Physalis

Physalis: plant description

Physalis belongs to the genus Solanaceae, it is considered one of its largest representatives. Three types can grow in Russia: vegetable, Peruvian and strawberry... In our country, widespread distribution is not observed, however, trends indicate its imminent widespread settlement and the cultivation of physalis will acquire a larger scale.

Let's consider each type of physalis separately.

Physalis vegetable - referred to as Mexican and Tomatillo. From the name it is clear that it comes from Mexico, tolerates frost stubbornly, gives a high yield and ripens extremely quickly. The fruit has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, as well as an analgesic; contains a vitamin group, organic acids, helps to cleanse the body of salts.

The cultivation of this type of physalis occurs by planting seeds in open ground, the seeds can germinate at relatively low temperatures - 11-13 degrees. After germination, physalis can be safely transplanted to any place. There is no need to tie or pinch the bushes, on the contrary, the fruits are formed at the branch of the stem.

The fruits of such a physalis bush are smooth and greenish, they are in the lanterns, when the fruit ripens, they dry out and burst. Ripe fruits can be stored for up to two months, if you have unripe left - leave them to ripen, they can lie until spring.

There is little juice in the flesh of physalis, the fruit tastes sweet and sour. The preparation of this type of physalis consists in heat treatment - making jams, sauces, stewing with meat, raw, used in a salad.

Physalis - Peruvian - the homeland of the bush Peru, Guatemala and Mexico. It grows in the form of a liana, is a cross-pollinated plant. The fruits are small, about 2 cm, resembling a cherry tomato. This physalis contains pectin, ascorbic and citric acid, has diuretic and antitumor properties, contains antioxidants, as well as prevents skin aging and helps to reduce sugar.

This type of physalis is very thermophilic; good lighting is needed. Due to the long growing season - Peruvian physalis is grown through seedlings, a sunny summer is necessary, and you will also need to attract pollinating insects to a greenhouse or greenhouse.

Fruits after picking physalis are not stored for long, be sure to harvest in dry weather, it is necessary to dry well before storing. Avoid eating unripe fruits - oddly enough - they are poisonous. Physalis taste with a touch of orange and grapefruit, used in desserts and drinks.

Physalis-strawberry - homeland Mexico and Central America - grows on forest edges and sand dunes. The plant is self-pollinated. Small berries - weight no more than 10 grams. A flashlight of this type remains closed until the end. When dropped, the berry does not deteriorate; it can be stored for up to six months in a dry place.

If the flashlight is removed from the fetus, the shelf life is reduced - about two weeks. Seeds are sown in warm weather, growth begins at a temperature of about 15 degrees, however, a decrease to 9 degrees will negatively affect the seedlings.

The soil for growing this species of physalis must be fertile and drain well. Stagnant moisture will cause the stems to rot. In the south of Russia, this species grows very well and bears fruit. For more northerly areas, seedling and greenhouse cultivation is recommended.

If you want to harvest physalis seeds for the next year, be sure to choose the largest and ripe fruits from those bushes that are high yielding.

Physalis vegetable seedlings can be moved to open ground in about 30-35 days. In order to get seedlings, the seeds must be sown in March - April. For sprouts, the optimal temperature is considered to be 18-20 degrees. After planting, after 10-12 days, you can start feeding physalis using special fertilizers for vegetable seedlings.

Also, do not forget to harden the physalis seedlings, for this you need to take the seedlings out into the open air. This can be done after 7-10 days. When in open soil, this vegetable loves light and warmth. The earth must be deeply loosened. About 2 weeks before you plant the seedlings outdoors, you will need to add humus and wood ash. When the soil temperature warms up to 10-12 degrees, the vegetable grains can be planted in open soil. This is how the seeds are prepared, which will be sown on seedlings, as well as directly into the open ground.

Physalis: care after planting

Taking care of physalis after planting it is not so difficult. The soil near the vegetable must be constantly loosened and weeds removed. Physalis needs watering every other day, especially if the air temperature is high. For the first time, it is necessary 15-18 days after planting in open ground to make nitrogen fertilization. Then, when the buds appear and during the flowering period, make the same top dressing. When the filling of the ovaries begins, the last feeding is carried out. In June, when the physalis has finally gotten stronger and gets used to the open ground, it will be necessary to carry out the procedure for pinching the top of the stem. An important point is that physalis bushes can withstand severe frosts, up to -30 degrees. Therefore, most often they are not covered or cut off.

How does physalis reproduce?

Physalis can multiply using seeds, they are planted directly in open ground, provided that the region has a mild climate. The decorative variety can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and by dividing the bush. It is customary to plant seeds in the same way as in vegetable varieties. In July, cuttings need to be cut and the part where there are 2-3 buds is selected. 5. What harm and disease can be dangerous. Physalis is quite resistant to various diseases. But the mosaic viruses are especially dangerous for physalis. With this disease, the leaves of physalis are covered in a chaotic manner with light spots, while the leaf plate begins to wrinkle. Such infected plants are removed along with a decent clod of earth and must be burned. With the onset of heat and lack of rain, aphids may appear. In the fight against it, infusions of soap or soda can help, or with a large area of ​​infection, insecticides.

Physalis harvest time

Three months after germination, you will notice that the physalis fruits are ripe. If you notice that the sepals have become dry, this means that the fruits are already ripe. Before use, it is imperative to wash the fruits in order to get rid of the bitter substance under the shell. Those physalis berries, when ripe in summer, have a sweet-sour and sweet taste, those that ripened in autumn are suitable for winter harvesting.