Physalis ornamental cultivation and care. Physalis - a pleasant flower and berry: cultivation and care Sowing seeds for seedlings

It is good in open ground, in a vase, in a photo, and on a table. We are talking about physalis, the varieties of which are beautiful and edible. If you have not yet grown and propagated it, it is never too late to start. Learn about planting and caring for physalis from the article.

Physalis: varieties and varieties

“Strawberry tomato”, “earthen cherry”, “Chinese lanterns” - as many names as physalis! Growing and caring for it sometimes varies slightly depending on the variety. In total, there are 3 large groups of these plants (the first two are edible):

• vegetable varieties (Confectionery, Large-fruited);

Physalis vegetable

• berry varieties (Peruvian, Strawberry);

Physalis berry

• decorative physalis, resembling Chinese lanterns with yellow, orange and red boxes (Franchet, Longifolia).

Physalis decorative

Advice. When growing physalis in open ground, do not combine different varieties in one area. They can crossbreed, and even with proper care, produce small and deformed fruits.

Planting physalis

First, decide on the place where the physalis will grow. Planting and care involve choosing, if not a sunny area, then at least partial shade, for example, under trees. If you plant in beds, keep in mind: good predecessors for this crop are cucumbers, cabbage, and legumes. Planting scheme – 4-5 plants per 1 sq. m.

Physalis loves areas well lit by the sun.

It is possible to sow dry seeds in late autumn. Embed them in the soil or peat (2-3 cm layer). The fruits will ripen later, but the harvest will be richer. In addition, the plants will be more resilient.

Plant care

It consists of a few simple rules:

1. Regular weeding and loosening of the soil.
2. Abundant watering, but without stagnation of water. It should be reduced during the ripening period of the boxes.
3. Tying up tall bushes.

It is better to tie up physalis bushes

To increase yield, pinch off the tops around mid-summer. There is no need to plant and form physalis. Also among the advantages of caring for it is its resistance to drought and frost. The perennial winters well even at t – 30 °C.

Fertilizer and feeding of physalis

The first fertilizer should be applied during the flowering period. Feed the plants a second time during fruit formation. After 15-20 days, repeat the procedure. It is good to use mineral fertilizers for physalis.

Physalis flowering

For example, you can prepare the following composition: superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium salt. For 10 liters of water, 10-15 g of each component is enough. This volume is enough for 1 sq. m landing. It is better not to feed physalis with manure. Instead, use compost, humus, bird droppings or ash for fertilizer.

Physalis propagation

The most common propagation of this perennial is by seeds. They can be sown directly in open ground. But if you do not live in the southern region, it is better to pre-grow seedlings in the spring (mid-March). The seedlings hatch at a temperature of +15 °C. When the third leaf appears, transplant each sprout into an insulated cup. The room temperature should not exceed +22 °C

Advice. To prevent blackleg (a fungal infection in which seedlings wither and disappear), it is better to initially practice planting seeds not in a common container, but in separate containers.

Watering is plentiful, but not too frequent. The sprouts should be rooted at the age of 40-50 days. Plant in open ground when the threat of frost has passed, in May. Before planting, it will not be superfluous to harden the seedlings by taking them out onto the balcony or street for several days.

Physalis sprout

Physalis reproduces very actively, without any help, by self-seeding. In addition, you can grow it from shoots that emerge from overwintered roots. Physalis needs regular rejuvenation; the procedure is both a method of care and a reproduction option. In the spring, dig up the rhizomes, divide them and plant them.

Diseases and pests

Like other members of the nightshade family, ground cherry most often suffers from the following diseases:

Mosaic. The leaves become deformed and yellow and green spots appear on them. Affected plants should be destroyed, hands and garden tools should be disinfected.

. It is characterized by the appearance of brown spots on plants. To combat this fungus, chemical agents can be used. If the physalis is already bearing fruit, care is as follows: remove damaged fruits and leaves and disinfect.

Advice. Most often, late blight is carried by potatoes. Having dug it up, do not plan to plant physalis and other nightshades in the same place.

Fusarium. Diseased plants begin to wither before they bear fruit. The infection lives in the soil for a long time. To prevent its proliferation, destroy the affected physalis along with the earthen clod, collect and dispose of the tops, and disinfect the soil.

Physalis can be affected by many diseases - monitor the condition of the bushes

Various rots: white, gray. The plant becomes covered with a whitish or smoky coating, the fruits crack and rot or dry out. During the growing season, caring for physalis consists of treating it with Bordeaux mixture, Ridomil or copper oxychloride. For prevention, regularly remove affected leaves and plant debris.

When growing physalis you will have to deal with the following pests:

1. Mole cricket: chews on roots. To destroy its nests, dig the soil deeply in spring and autumn. In summer, loosen it by at least 15 cm. Insects are repelled by the aroma of marigolds planted nearby and by watering the plants with bird droppings.
2. : tolerates late blight. During the season, treat physalis with insecticides several times.
3. Wireworm: damages the root system. When digging up the soil, add ash to it (pest larvae do not like alkaline soil). Do not allow wheatgrass, which forms the basis of the wireworm’s diet, to appear and multiply in the area.

