Physalis decorative or edible - grown from seeds

Physalis belongs to the perennial relatives of tomato and tobacco. In recent years, decorative culture has enjoyed wide popularity among private house owners. Amazing fruits that grow on the plant will be an excellent decoration for the site in the cold season. In addition, designers use a decorative variety of physalis when creating compositions intended for decorating premises and for landscape design of a site. Below is information on what physalis is and what it is for.

Description of culture

Inexperienced growers often ask themselves whether physalis is what it is and what it is for. Translated from Greek "Physalis" means "bubble".

Where does physalis grow? The homeland of the decorative culture is the territory of South and Central America. Gradually, berry physalis gained popularity in North America and Europe.

How physalis grows

What does physalis look like? The decorative culture is a representative of the Solanaceae genus. There are more than 100 varieties of physalis. The perennial is unpretentious and is able to endure severe winter frosts. The culture can multiply by self-seeding.

The height of the bushes reaches 55-170 cm. How physalis blooms is another question that worries flower growers. During flowering, the physalis plant is dotted with light flowers. At the beginning of autumn, lanterns of a bright orange hue appear on the bushes, in which small berries are formed. After a certain period of time, Chinese lanterns lose their rich hue. During this period, only fruits and light streaks resembling cobwebs can be seen.

Physalis decorative in the interior

Designers often connect amazing lanterns of decorative physalis with a fishing line. The resulting garlands, if desired, can be decorated with bright ribbons and beaded thread.

A composition of chic physalis fruits will ideally decorate a plain interior, creating a bright accent. It is not uncommon for designers to use decorative culture when creating door and wall wreaths. The lush outlines of the product are complemented by small flowers and foliage. You can also decorate the wreaths with decorative candles and pine branches.

Useful and dangerous properties of physalis

The composition of the fruits of decorative physalis formed on the bushes includes a large percentage of useful elements, namely:

• vitamin A;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• vitamins of group B and C.

The listed elements can help fill the deficiency of trace elements in the body.

The bitter taste of the fruit can provoke the onset of poisoning and severe vomiting. You can eat only physalis vegetables and annual or perennial fruit varieties.

Physalis berries

Types and varieties of physalis for flower beds

To decorate a flowerbed near the house, you should pay attention to such varieties of decorative physalis as:

Physalis Peruvian

This is a perennial, the herbaceous shoots of which reach 95-160 cm. The shoots are dotted with pubescent foliage, which is naturally heart-shaped. The length of the toothed leaf plates reaches 6-14 cm, the width is in the range of 5-10 cm. During flowering, flowers with yellow petals and spots at the base, painted in a dark purple palette, open on the plant. Gradually, berries are formed in place of the physalis flowers. Thin yellow-brown bracts hide fruits, which are 12-18 mm in diameter. Sweet and sour berries are endowed with an amazing fruity aroma.

Among the best varieties of Peruvian physalis are:

• pineapple - a variety whose berries ripen at the end of summer, they are endowed with a pronounced pineapple aroma;
• strawberry - a kind of perennial, the height of the bushes of which barely reaches 65 cm. Amber berries exude a strawberry aroma;
• dessert look. Its height reaches 70 cm. There is a small amount of foliage on the bushes, so the bright orange fruits are clearly visible on the plants;
• marmalade grade. The main difference is the presence of branched bushes. Their height can reach 140-150 cm. Physalis berries weighing more than 45 g are painted in a lilac-yellow hue.

Physalis ordinary

Also a perennial with herbaceous shoots, the height of which is in the range of 45-55 cm. The foliage has an ovoid shape. On each leaf plate, swelling can be found between the veins. The width of the foliage is within 5-9 cm, and the length does not exceed 7-12 cm. Physalis flowers, painted in white tones, resemble the shape of a bell. The rounded berries are hidden under a bloated filmy lantern. Considering the berries in the context, one can note their incredible juiciness.

Physalis decorative

And this is also a perennial culture, the fruits of which, despite the special elegance, are categorically forbidden to eat. Containing poisonous substances in the composition provoke poisoning and severe vomiting. You can admire the brightly colored lanterns already at the end of summer. The most popular variety of decorative physalis is the Franchet variety, whose branched shrubs can reach a height of 85-90 cm. The dark green foliage is naturally endowed with oval outlines. The teardrop-shaped fruits are colored in a scarlet palette.

Growing decorative physalis from seeds

How to grow physalis from seeds at home? Experts recommend sowing them for seedlings at the end of March. Below is a step-by-step process for growing seeds to help you avoid common mistakes.

