Content
Planting and caring for physalis in the open field will not be difficult for interested gardeners. The annual vegetable species is still a curiosity in summer cottages, although a long-term decorative culture with bright lantern fruits can often be found in gardens. Physalis is unpretentious, grown by seedlings, ripens by the end of summer.
Where does physalis grow?
The natural area of the plant is Central and South America, the territory of modern Mexico. The decorative type, which is also called ordinary, cold-resistant, winters well in the open field in the middle lane. Its small fruits are inedible. Lovers also grow thermophilic strawberry or pubescent physalis, the small light orange fruits of which taste like the aroma of a garden berry. The vegetable species, which is becoming more popular every year, has several varieties adapted to temperate climates. Vegetable physalis bushes grown by seedlings for open ground give a good harvest in the Non-Chernozem zone, in the Urals.
How physalis grows
When growing physalis from seeds, grain can be sown directly on the site only in the southern regions where there is no threat of return frosts. In all other areas, from the beginning of the month, seedlings are taken care of indoors. If desired, vegetable physalis is planted on the balcony in tubs of 10 liters of soil. Several bushes are grown nearby, because the culture is cross-pollinated. Since the plant belongs to the nightshade, caring for it is the same as for tomatoes. Self-seeding plants often sprout from the fruit left for the winter in the open field in spring, which also bear fruit abundantly.
A characteristic feature of physalis is a berry-shaped fruit, similar to a medium-sized green tomato, which is in a shell, a dry cover formed from intergrown sepals. In a decorative species, the orange-red berry is tiny, in fruit, weighing 30-90 g, green, greenish-yellow or purple.
On one plant in comfortable conditions of open ground, 150-200 fruits are tied, with a total weight of 3-5 kg.
Different varieties of vegetable species produce round, flat, oval, smooth or ribbed fruits. Plants are also excellent in structure. There are tall specimens up to 1 m, with branches that rise obliquely upwards. In semi-growing varieties, the branches tilt down. Leaves are ovoid, smooth, flowers are small, yellow.
How to plant physalis seeds
Vegetable seedlings are ready to be moved into open ground in 30-35 days. For seedlings, seeds of vegetable physalis are sown in mid-March or April. The grains are small, they are deepened by 0.5 cm. Physalis is picked with the development of 2-3 leaves. For sprouts, a comfortable temperature is 18-20 ° C. The substrate is kept moderately moist. 12-14 days after transplanting, the plants are fed with one of the special fertilizers for vegetable seedlings. After 7-10 days, the seedlings begin to harden for open ground, bringing them to fresh air in partial shade.
Landing site preparation
An exotic vegetable plant in the open field loves light and warmth, but will also tolerate light partial shade, drafts or winds.It is impossible for physalis to define a low-lying area or soil with an acid reaction. Heavy soils are not suitable for him either. This species is planted 10-12 days earlier than tomatoes, because in the open field it is not afraid of small cold snaps. The earth must be deeply loosened, 2 weeks before planting, it is enriched with humus and wood ash.
Seed preparation
Crop grains are planted in open ground when the soil temperature rises to 9-12 ° C. When planting physalis with seeds collected with your own hands, they are disinfected for 15 minutes in a pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Such preparation is carried out for seeds that are sown on seedlings and directly into open ground. If desired, physalis is planted in the fall. The sprouts emerge strong and hardened in spring, but yield later than those that developed indoors.
Planting physalis in open ground
The seedlings are transferred to the soil in the climate of the middle zone from mid-May, when 5-6 leaves were formed. Plants are arranged at 0.9 m intervals using the square-nesting method. Or they recede between the rows 70 cm, and between the holes - 50-60 cm. The seedling is deepened to the first leaf. Physalis vegetable - usually powerful plants that rise in open ground up to 1 m and widely spread branches with leaves.
The bed is covered with a light mesh for shading at noon.
