Physalis - annual or perennial?
If you would like to grow the uncomplicated Andean berry and therefore buy a seed sachet, it usually says “annual”. This information can often be found in the horticultural specialist literature. It is therefore hardly surprising that most gardeners do not know that it is actually a perennial plant. Physalis can easily live to be between eight and ten years old and fruit anew every year - provided that you take care of it during the winter. The Andean berries, which are used to the subtropical climate, cannot tolerate frost.
also read
- Planting physalis yourself - you will soon be able to harvest delicious Andean berries
- Growing physalis - growing on the balcony, terrace or in the garden
- Physalis are in season all year round
Advantages of overwintering Physalis
Physalis should ideally be overwintered at temperatures between 10 and 12 ° C and not too dark, and the large, bushy plant takes up a lot of space. In addition, it grows and bears a lot of fruit within a year with little effort - so why should you put the Physalis in winter quarters? The reason for this is quite simple: the older plant will start to fruit much earlier in the next year. If you can harvest an annual Physalis from August at the earliest, but more likely not until September, overwintered old plants often develop the first ripe fruits as early as July.
Hibernate physalis properly
When wintering the plant, do the following:
- Slowly reduce the amount of irrigation water from around the end of September / beginning of October.
- Do not fertilize potted plants from the beginning of September.
- Harvest any ripe berries.
- You can leave green berries on the bush, they will ripen.
- If the plant is too big, cut it back by about one to two thirds
- Put the Physalis in winter quarters by mid-October at the latest.
- This should not be warmer than 12 ° C (maximum up to 15 ° C) and not too dark.
- If dead shoots grow, you can safely cut them off.
- Water moderately, do not fertilize.
From around mid to late January you can water the plant more frequently and slowly get it used to more light. However, it can only go outdoors after no more night frosts are to be expected. Physalis should be outdoors during the growing season because it is too dark for her inside.
Tips & Tricks
If you have little space, but still want to overwinter your Physalis, then you don't need to put the whole plant in its winter quarters. It is sufficient to take one or more cuttings and overwinter them.
IJA