Wireworm

Physalis: combination with other plants

It is very difficult to find neighbors who would emphasize the beauty of a bright perennial better than it does itself. It is often planted “for the future” to decorate winter landscapes. Orange “lanterns” sprinkled with snow effectively enliven half-empty gardens. In addition, growing physalis almost always involves its use in dry compositions.

Physalis in the flowerbed

In them it is good in combination with kermek, lunaria, gypsophila, immortelle, gomphrena globulus. The ensembles of “strawberry tomato” and pine branches look truly festive and unusual. Physalis looks harmonious surrounded by clusters of rowan or viburnum, as well as spikelets. And this bright plant will turn even a bunch of ordinary autumn leaves into a colorful bouquet.

Ideas for decorative compositions with physalis

With the help of these tips and your own imagination, you can easily decorate your apartment, house or garden:

• place the physalis in an openwork vase made of wood. Place a pumpkin nearby, making a funny face out of it (by gluing or cutting out eyes, mouth, etc. with a knife);

A bouquet of physalis can stay in your room all winter

• place perennial sprigs in a beautiful flower watering can;
• you can place the “lanterns” in a round aquarium without water or another transparent container of the same shape;
• Decorate walls or doors with wreaths. Sometimes ordinary photo frames are used as their base;
• weave the branches into a beautiful braid, decorating it with beads, ribbons, and a small hat;
• make an original topiary (artificial “money tree”);

Decor with physalis

• string physalis boxes onto stainless steel wire and braid it around a vase or container for cereals or seasonings - the kitchen will be transformed;
• For New Year's decorations at home, create a composition with candles and pine branches.

In the summer, admire physalis in the open ground, in the winter, do floristry and enjoy jam from the exotic “strawberry tomato”. The versatility of this miracle plant deserves that you not only admire it in the photo, but also grow it yourself.

Physalis on a personal plot: video

Physalis: photo

Physalis has been known to man since ancient times. The first people to become acquainted with this plant were the inhabitants of North and South America, who grew physalis 7000 BC. e. Moreover, this berry plant can be cultivated in the conditions of our country. Unfortunately, not all gardeners have the necessary information about the features of growing and caring for physalis. That’s why it’s so extremely rare to find it in the areas.

But it must be said that summer residents needlessly ignore this plant. Its fruits are not only very tasty, but also rich in nutrients, and in this respect they can compete on equal terms with tomatoes. Therefore, if you have already become interested in physalis, then you will probably be interested in learning about the technology for growing it in your country house or apartment.

Description and biological features of physalis

The Physalis genus includes more than 110 species of this plant. However, most of them are wild; there are few cultivated varieties among them - only 4. In our country, the most widespread are vegetable or Mexican physalis, strawberry physalis, and also gluten-fruited physalis, but the latter is grown extremely rarely.

You can often find physalis ornamental. Its orange fruits, reminiscent of lanterns, are often used in the design of dachas and city flower beds. Although physalis is a classic perennial, the cultivation technology used in relation to it corresponds to annuals. Therefore, sowing seeds or cuttings are used as the main methods of propagation.

Mexican physalis grows in the form of a rather voluminous bush, reaching a height of no more than 1 m. The strawberry variety looks more compact, which can grow up to 0.5 m. During the growing season, it forms single flowers that have different shades - yellow, green, orange. The cup, which looks like a flashlight, also has a rich color palette. It can be yellow, green, orange, bright red and purple. The strawberry physalis grows fruits weighing 5-25 g, from which an extremely persistent odor emanates. The larger berries are the vegetable physalis, the weight of which can range from 25 to 100 grams. The seeds themselves are small in size and can be used for sowing for 8 years.

Physalis vegetable belongs to the nightshade family, among the representatives of which it stands out for its greatest resistance to negative temperatures. Seedlings can withstand frosts down to -3 degrees. Caring for this plant is easy. This plant loves sunny areas, tolerates periods of drought well, and feels best in light, organic-rich soils. The important point is that the Colorado potato beetle does not show any interest in physalis. This culture is resistant to late blight, as well as other fungal diseases. This makes it more versatile, allowing it to be cultivated in an apartment, as well as in the country.

The fruits of the plant that have a sweetish taste, are rich in many useful substances:

• sugars - 12.5%;
• healthy fiber - up to 1%;
• proteins - about 2 g;
• carotene -1.2 mg;
• vitamin C - up to 30 mg.

The composition also contains a large amount of organic polyacids and lysine, the uniqueness of which is associated with its ability to prevent cancer.

A little about the most popular types and varieties

To remain completely satisfied, it is better to choose the best varieties of physalis for growing, which do not create problems in care.

Physalis vegetable

Among all types of edible physalis, the most interesting is mexican look. Many gourmets enjoy the fruits of this plant. Therefore, they are often used for preparing dishes in many restaurants. One plant can bear up to 200 fruits per season, which can have different colors. The only thing that remains unchanged is the flashlight case, which always has a yellow-green color. Vegetable physalis is used for food in a variety of forms: raw, pickled, salted. It is also used as a base for making caviar, as well as a variety of confectionery products: marmalade, jam, candied fruits, fruit candies.