Physalis care after planting
It is not difficult to take care of vegetable exotic in the open field. The soil near the plants is regularly loosened and removed weeds... To reduce the time for these works, they put mulch.
Watering and feeding
Plants need systematic watering every other day, especially in hot weather. If it rains, the open ground is not poured additionally, only after the soil dries out.
The procedure for fertilizing a plot with a vegetable crop:
- The first feeding with a nitrogen component is carried out 15-18 days after planting.
- The second - in the phase of buds or the beginning of flowering with the same substances.
- The last one - during the filling of the ovaries.
They use organic matter, complex mineral preparations for nightshades, as well as the usual means for open ground:
- 2 tablespoons of nitrophosphate;
- 1 tablespoon superphosphate;
- 1 tablespoon of ammonium nitrate;
- 1 tablespoon of potassium salt.
The selected substance is dissolved in 10 liters of water and the entire infusion is consumed in 1 liter per plant. Before fertilizing the beds, abundant watering is carried out. In moist soil, the preparations are absorbed faster by the roots.
Topping
The process of growing and caring for physalis includes pinching the tops of the stems. This procedure is carried out in June, when the plant in the open field is strong and well formed. Pinching helps to increase the number of ovaries. During the growth of the ovaries, tall plants tie up or mulch the area well with dry hay.
Preparing for winter
In our climate, in open ground, only physalis bushes winter or ornamental. The colorful lantern-shaped fruits are cut when they take on a rich hue. Otherwise, during the autumn rains, the dry shell in the open field becomes dark. The bushes can withstand frosts down to -30 ° C. They are usually not trimmed or covered. They are seated every 5-6 years.
Reproduction
The vegetable species is propagated by seeds that can be sown outdoors in mild climates. In areas of the middle lane, the seedling method is more acceptable. The physalis fruit left by chance for the winter in the spring can germinate with several seedlings, the fruits of which will ripen only in September.
Decorative varieties for open ground propagate:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- dividing the bush.
The grains are sown, as in the vegetable species. Cuttings are cut in July, choosing a fragment with 2-3 buds.Rooted using standard methods. Creeping rhizomes are separated in spring and autumn. The bushes take root quickly.
Diseases and pests
Physalis are resistant to disease, little susceptible to late blight. They are affected only due to improper agricultural technology:
- thickening of landings;
- too frequent watering;
- drought conditions;
- neighborhood with weeds, on which pests parasitize and pathogens of fungal or viral infections can develop.
Infection with mosaic viruses is especially dangerous when light spots appear randomly on the leaves, and the leaf blade wrinkles. Such specimens are removed with a lump of earth and burned. Do the same with plants with fusarium disease. They are recognized by the leaves withering at first from below, and then the whole bush withers away.
During the heat, aphids develop without sprinkling. On 10-12 bushes, it is taken out with infusions of soap or soda. Insecticides are used in large areas. Underground pests, bear and wireworm, gnaw at the roots. Wood ash is added to the site, which is not to the liking of insects.
When to remove physalis from the garden
After 3 months after germination, the fruits are already ripening, the ones from below are ready first. Dryness of sepals is a signal for collection. Physalis vegetable is also called gluten-fruited because of the characteristic bitter substance under the covers. To get rid of it, the fruits are washed and then eaten. Delicious berries, sweet and sour or sweetish, those that ripen in summer. Autumn is used for blanks.
With a slight frost at - 1 ° C, the plant does not suffer. Unripe berries with an unreleased sticky substance remain in the refrigerator for 4-5 months. If the frosts are early, the plant is uprooted and suspended in a room where the fruits ripen.
What to plant after physalis
The culture is planted after cabbage or melons. The next year, the site is occupied by any plants, except for nightshades, so that the same diseases do not develop.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for physalis in the open field is available to the gardener and with little experience. The fruits of the Mexican tomato will diversify the summer table and expand the range of preparations. Regular watering in the heat, feeding with organic matter, pinching the tops are the main points in caring for an unpretentious crop.
