Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa)
2 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Sow
- Mid February to mid March
- Plant out
- Early May to late May
- Site
- 8+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–6.5
In the UK, ground cherries are sown mid February to mid March, and planted out early May to late May.
Ground cherries (Physalis pruinosa) — Annual, low, sprawling herbaceous plant (Penn State Extension.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: planting out early May, and that same window applies across all 4 regions covered here.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Southern England | mid February to mid March | early May to late May |
| Midlands | mid February to mid March | early May to late May |
| Northern England | mid February to mid March | early May to late May |
| Scotland | mid February to mid March | early May to late May |
Southern England - detail & sources
Both US extension sources give the same frost-relative rule -- start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks after frost danger passes. Applied as one UK-wide window (indoor sowing mid-February to mid-March, planting out roughly late April to late May) across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a gradient.
Midlands - detail & sources
Both US extension sources give the same frost-relative rule -- start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks after frost danger passes. Applied as one UK-wide window (indoor sowing mid-February to mid-March, planting out roughly late April to late May) across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a gradient.
Northern England - detail & sources
Both US extension sources give the same frost-relative rule -- start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks after frost danger passes. Applied as one UK-wide window (indoor sowing mid-February to mid-March, planting out roughly late April to late May) across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a gradient.
Scotland - detail & sources
Both US extension sources give the same frost-relative rule -- start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks after frost danger passes. Applied as one UK-wide window (indoor sowing mid-February to mid-March, planting out roughly late April to late May) across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a gradient.
Quick Facts
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
Harvest & Storage
Pests
Ground Cherry Photo Gallery
References
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Native to Central and South America, with some species native to North America. Start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date; transplant outdoors 2-3 weeks after frost danger passes. Does not root at the nodes like tomatoes -- plant transplants at the same soil depth as in the pot. Space plants 4ft apart to accommodate sprawling growth of 1-3ft. Needs 8 hours of direct light daily. Tolerates a wide variety of soils; light fertiliser at transplanting, nitrogen sidedress after first fruit set. Needs 1-1.5in of water weekly. Fruit ripens 10-11 weeks after transplanting outdoors, inside the papery husk, then drops to the ground when fully ripe -- do not pick before this. Most common pests are tobacco and tomato hornworms; monitor for caterpillar droppings (frass) and hand-pick.
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Prefers rich, light, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, pH 6.0-6.5. Plant outdoors two to four weeks after the last expected frost (around June 1 in USDA zone 5b). Plants reach 1.5-3ft tall with lateral spread; allow at least a 2ft x 2ft square per plant. Needs a sunny location; foliage naturally shades the fruit from sunburn, so tolerates heat better than most vegetables. Needs sufficient, regular irrigation; 2-3in of straw mulch suppresses weeds, retains moisture and eases harvest. Fruit drops to the ground when ripe, turning green to golden-yellow; the fruit is fully enclosed in a husk, and the drier the husk, the better. Avoid rotating with other nightshade family crops (aubergine, tomato, pepper, potato) -- they compete for resources and attract similar pests. A notorious self-seeder that can become a garden weed if left unchecked.
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant ground cherries out in the UK?
In Southern England, from early May. In Scotland, wait until early May. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to plant out only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow ground cherries?
Sow mid February to mid March.
What soil pH do ground cherries need?
A pH of about 6–6.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Last verified 2026-09-03
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.