Lucie's

40 seeds/ $ 5 paypal / postage included USA addresses only, arrive first class envelope. Lucie's Big Goldenberry, Physalis peruviana, Cape Gooseberry Ground Cherry, Poha, Aguaymanto, Uvilla, Uchuva... The sweet tang fruit in a wrapper that most people around these parts have never tried. This is the earliest goldenberry we have grown. Grows well in a reasonable sized container with ample sun and water. How I grow them: I seed start in my basement on the third week of March, 64F, led lights 12hrs on. No need for cold stratification, no heat mat, no pre-germinating the seeds. A few seeds in good starting media, seed depth 1/8", in a clear 16 ounce plastic disposable cup with drain holes. Thin to the one strongest seedling mid April. I harden off beginning around May 25th when no more below 52F nights are in forecast. I transplant out into ground about 31 May, again no more below 52F in the forecast. I plant one plant per 18" x 13" x 7" D tub. Full sun. PESTS: Protect plants and fruits by covering in white garden cloth. There are two pests for this plant in my area. The Spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD), a fruit fly (also likes strawberry and raspberry, they will bore into fruit and create maggot if they are in your area). The Colorado Potato Beetle, these little buggers can also destroy the entire plant if they are in your area. I learned that the hard way many years ago, therefore I use garden cloth to protect my Goldenberry plants!! Voles, mice, chipmunks leave these Lucie's alone, but they love Aunt Mollies. The ripened fruits don't fall to the ground, you pick them only when papery husks turn dried out looking, brownish. The berries ripen on or about 10th of August, and a larger harvest mid September. I cut all new flowering after late August to help ripen existing fruit. Eat fully ripened fruit only. Don't eat the papery husk/calyx/wrapper or any other parts of this plant.