year?

From what I have read they are like a tomato plant.

These are what I planted.

http://rareseeds.com/cart/products/Ground_Cherry_Strawberry_Husk_Tomato-735-76.html

g

 

[Wifezilla]

I LOVE them! My first year growing ground cherries. Ours are dropping fruit already. We keep eating them before I can gather enough to make anything! Next year I will plant many more. We only have 2 plants now.

I did place a few in salsa. Gave it a touch of sweetness

 

[ORChick]

I had one plant last year that produced quite a lot. I didn't do anything much with them, just snacks, and added to salads, and, with the husks pulled back but not removed, they make an interesting and unusual edible garnish. I intended to start seeds for several plants this year, but things got away from me this last spring, and seeds didn't get started. I found, in a book on foraged foods, recipes for jam and pie which I intend to try ... assuming that I am more on top of things next spring

 

[lalaland]

I love them. Most people seem to like them, but most people I offer them to are also a little scared of them - you know, it might bite them!

They self seed, but have a hard time here getting to maturity before the frosts. I have volunteers growing in the chicken yard, the chickens think they are a treat, too.

wonder how they would do in a cobbler? a sorbet?