Among the varieties there are species that have best taste properties:

• Wren;
• Gribovsky ground;
• Moscow early;
• Large-fruited;
• Likhtarik.

The plants listed above are usually classified as canned salad plants.

Physalis strawberry and berry

This type of physalis is known as Florida or pubescent. It produces miniature fruits the size of a pea, but they are sweeter and more aromatic. In this regard, they can compete with strawberries and raspberries, since they contain twice as much fruit sugars. From a practical point of view, it makes sense to cultivate strawberry physalis if one of the family members suffers from diabetes. Fruit have a bright amber color.

One plant can produce up to 3 kg of delicious berries per season. They can be consumed not only fresh, but also dried. However, in this case, changes occur to them: the dried fruits become very similar to raisins. Before using for food, physalis fruits must be treated with boiling water. This will help remove the sticky substance that is present on the surface of the berries. Because of this, the fruits have a somewhat unusual taste, which some people may not like. The fruits of the Candy and Philanthrope varieties have the best taste properties.

Physalis raisin

It is usually considered as variety of strawberry physalis. This type has a more pleasant taste, since it has a slight sourness and a pineapple flavor. The juice of this plant is very unusual, it resembles tangerine juice.

Physalis peruviana

This variety has many fans all over the world. The uniqueness of its fruits is given by a refined fruity taste with sourness, they give off the smell of grapefruit. The berries themselves are large in size and flattened in shape, and they give off a pronounced orange strawberry aroma. The fruits of the Columbus and Kudesnik varieties have the best taste properties. When dried, they become similar to dried apricots, but there is still a difference here, since their taste becomes brighter.

Physalis decorative

This plant can reach a height of 60 cm and has white flowers that do not have a decorative effect. Physalis begins to transform with the onset of autumn, when it appears bright orange lanterns containing red berries inside. However, the flashlights do not remain this way for long and gradually change their color to transparent.

At this moment, only veins and berries can be distinguished. Growing physalis is a fairly simple undertaking, since it is a perennial, which will expand its rhizome over many years. Branches with lanterns have bright decorative properties, thanks to which they can be included in dry bouquets. This plant forms an excellent composition in combination with lunaria.

There is an opinion that physalis is an excellent choice for lazy gardeners. And there is a logical explanation for this. Physalis is not only resistant to frost, but its fruits also quickly reach maturity. If favorable conditions are provided, it can produce high yields.

The gardener does not have to spend a lot of time and effort growing seedlings from seeds. Instead, seeds can be sown in open ground in early spring. Moreover, this will only need to be done once. Subsequently he will form seeds, which will provide you with new plants. However, if it is important for you to get tasty physalis berries as early as possible, then it is best to use the seedling growing method.

In principle, a gardener does not need to delve into the specifics of this crop in order to get a high yield of physalis from seeds. This plant grows well on heavy and sandy soils; the situation does not change too much if instead of a lit area you plant physalis in the shade.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

You can plan this operation immediately after the New Year. For these purposes, it is recommended to use separate containers, for example, 0.5 l cups.

• with the onset of March they are transplanted into a common flowerpot or planting box;
• when the time comes to plant seedlings in the ground, you need to be very careful not to damage the root system when dividing the bushes;
• When the ambient air temperature remains above + 8 degrees, you can begin hardening the seedlings; for this, the seedlings begin to be taken out into the fresh air.

To get the first fruits from seeds, approximately 100 days must pass from the moment the shoots appear. Physalis berries grow in places where the stem branches. Most of the harvest is formed on two shoots of the first order and four shoots of the second order. In other areas, the berries grow singly, and they often have non-standard sizes.

Fruiting continues until the first frost. You can determine that the berries are ripe by a change in color and the beginning of their shedding. It is recommended to plan the collection of edible physalis fruits on a sunny day. In early September, you need to pinch off the tops; as a result, the plant will spend energy not on the growth of branches, but on the formation of fruits.

Sometimes, with the arrival of frost, most of the berries do not have time to reach technical maturity. In this case, the situation can be corrected by ripening them. The gardener will have to dig the bush out of the ground with its roots, move it to a dry, frost-free room and hang it there. This measure allows harvesting until the New Year, and in some cases until spring. The gardener does not have to take any action: when the berries are ripe, they will fall to the ground on their own. But you need to place a soft cloth under the plants so that they are not damaged. Usually, unripe physalis berries that do not have defects ripen in 3-4 months. Ripe berries can be stored for 2 months at a temperature from 1 to 5-6 degrees.

The harvesting of Physalis edible seeds is carried out using a similar technology as in the case of tomatoes.

First, healthy, large, ripe fruits are selected, which need to be cut into two parts, placed in a container filled with rainwater, and allowed to stand for 24 hours until the pulp becomes soft. In the future, you need to separate the seeds from the pulp using a sieve, then wash them and dry them. Physalis fruits have very small seeds - more than 1000 seeds per gram.

If a gardener grows several varieties on a plot, then there is a high probability of mixing them. This the plant pollinates well with others. At the same time, the fruits of edible physalis, grown as a result of cross-pollination with several varieties, have similar size and taste properties as the original, and in some cases surpass it.