Decorative culture

1. The soil mixture is sterilized in the oven for about 30 minutes.
2. After cooling, the soil is poured into containers.
3. Physalis seeds are laid out on top of the layer of earth, after which they can be sprinkled with a layer of earth. The depth should not exceed 10 mm.
4. The soil is moistened with a spray bottle.
5. The containers are covered with a film material and transferred to a room, the temperature in which is within the range of 17–20 ºС.
6. After 10 days, the first shoots can be expected to appear. During this period, the film can be removed.
7. The seedling pots are transferred to a well-lit area.
8. As soon as 2-3 leaves appear on the seedlings, it is worth cutting the seedlings into separate containers, which will contribute to the active development of the root system.
9. Every 2-3 weeks it is necessary to apply a complex mineral fertilizer to the soil. The most effective fertilizing is agriculture, which must first be diluted with a small amount of water according to the instructions.

Planting seedlings in open ground

How to grow physalis? In mid-May, experts recommend preparing a site for planting grown seedlings. Below is a step-by-step process for planting seedlings in an open bed.

1. The soil in the selected area is dug to a depth of 35-40 cm.
2. A small amount of ash and humus is introduced into the ground. If you wish, you can pour in some chopped onion husks, which can scare away pests.
3. Seedlings planted in open ground should have 5-7 leaves.
4. Planting work is best done after sunset in early summer. Seedlings are planted in the previously dug holes, on the root system of which an earthen lump should remain.
5. The soil, after the seedlings are planted, is abundantly moistened. The soil around the flowers is mulched. Sawdust or straw is perfect as mulch. The thickness of the mulch layer should be within 5-7 cm. Mulching will get rid of weeds and keep moisture in the soil for a long time.

Reproduction

To propagate a perennial crop, you can use the method:

• dividing the bush;
• cuttings.

Rhizome division

The method of dividing the bush is the most popular breeding method. The perennial root system is able to adapt well to a new place. The procedure is recommended in mid-April. Having dug up an adult plant, it is necessary to cut it into a couple of parts, at each end of which growth points should remain. The resulting bushes are transplanted to new places.

Cuttings

It is best to harvest cuttings in July. To do this, it is necessary to cut the tops of the processes, on which 2-3 buds are located. The cuttings are planted in moist soil. It is best to bury them half the length. Containers with landings are covered with polyethylene material (with holes for ventilation). Once the cuttings are rooted, the plastic can be removed. A couple of weeks after rooting, you should start transplanting seedlings into open ground.

Features of caring for physalis in the open field

Decorative physalis needs good lighting, therefore, when choosing a zone for planting plants, it is important to take this fact into account. The site must be protected from drafts. For this purpose, you can use a shading garden mesh.

It is worth giving preference to zones on a hill, which will avoid contact of closely lying groundwater with the root system. It is desirable that the soil be slightly alkaline or neutral.

Below are the most important rules for caring for a perennial, the observance of which will allow you to grow healthy bushes.

• The recommended watering frequency is 3 times a week. On particularly hot summer days, it is recommended to moisten the soil every day.
• Weeds growing near physalis should be weeded every week. Watering plants, it is necessary to systematically loosen the soil.
• It is recommended to apply top dressing every 14-15 days. For this purpose, you can use a mullein diluted in a small amount of water.
• The plant does not need pruning. Fruits appear on more branches.

By taking proper care of your plants, you can grow your shrubs healthy and disease-free.

Ornamental plant fruits

Disease and pest control

Compliance with the rules of agricultural technology will allow you to grow perennial bushes healthy and not affected by pests. However, in some cases, physalis growers complain about the affected bushes. Various diseases can be to blame for everything.

• Viral mosaic. Because of it, one side of the foliage begins to turn yellow, and the other darkens.To cope with the disease, you will need to remove the affected bushes from the site and burn them. The soil in which the ornamental plants grew is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.
• Blackleg is a disease that most often affects perennial seedlings. Blackleg develops mainly due to waterlogging of the soil. Blackening of the stem is observed on the affected bushes. Saplings die quickly. Affected bushes are removed from the flower bed and burned. The soil in which the plantings grew is treated with fungicidal agents.
• White rot. Because of it, the root base of the decorative culture begins to rot. To cope with the disease, it is necessary to carry out an immediate transplant of the bushes and treat them with insecticides of aktara or spark.

Gorgeous bloom

In addition to diseases, plants can be harmed by:

• bears that gnaw the root system. To exterminate the pest, seedlings should be planted in plastic rings, which should be located around the roots of the perennial;
• wireworms. To cope with the invasion of pests, you can use baits. The holes dug out along the site are filled with a layer of hay and covered with boards. After a few days, you can lift them up and inspect the holes. Usually, in search of heat, wireworms gather in pits. The hay must be collected and burned along with the pests. To prevent the emergence of a wireworm, you should deeply dig the area every fall.

Such troubles rarely happen to the plant, since the culture is resistant to most diseases. Most importantly, follow the basic recommendations regarding the care of seedlings, which will allow you to grow the bushes healthy.

Physalis decorative is a culture, the fruits of which are often used by designers to decorate premises. The unusual shape of the fruit and the bright color cheer you up and make the room cozy. Physalis garlands will perfectly fit into any interior design.