In which month do Physalis (Solanaceae) fruits ripen? A detailed guide to price, planting time and methods

Physalis, also known as Yangguniang, hairy groundcherry and golden berry, is a common Solanaceae plant in Southwest China, Northeast China, North China and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It is deeply loved by people because it contains rich vitamins, a variety of amino acids and trace elements. So in which season is the Solanaceae plant Physalis a fruit? What is its market price per jin? When is the best time to plant it? How do you plant it?

In which season is it a fruit?

The fruiting period of Physalis is September. It grows by roadsides, in open areas, by streams and on hillsides. It is distributed in Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places. The appearance of the Physalis fruit is somewhat like a lantern. Under the cover of a thin outer skin, once peeled open you can see the flesh inside. Its color is yellow, and it is a fruit with a very good taste.

Market price:

The price is considered relatively expensive among fruits, ranging from more than ten yuan to several dozen yuan. In some places it sells for 30 yuan/jin, and in some places it is even more expensive than imported fruit. For the specific price, you need to ask locally.

Planting time:

1. Early spring protected cultivation: raise seedlings in January to February in a solar greenhouse or a windbreak sunken bed, and transplant to open ground after the late frost in mid-April. Harvesting begins from late May to June.

2. Spring open-field cultivation: raise seedlings in March to April. In March, seedlings need to be raised in large, medium or small plastic tunnels; in April, seedlings can be raised in open ground. Transplant in May, and harvesting begins from late June to July.

3. Autumn open-field cultivation: raise seedlings from late June to July. Transplant in open ground in early August, and harvesting begins from late September to October. In recent years, because the economic benefits of Physalis are not very high, few people use protective facilities for cultivation.

Planting techniques:

1. Seedling raising: the best season is spring, and the seedling raising time is January to February. A low seedbed for raising seedlings can be built in a wind-sheltered place. Before building the bed, plastic or glass can be used to cover the soil so as to raise the temperature. Before sowing, soak the purchased seeds in warm water, which is more conducive to germination; the soaking time is about 10 minutes. When sowing, first apply fertilizer to the seedling bed and shallowly turn the soil, then water it. After the water seeps down, sowing can begin. After broadcasting the seeds, cover with soil about 0.5 cm thick, and seedlings will emerge in about 10 days. After emergence, thin and fill in the seedlings; overly dense and weak seedlings should be pulled out, maintaining a row spacing of about 10 cm. During the seedling separation period, fertilizer can be applied once, and watering is about once every 7 days.

2. Transplanting. Apply decomposed organic fertilizer to the transplanting site at - kg per hectare, deeply plow and rake level, and make flat beds. Transplanting should be carried out after the late frost. The suitable transplanting period is when the seedlings have 6 to 7 leaves and the first flower has just opened. When transplanting, the seedlings should be lifted carefully to injure the root system as little as possible, so as to help them recover. The transplanting density is about plants per hectare, with a plant and row spacing of 25 to 28 cm × 65 to 70 cm.

3. Fertilization: after transplanting, fertilization work can begin. Miscellaneous fertilizer or urea can be chosen. The first fertilization after transplanting should be at the fruiting stage, which can promote fruit development, and the second fertilization can be applied at the harvesting stage, choosing a small amount of compound fertilizer.

4. Watering: when transplanting, water thoroughly, and then water once after each intertillage. The number of waterings can also be decided according to climate changes, keeping the soil during the Physalis growth period loose, which can effectively increase soil temperature and moisture. During this period, weeds around the seedlings should be removed in time to avoid nutrients being absorbed.

5. Intertillage and weeding. In the early stage after transplanting, carry out intertillage once after each watering, so as to loosen the soil, raise the ground temperature and promote root development. At the first flowering and first fruiting stage, combine with topdressing and carry out intertillage and earthing up, so that the cultivation rows become ridges, preventing the plants from lodging and facilitating irrigation and drainage. Weed in time in the middle and late stages of growth.

6. Plant adjustment: Physalis plant adjustment is mostly carried out after the first fruiting. The parts with more branches can be pruned. In the mature stage there are many branches and the plant has a strong ground-contact tendency, so trellising should be used, and bamboo poles can be used for support. After the first fruiting and picking, in order to ensure the quality of the second year, branch removal should be carried out in time. Before germination, the top heart of the seedling can be removed, which will stop growth, but it helps concentrate nutrient absorption and ensure stable and high yield.

How do you eat it?

Physalis jam

Ingredients: 1000 g Physalis, 150 g white sugar, an appropriate amount of lemon juice.

Method:

1. Peel and wash the Physalis, set aside 1/5 and use several toothpicks to prick holes in the Physalis. This way the finished jam will contain a few fruit pieces, and after pricking holes the Physalis is more likely to release water.

2. Put the remaining 4/5 of the Physalis into a blender and blend into Physalis pulp.

3. Put the whole Physalis pieces, the Physalis pulp and the white sugar into a small saucepan. Cookware other than an iron wok can be used.

4. Squeeze in the lemon juice, bring to a boil over medium heat, then simmer over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes.

Colorful stir-fried diced meat

Ingredients: 50 g each of Physalis, water chestnut, carrot, cucumber and fried peanut kernels, 100 g pork tenderloin, an appropriate amount of seasonings.

Method:

1. Cut the Physalis in half, and dice the water chestnut, carrot, cucumber and pork tenderloin.

2. First blanch the Physalis, water chestnut, carrot and cucumber dice in boiling water until cooked.

3. Pass the diced meat through oil, then pour it into a strainer to remove the oil.

4. Heat the wok over high heat, add all the ingredients and stir-fry quickly. When nearly cooked, thicken with a thin starch slurry and drizzle it on before serving.