Conclusion

Among the well-known crops there are many that are undeservedly ignored by many gardeners. This is exactly what physalis is, which produces delicious fruits of bright orange color. It is very easy to care for because it can grow in any soil. Moreover, in some cases, you can not even waste time and effort on growing seedlings, but sow the seeds directly into the ground. This will only have to be done once, since in the future young cuttings will begin to grow from the physalis bush.

Evgeniy Sedov

When your hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Our country is distinguished by its natural diversity and wealth of healing properties of plants, but it is worth learning about interesting representatives of the flora of other countries and continents that can be grown in our conditions. One of these plants is physalis, the greatest diversity of species of which grows in the countries of South and Central America. It is known to most people for its orange or bright red fruits and berries that look like Chinese paper lanterns.

Physalis (from the Latin Physalis - bubble) is a genus of plants of the nightshade family, close to tomatoes. Popularly known as “emerald berry”, “earthen cranberry”, “blisterberry”, “marunka”, “dog cherry”. Many people know it as a decorative element with bright lanterns that are fused sepals. After flowering, the calyx grows faster than the fruit, forming a natural protection. In its homeland of origin (South America), the “case” protects the ripening berries from the hot sun. After ripening, it dries and changes color.

What does it look like

Physalis is a perennial plant that every year produces new angular-curved erect shoots up to 1 m high from the root. The root system is branched, with woody creeping shoots, so physalis grows in large bushes. The leaves are ovoid, soft, serrated along the edges. From the bud emerges a pale yellow, five-lobed flower that resembles a bell. After flowering, a spherical fruit appears, which is immediately covered with sepals, forming a bell-shaped cup with triangular teeth.

When ripe, the color of the calyx changes from light green to red, orange or purple, which depends on the variety and location of the plant. Ripening berries change color from green to bright yellow or orange. In appearance they are very similar to cherry tomatoes. Inside they are fleshy, with scattered seeds. There are berry and vegetable varieties of physalis, so many summer residents know it as a berry, unpretentious, well-fruiting plant. In addition to its decorative functions, it is eaten, and its healing properties are used in medicine.

Where does it grow

The native habitats of physalis are South and Central America; from here it was introduced to North America and Southern Europe. The species “Common physalis” has shown resistance to cold snaps, thanks to which it has spread to China and Japan, where it is recognized as one of the important decorative elements during the holidays. The ability to tolerate cold has made long-term growth possible in countries with temperate climates. In Russian conditions, varietal cultivation is carried out through seedlings into a fertile soil mixture for tomatoes and peppers.

Types of physalis

There are about 120 varieties of physalis, the common feature of which is a 5-10 lobed flower. When ripe, it takes on different bright colors, which are preserved after drying and are used for decorative purposes when creating ikebana and bouquets. The berries of decorative varieties of bladderwort have a bitter taste and are not used for cooking. This is one of the few plants whose edible varieties include berry and vegetable varieties. In consistency and taste, they are more like vegetables, but in terms of the biological structure of the bush, they are more like berries.

Decorative

The cultivation of decorative varieties of physalis dates back to 1894. Ornamental physalis is called Alkekengi (Physalis alkekengi) or Franchet (Physalis francheti), and was named in honor of Rene Franchet. The French botanist was the first to study this plant. The basis of the decorative interest in the variety are the even flowers-lanterns with a diameter of 6-7 cm. On a stem up to 90 cm long there can be 10-15 lanterns. The fruits of ornamental varieties are poisonous and therefore not suitable for food.

Food

The edible varieties of bladderwort are divided into vegetable and berry varieties. Vegetable or Mexican, glutinous, Physalis ixocarpa Brot. It is used raw and for canning and cooking. The fruit of Mexican physalis has a bitter-tasting sticky film shell, which is easily removed by blanching (dissolving in hot water). Berry varieties are Peruvian (Physalis peruviana), strawberry (Physalis pubescens). They do not have a bitter adhesive film and are used for making jams and compotes.

Physalis edible

Edible varieties of bladderwort do not have such bright colors of the cap as decorative varieties. The berry is large, has a bright sweet taste, and can be consumed by children and adults without heat treatment. The most famous edible varieties are:

• Strawberry;
• Pineapple;
• Confectioner;
• Plum jam.

To understand the usefulness of the plant, it is worth analyzing the composition of the fruit, which contains sugar, pectin, quercetin, tannins, phytoncides, citric, malic, succinic, tartaric, synapic, ferulic and caffeic organic acids. In addition, the berries are a multivitamin complex, rich in microelements (thiamine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus) and include:

• 32 calories per 100 g;
• cholesterol – 0%;
• potassium – 8%;
• Vitamin C – 20%;
• Vitamin K – 13%;
• Vitamin B6 – 3%;
• Vitamin A – 2%.

Why is it useful?

The beneficial properties of physalis are complemented by a wide range of healing components of the remaining parts of this plant. The roots contain several types of alkaloids - pseudotropine, tegloidine, tropine, cuskigrin. The leaves are rich in steroids - sitosterol, campesterol and isofucosterol. Some varieties contain carotenoids - alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin ester, cryptoxanthin, physioxanthin. The seeds can yield up to 25% fatty oil.

