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Received my fruit plants today. Very well packaged. Excellent healthy plants.
So happy with everything from ordering to receiving. Just got to go to the allotment now and plant them! Thank you so much.
S. H., Nottinghamshire
Supplied as compost block grown plants.
Available from APPROXIMATELY late April / early MayOriginating from Peru, Physalis peruviana became commonly known as the Cape Gooseberry due to its rise in popularity and cultivation in South Africa in the 1800's. It is now known under a variety of names - Physalis, Golden Berry, Giant Ground Cherry, Peruvian Ground Cherry, Peruvian Cherry, Poha, Jam Fruit, Uvula, Chua - the list is almost endless, but in our opinion none do true justice to the lovely cheerful fruit.
Following pretty yellow flowers with a chocolate blotch centre, the bright orange yellow fruits are produced - not that you would know as each is formed within a delicate papery pod. Whilst the papery pods make the fruit extremely decorative (and so a popular exotic garnish for restaurant desserts) the husk actually serves a more important purpose in that picked fruit left within the husk will have a 'shelf life' of a month or more at room temperature.
With a gorgeously sweet flavour these are perfect for eating raw and are great in fruit salads; in some parts of the world they are often served with Avocado. They are also wonderful for making pies or jam with.
As these are not hardy in the UK, many treat them as an annual which is such shame. We would suggest lifting before first frosts, potting into a large container and over-wintering in a frost free greenhouse or similar; of course due to their tenderness they are a perfect subject for container growing.
What's A Compost Block Grown Plant?
Information on the size of the compost blocks that Victoriana grow their plants in - and what you can expect to receive.