Physalis care: expert tips

The popular orange fruit requires a little special care. You can find out everything you need to know about watering, fertilizing and maxing out the physalis here.

the Physalis (Physalis peruviana) – also called Cape gooseberry or Andean berry – is now also conquering gardens in our latitudes. The nightshade plant (Solanaceae) from South America not only enchants with its fluffy soft leaves and delicate flowers. Above all, the fruity, delicious taste of the fruit makes physalis so popular. Although the Andean berry is quite undemanding and easy to care for, there are still a few points to consider in order to maintain healthy plants and the richest possible harvest. In this article you will find out what you should consider when caring for the Physalis plant.

Caring for physalis: proper watering

The physalis only withstands drought for a short time. Therefore, it should be watered regularly so as not to stress the plant too much. This can be necessary up to twice a day in midsummer, especially in sunny locations, which are best suited for the plant. This is not least due to the fact that the physalis loves sandy locations, which, however, can hardly hold water. It is best to water the Cape gooseberries vigorously in the morning before the midday heat and, if necessary, again in the late afternoon. With physalis in a pot, it is worth using a saucer that catches excess water that the plant absorbs when needed. However, if the water has been standing for several days without the physalis using it, you should pour it out to avoid root rot.

Cut physalis

In annual cultivation, the Cape gooseberries do not have to be cut, otherwise the fruit and flower formation may suffer. However, it may be necessary to pinch off excess side shoots. You can find out more about physalis in the following paragraphs.
In the case of perennial cultivation, the physalis is cut back by about half before being transferred to winter storage. This promotes branching and flowering next spring and also makes wintering easier.

Tip: During the winter, only cuttings can be cut and rooted instead of the whole Physalis plant. In this way, you not only propagate your Physalis, but the young plants will bear fruit much earlier than freshly sown plants next summer.

Fertilize physalis: with what and how often?

The physalis is a medium eater in terms of the supply of nutrients. But what is the right fertilizer for Physalis? Mineral fertilizers with a high, soluble nitrogen content, such as blue corn, are not suitable for Physalis cultivation. These promote shoot growth too much and only a few flowers form. When planting out, you can mix a dose of compost into the existing soil and put it in the planting hole.
A predominantly organic long-term fertilizer, like ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer, will also be sent directly to the planting of the physalis incorporated superficially into the soil or the potting substrate. Through regular watering, the fertilizer is quickly converted by the soil organisms. Two months later you can repeat the fertilization with a lower dose. Similar to tomatoes, physalis also have a high potassium requirement, which is optimally covered by our tomato fertilizer. The nutrients contained are released evenly and slowly. This prevents over-fertilization and gently supplies the plant with essential nutrients. If the Physalis takes place in a pot for several years, you can repot the Physalis into a larger one Mix the fresh substrate with the fertilizer granules in the pot and thus ensure the long-term supply of nutrients to ensure.

Tip: One mulch layer from plant residues, such as lawn clippings or crushed nettles, has countless advantages for the Physalis: You prevents the growth of weeds, at the same time keeps moisture in the soil and serves as a basis for new ones humus build-up. Please do not forget to spread some nitrogen-rich fertilizer directly under the mulch layer. Otherwise nitrogen will be temporarily fixed as a result of the breakdown of the mulch material and will no longer be available to your Physalis.

exhaust physalis

Gardeners are divided on the subject of squeezing out the Physalis plant. Some let their plants grow wild, others skimp on the Cape gooseberry like a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) the end. Depending on the growth strength and density, cutting out Andean berries makes sense or is not necessary. Because excess side shoots can reduce the air circulation between the many parts of the plant and hardly get any light for photosynthesis.

In any case, always use a sharp knife or pruning shears, which you disinfect before and after pruning a plant. So no pathogens, like gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) transmitted from one plant to the next. If the lowest side shoots are lying on the ground, you should cut them off completely because of the risk of rotting. If your physalis grows vigorously and produces fruit, but which hardly gets any sunlight or air, it is advisable to pinch the plant. With bushes that grow too densely, the risk of fungal infestation is increased after rain and high humidity due to slower drying. Therefore, remove the inward-growing shoots: this will allow light and air to reach the inside of the plant again. The fruits then often become even larger and tastier.
However, you should not overdo it when thinning out, otherwise the plant will be stimulated to strong growth and initially form fresh shoots and no more new flowers and fruits. After a few weeks, gentle pinching can be repeated to remove newly formed shoots.

Summary of Physalis:

• Disinfect cutting equipment, such as knives and secateurs, before and after each plant.
• Completely remove shoots lying on the ground.
• If the growth is too dense, remove inward-growing side shoots.
• Use it sparingly and several times at intervals of a few weeks.

Physalis has yellow leaves: what to do?

If the physalis gets yellow leaves, this can be due to a lack of nitrogen. In this case, the older, i.e. the lowest leaves turn yellow and fall off. Here we recommend quick fertilization with an organic liquid fertilizer like ours Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer. This is applied together with the irrigation water and thus reaches the roots of the physalis directly. Yellowing can also occur due to too much moisture or even waterlogging, mostly in pot cultures. Therefore, it is best to ensure good drainage when planting and empty full saucers if the water has been in them for more than a day. Incidentally, in autumn the leaves fall off naturally and turn yellow to brown. Now to that Overwintering the physalis be thought.

Support Physalis with a trellis

For tall physalis varieties, the plants should be supported with one or more stakes or a metal ring. They should also be tied up in wind-exposed locations outdoors. Bushy growing Andean berries usually do not need any support in places sheltered from the wind.

Diseases and Pests in Physalis

If the Physalis is cultivated under optimal conditions, i.e. in a sunny, airy location with permeable soil and good nutrient supply, it is only slightly susceptible to diseases and pests. In the spring and during the frost-free hibernation multiply rapidly aphids, which, however, only have to be combated in the case of severe infestation. In unfavorable weather, for example a lot of moisture and high temperatures at the same time, there can be an infestation with gray mold and mildew come. Infested parts of the plant should be removed and disposed of in the household waste, not on the compost.

Caring for Physalis in the pot

Physalis in a pot or window box requires the same care as Physalis in a bed. Choosing the right plant substrate and the right planter are the key steps in pot culture. You can find out what needs to be taken into account in our article physalis plants.

Caring for Physalis: Everything at a glance

Here we have summarized the most important points for the care of the Andean berry:

• Water physalis regularly, at best in the morning, water vigorously.
• When planting out and repotting, add mainly organic long-term fertilizer, replenish after about two months.
• Gentle but regular pinching increases fruit size and prevents fungal attack.
• Support and tie up tall varieties.
• Cut back physalis shoots by about half in October before overwintering and repot the plant in spring. Propagation by cuttings is also possible.

By the way: Do you want to cultivate the plant perennial, so the Physalis overwinter, it must be cut back in October and placed at 10 °C. In the spring it is then transferred to a larger pot with fresh soil and nutrients. You can read more about this in our special article.