All parts of the plant have found wide application in the creation of medicinal preparations and preventive agents in folk medicine. Medicines based on physalis have the following healing properties:

• have diuretic and choleretic properties;
• relieve inflammation, anemia;
• have a hemostatic, antiseptic, analgesic effect;
• help against hypertension, stomach ulcers, chronic cholecystitis, hypoacid gastritis;
• used to prevent metabolic disorders.

Bladderwort fruits contain antioxidants that prevent mutation of healthy cells and degeneration in cancer. To make maximum use of all the healing components of the plant at home, you can prepare:

• decoction of physalis fruits - for the treatment of kidney diseases, kidney stones, bladder, gout, for the treatment of bronchitis, tracheitis, cough, other respiratory diseases, for pain attacks, stomach cramps, intestines;
• diuretic tea – for cholelithiasis, cystitis;
• juice from fresh fruits - used externally for fungal skin diseases;
• liniment based on physalis - in the treatment of rheumatism;
• wine tincture - in the treatment of kidney diseases;
• alcohol tincture - for the treatment and prevention of rash and fungal skin diseases.

How to eat physalis

Plants that bear vegetable and berry fruits are rare. Physalis has different uses in cooking. Berry physalis contains a high concentration of pectin, which increases gelling properties and facilitates use in the preparation of jams, jelly, preserves, sweets, candied fruits, and marshmallows. All of the above products can be canned and will keep well until the next harvest. Dried or dried fruits are used instead of raisins when baking pies, creating puddings, and desserts. Vegetable varieties are used to prepare:

• first courses;
• vegetable caviar, sauces;
• canning in salted, soaked, pickled form.

Harm and contraindications

Physalis fruits are covered with an adhesive film, so consumption without prior blanching will give the berries a bitter taste that can cause upset, nausea, and diarrhea. The plant's multivitamin complex is indicated for many diseases, but the high sugar content can be dangerous for diabetics. Organic acids may have negative effects for people with hyperacidity. The fruits of ornamental varieties look edible, but are poisonous. It is necessary to use Physalis-based drugs under the supervision of doctors.

Video

The main name of this plant comes from the Greek word φυσαλίς "physalis", meaning "bubble" or "swelling", because its fruits are located inside the original overgrown calyx, very reminiscent of a Chinese paper lantern. Physalis is a relative of the tomatoes so familiar to us, as well as peppers, eggplants and potatoes.

Most often, this plant is called the Mexican tomato because its homeland is Mexico. Tomatillo (or tomatillo) is also known as dog cherry, field cherry, bubble cherry, Mexican strawberry, bush plum, although all these names can also refer to other members of the physalis genus.

In Spanish, this fruit is called tomate de cascara, tomate de fresadilla, tomate milpero, tomate verde (“green tomato”), tomatillo (“small tomato”), miltomate (Mexico, Guatemala) or simply tomate (in areas with this name tomatillo the real tomato is called jitomate). And although very often in many countries of the world (and even in reputable grocery hypermarkets!) tomatillos are called green tomatoes, they should not be confused with ordinary, unripe, green tomatoes.

The Indians cultivated different types of physalis back in the pre-Columbian era. These plants were domesticated in Mexico before the arrival of Europeans and played a very important role in Mayan and Aztec culture, much more prominent than the common tomato. Scientists have found that the Aztecs grew tomatillos everywhere back in the 7th century BC. In those days, physalis was sown between corn rows along with beans and pumpkin. Physalis fruits have been a staple of Mexican cuisine, eaten raw or cooked in a variety of dishes, especially the famous Mexican sauce salsa verde. In ancient Spanish books about South America, physalis is mentioned, but tomato is absent, from which we can conclude that the tomato was not grown by the natives, although it originated from Mexico. Physalis was then brought to North America, Africa, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and Europe. The commitment of the Mexican population to their native “tomatillo” is clearly demonstrated by the fact that back in the 30s of the 20th century, Mexicans still preferred to buy physalis at markets and grow physalis in their gardens rather than tomatoes.

Nowadays, physalis is very popular and widely cultivated in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Venezuela and Colombia. At the end of the last century, a large number of productive varieties were developed, adapted for cultivation on the plains and in the mountains. Interest in physalis is constantly growing in the modern world. Today, in addition to Mexicans, farmers in Poland, Germany, Italy and the USA have begun to engage in its widespread industrial cultivation.

Today, domesticated, commercially produced tomatillos have virtually flooded the market in both Mexico and the United States due to their ever-increasing popularity and indispensability in Mexican cuisine. This poses serious problems for wild and semi-wild tomatillo varieties. First, now that domesticated Mexican physalis is widespread and easily accessible, there is less interest in the study and conservation of wild or semi-cultivated diversity of its species. Second, the commonly cultivated New Mexico tomatillo is of a different subspecies than the originally historically widespread Mexican "tomatillo", and since this plant cross-propagates easily and the new Mexican tomatillo increasingly saturates the market, the genetic purity of the "tomatillo" in New Mexico -Mexico may suffer if not carefully controlled. Therefore, this historical subspecies of physalis is now at real risk of extinction from the face of the planet.

