Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Groundcherry seeds
POLLINATION NOTES
The flower is perfect and self-pollinates. Cross-pollination can occur, according
to the literature, but we have never observed it at Arche Noah.
GROWING FOR SEED
The groundcherry is a perennial in warm, frost-free regions but is grown as an
annual where it freezes in the winter. Plants can withstand temperatures as low as 23°F (−5°C) when
the root ball is dry. The time of ripening of the fruit is highly dependent on location, anywhere from
late summer to early fall. Growing under glass or plastic can speed ripening by several weeks, though
with lower yield as plants put more energy into growing leaves.
Grow like tomatoes, though sucker removal is not necessary. Pruning makes for an easier harvest.
Plants are very drought tolerant, though yield is better when they are watered well in hot weather.
The fruit of the groundcherry grows inside a lantern-like husk.
HARVEST
To clean seeds, put fruits in a container with some water and mix with a hand mixer. Seeds
separate best from the flesh of overripe fruits. For eating-ripe fruits, crush them in a container with wa-
ter and let them soak for a day before cleaning. Add lots of water to the fruit-seed puree and stir. Good
seeds sink to the bottom. Carefully pour off the pulp and nonviable seeds from the top, then repeat two
or three times until water is clear. Seeds should be completely free of pulp. Wash seeds in a very fine-
meshed sieve and lay out or hang in a coffee filter to dry.
SELECTION CHARACTERISTICS
• size and aroma of fruit
• husk
• earliness
• reduced vegetative growth (perhaps also small size of bush), yet no reduction in yield