Botanical portrait

Mexican physalis, or vegetable, according to the botanical classification - Philadelphian physalis (Physalis philadelphica) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family, which is an erect or spreading bush up to 50-80 cm high. The leaves of the vegetable physalis are ovoid, whole, with a smooth or serrated edge. Yellow, purple-speckled flowers, similar to potato flowers, are located one at a time where the stem branches and have five petals. The fruits are small spherical berries, strongly reminiscent of green tomatoes, enclosed in a sheath growing from the calyx of the flower. The cap is initially green; as the fruit ripens, it turns yellow and dries out, and the fruit remains inside the cap. A sure sign of fruit ripening is the drying of the cap. Ripe fruits are easily separated from the cap. In some varieties, ripe fruits may fall off the plant, so they must be collected regularly to prevent the harvest from spoiling.

Ripe fruits of Mexican physalis weigh from 60 to 90 g (less often - a little more than 100 g), depending on the variety, they can have a yellow, green or purple color. But in their homeland, Mexico, they are sold and used green, sometimes with white or purple streaks. This is the most productive type of edible physalis. The diameter of the fruit in varietal plants can reach 7 cm, and one plant can bear up to 200-300 berries per season.

The taste of the ripe fruit of the Mexican physalis varies from sweet to sour, very unusual, at the same time sharp, sharp and sweetish, but, in general, quite pleasant, slightly reminiscent of the taste of a good tomato. The freshness and rich green color of the tomatillo peel is an indicator of the quality and maturity of the fruit. A ripe fruit should be firm, and most often have a bright green color, since this color and slightly bitter taste are its main culinary advantages.

Physalis is pollinated by insects. Under favorable weather conditions, fruits are set from about half of the blossomed flowers.

Mexican physalis is able to bear fruit longer than true tomatoes and can withstand the first autumn frosts. The period from germination to the beginning of ripening for this crop ranges from 90 to 120 days, depending on the variety.

Physalis can be classified as a non-capricious plant. It is shade-tolerant, which allows it to be grown between rows of other crops. Undemanding to soil composition, grows on all soils, with the exception of highly acidic, saline and waterlogged ones. Moderately moisture-loving and drought-resistant. He is not afraid of the Colorado potato beetle and very rarely suffers from late blight and other pests and diseases. However, its seedlings are unfriendly; germination can, especially in cold weather or with a clear lack of moisture, take several weeks.

The fruits of Physalis vegetable do not ripen at the same time, so the crop is harvested as it ripens. It is better to collect fruits in dry weather so that they are stored better and longer. When harvesting in rainy weather, it is necessary to clear the fruits from their covers and dry them, spreading them in a thin layer on paper.

Useful properties of tomatillo

Physalis fruits contain organic acids necessary for humans: malic (up to 150 mg%), oxalic (up to 53.6 mg%), succinic (up to 2.0 mg%), as well as tartaric, furolic, caffeic, sinapic acids. Among other biologically active substances, physalis contains tannins (up to 2.8% of dry matter), vitamin PP, carotenoids, and physalin.

100 g of Mexican tomato contains only 32 kilocalories, 1 g of fat, 1 mg of sodium, 268 mg of potassium, 6 g of carbohydrates, 3.9 g of sugar, 1 g of protein, as well as vitamin A - 2%, vitamin C - 19%, iron - 3%, vitamin B6 - 5% and magnesium -5%.

This composition makes physalis a very useful food product. It will be appropriate in the diet of a diabetic and will help those who need to lower blood pressure and those who want to lose excess weight; Physalis will help absolutely everyone increase the body’s energy level and strengthen the immune system, as well as protect themselves from cancer.

In folk medicine, physalis fruits are used fresh, as well as in the form of juice, infusion or decoction of dried fruits.

Using tomatillos in cooking and storing fruits

Fresh ripe tomatillos purchased from the store can be stored in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment for no more than two weeks. Or a little longer if you first remove the cover and put the fruits themselves in a plastic bag. For those who like to stock up, we note that vegetable physalis is perfectly stored frozen, both whole and cut into pieces.

The fruits of Physalis vegetable have a delicate consistency and, unlike tomatoes, do not leak when pressed, this provides the widest opportunity for their fresh consumption and for various types of culinary processing.

The Mexican tomato is one of the most important and indispensable fruits in the cuisine of the peoples of Central America. Its unique, slightly lemony flavor is one of the most important flavor notes in the most famous and popular Mexican dishes, such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas.

Tomatillo is the main ingredient in the famous Latin American green sauce salsa verde. And although in the United States today Mexican food is almost always accompanied by red fresh or stewed tomato salsa, in Mexico itself, like many centuries ago, green salsa made from the beloved tomatillos is on every table. Typically, Mexicans first grill tomatillos for salsa, then add green chili peppers and other hot and spicy ingredients, and then thoroughly grind and boil them.

Tomatillo is used in the preparation of various sauces, soups, salads and sandwiches. Fruits enhance and reveal the taste of tomatillos, so it is in combination with them that the most exquisite culinary masterpieces of Mexican cuisine are created. In addition, quinoa and corn are traditionally favorite “partners” in dishes with tomatillos.

From the fruits of the Mexican tomato you can prepare original pickled snacks and unusual, very tasty jams and preserves.

Tomatillo recipes:

• Chicken legs with tomatillos and fruits "Mexican style"

Growing Tomatillos

The best predecessors for physalis are cabbage and cucumbers. Prepare an area for planting this crop and apply fertilizer in the same way as for tomatoes.

Sowing. In our country, Physalis vegetable can be grown both through seedlings and by direct sowing in open ground. With the seedling method, seedlings appear 7-10 days after sowing the seeds. The seedlings are kept in boxes for 25-30 days from the moment of emergence. The process of growing physalis seedlings is exactly the same as for tomatoes. Mexican physalis seedlings are planted in open ground in central Russia in the second half of May, that is, 10-12 days earlier than tomatoes.

Seedlings are planted keeping a distance between plants in a row of 40-90 cm (depending on the variety) and a distance between rows of 70 cm.

When sowing directly in open ground, use a slightly smaller distance in the row and sow to a depth of 1-2.5 cm, depending on the soil and its moisture, 4-7 seeds each, followed by thinning. Healthy plants removed during thinning can be replanted (deepened somewhat during planting) and are able to take root again. After sowing or planting, the area is well watered.

Watering. Growing vegetable physalis should be watered only in hot, dry weather.

Care consists of weeding, hilling, loosening and fertilizing (in case of weak development or yellowing of leaves in the second half of June, and then after 10-15 days they are fed with urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate at 5-10, 10-15 and 20-25 grams per 1 sq. m respectively, or a solution of bird droppings or mullein 1:12). If necessary, the plants are tied up.

Although in our country, in amateur gardening, in addition to vegetable gardening, strawberry, Peruvian and ornamental physalis are also grown, it is the vegetable physalis that is of particular value as an additional vegetable crop.

Physalis Philadelphian is the only representative of physalis that can grow even in the northern regions of Russia, and in the conditions of the Non-Black Earth Zone of Russia it is capable of producing yields of up to 50 c/ha of fruits in open ground in agricultural production. Unlike all of its close relatives, which are either very demanding of light and heat and have a long growing season, or produce small yields of smaller fruits, tomatillo can and is ready to become a new source of dessert fruits with a wonderful taste for Russians. Perhaps in the near future, homemade tomatillo salsa will be no less common on our table than squash caviar.

Surely everyone has come across this bright miracle called decorative physalis. It is simply impossible to pass by it without noticing. Physalis attracts attention with its noticeable orange color and unusual shape. People also call it a Chinese lantern. By the way, the name of the plant comes from the Greek (Physalis), which means “bubble”. This article will discuss exactly what decorative physalis is, its cultivation, methods of propagation, care, planting, and use in interior design.

Physalis ornamental Alkekengi

Ornamental physalis is a herbaceous perennial crop belonging to the nightshade family (Solanoideae). The stem can reach 90 cm in length. The leaves are oval, pointed at the ends, and have a dull green color. Blooms in summer. The flowers are white and inexpressive. The decorative appearance is given to the plant by orange swollen bubbles with a diameter of 6 cm with fruits inside that ripen by autumn. Each branch is decorated with 10-15 lanterns. The fruits of ornamental varieties are not suitable for food because they are poisonous.

For decorative purposes, Alkekengi physalis or common physalis (Physalis alkekengi) and Franche physalis (Physalis francheti) are planted. It got its name in honor of the French botanist Adrien Rene Franchet, who first studied this variety of physalis, which came to us from Japan. It began to be planted as an ornamental crop in 1894.

Video “Ornamental and edible physalis”

Preparing for landing

Physalis is very unpretentious. He is not afraid of drafts and winds. It withstands low temperatures well. Best of all, of course, the crop will bloom on the open, sunny side of your garden.

When choosing soil for physalis, pay attention to its acidity. Acidic soil is not suitable for cultivation. Swampy places and areas where groundwater lies high are also not suitable. Calcareous or neutral soil will be suitable for growing.

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that physalis is not grown where nightshade crops previously grew. However, it will feel great in areas where cabbage, cucumbers, root vegetables and legumes were grown.

The soil for the plant must be prepared: add humus, compost, aged manure, peat and ash. Instead of organic matter, you can add a complex mineral substrate.

Methods of propagation and planting

Physalis ornamental Franche

There are several ways to propagate physalis.

Growing seedlings

• Preparatory stage.

For disinfection, the seeds are kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, having previously covered them with gauze. The soil is heat treated using hot steam or an oven.

• Sowing.

Seeds are pressed into a container filled with soil, maintaining equal intervals between them. Sprinkle 1 cm of soil on top and water. Next, cover it with transparent film or glass and place it in a well-lit place. The room temperature should be 15-20 C. When seedlings form, remove the film and water regularly. Sowing time is mid-April.

• Picking seedlings into individual containers.

Produced when the first two true leaves appear. The soil is enriched with mineral fertilizers. Planting is completed with moderate watering. Care requirements: sunny place, maintaining a temperature of 15-20 C, regular watering, fertilizing the soil once every 14 days.

Planting seedlings in open ground after 45-50 days towards the end of May. While the plant adapts, it is necessary to provide constant watering and shelter from the midday sun. During planting, maintain a distance of 50 cm between sprouts and 70 cm between rows.

Sowing seeds in the ground

Rhizome division

The most effective method of propagating a crop is division. The root system of physalis tolerates adaptation to a new location well. Separation is carried out in spring or autumn.

Cuttings

Another method of propagation is by cuttings. They are cut in July. Select shoot tips that have 2 to 3 buds. Root cuttings under standard conditions. They are planted in loose soil, buried half their length, watered and covered with polyethylene with a hole for ventilation. In clear weather, the cuttings are provided with shade, preventing them from drying out. After rooting, the coating is removed and the plant is provided with the necessary care.

Care

Care includes the following standard procedures:

1. watering,
2. weeding,
3. loosening,
4. feeding

Decorative physalis is quite resistant to drought. It should only be watered during periods of prolonged dry weather.

All physalis, including decorative varieties, do not like to be adjacent to weeds. At least once every 1-1.5 months it is necessary to weed and loosen the soil. You don't have to do weeding if you use mulching.

It is optimal to fertilize the crop twice a year:

1. in the first stages of development, when the plant begins to grow rapidly. Feed with humus, compost or wood ash, or complex mineral fertilizer;
2. the second feeding is carried out as soon as the physalis blooms using similar means.

To ensure that the branches of physalis remain straight for subsequent use for decorative purposes, tying is necessary.

In the last days of August, in order for the “bubbles” to ripen before the onset of cold weather, the tops of the plant are pinched.

Rejuvenation

Physalis needs to be rejuvenated quite often, as it grows quickly and spreads to neighbors in the garden. Therefore, at intervals of 5-7 years, the bushes are rejuvenated by dividing and moving to a new location.

Video “Planting decorative physalis”

Disease and pest control

Diseases and pests will generally not be scary for your pet if you properly care for it and correctly select the conditions for its cultivation.

Due to excessively wet soil, physalis is susceptible to the formation of rot on the stem. Aphids may appear if this perennial is adjacent to an affected plant or if proper watering has not been provided for a long time on dry days. You can get rid of insects with the help of insecticides, and in case of diseases, it is better to transplant the crop to a suitable place or provide proper care.

Also, physalis, like any other nightshade crop, can be affected by late blight. Signs of the disease are subcutaneous brown spots on leaves and fruits. This is facilitated by prolonged rainy weather and dense planting. In order to prevent late blight, it is necessary to spray the bushes with Bordeaux mixture before the formation of fruit ovaries.

At the stage of growing seedlings, physalis may suffer from blackleg. The stem at the base becomes black and the sprout dies. Among the causes of the disease are excessive soil moisture followed by acidification, cold and humid air. Seedlings affected by the disease must be removed and the soil treated with fungicides. In order to prevent the disease, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil, thinning out the seedlings in a timely manner.

The dangerous viral disease mosaic is less common. The color of the leaves changes color: some of them lighten, while others darken. The causative agent of plant diseases is bacteria. Among the main reasons for the development of mosaic is the incorrect crop rotation of plants. Diseased specimens are uprooted and burned, and a solution of potassium permanganate is added to the soil.

Application in the interior

Physalis is applicable not only in landscape design. It is often used to create decorative elements.

Bouquets of dried physalis flowers will look great. Maintaining their appearance for a long time, they will create a summer mood on a winter evening. How to dry physalis?

Yes, very simple. In the fall, when the lanterns acquire their carrot color, cut off the branches along with the bubbles and remove the leaves. If you plan to use physalis branches for prefabricated compositions, you need to dry them separately. If you want to create a bouquet, then you need to compose it in advance, before drying. Physalis is dried in the open air. The plant is hung in a cool room with the stems up. After two to three weeks it is ready for creating decorative compositions.

Don't limit your imagination. In addition to bouquets, using bright physalis boxes, you can create a variety of options for decorating your home. For example, make hanging garlands in the likeness of real Chinese lanterns. To do this, orange lanterns are connected to each other with wire or fishing line. They can be supplemented with beaded threads and ribbons.

Physalis compositions look best in a monochromatic interior, adding a bright, cheerful accent.

Door and wall wreaths made using physalis will delight you with their splendor. They can be supplemented with various leaves, flowers, and fruits.

For New Year and Christmas, a composition with candles and pine branches will look good.

Another option for using physalis in the interior is glass vases with bright “spots” inside. Physalis in such compositions can be combined with berries and dried flowers.

The easiest way to decorate your home is to place physalis where, in your opinion, there is not enough color volume. These could be shelves, countertops or something else.

Video “Decorative physalis in the interior - wreath of physalis”

So, ornamental physalis is an unusually colorful plant. It will be a good decoration for your garden plot. The lanterns, noticeable with their bright colors, will delight you in the autumn season. And if you haven’t cut them, then even in winter orange bubbles will peek out from under the snow, as a reminder of the warm summer.