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golden berry/ physalis

kippsattackskippsattacks Posts: 33
in Fruit & veg
Hello folks,
Does anybody know how long it takes for the fruit to be formed and ripen on Physalis plant? I've started them a bit late so flowers only forming now. I was also thinking would it be ok to transplant a few plants in large pots to keep indoors? 
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  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,492
    My Physalis are practically finished now - had a good harvest this year despite the weather.
    I sowed in Feb and have just picked the last few fruits to continue ripening indoors.
    They aren't hardy and usually form large many branching plants so you need the room to get the best out of them.
    Depends how you can keep them indoors but if they are only forming flowers now, I wouldn't think they would be worth hanging on to.
    Much better to sow earlier next year :)
  • kippsattackskippsattacks Posts: 33
    Thanks, philippasmith2, much appreciated. I'll leave them as they are, for now, we're having a few sunny days ahead. Haven't expected much of them in the begining, it was rather fun experiment with a supermarket-bought fruit but they turnrd out beatifully.    Will be definitely starting them earlier next year  :)
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,492
    Experiments often turn out to be worthwhile if for no other reason than you learn how to improve next season.
    Hope you get at least one to munch this year  :)
  • alessiab78lez4OUyFKIalessiab78lez4OUyFKI Posts: 16
    philippasmith2 said:
    My Physalis are practically finished now - had a good harvest this year despite the weather.
    I sowed in Feb and have just picked the last few fruits to continue ripening indoors.
    They aren't hardy and usually form large many branching plants so you need the room to get the best out of them.
    Depends how you can keep them indoors but if they are only forming flowers now, I wouldn't think they would be worth hanging on to.
    Much better to sow earlier next year :)
    Hello I came here to ask, (as I have two physalis outside and they are large, in pots, and still flowering!) If I should pick the fruit and let them ripen inside. Will they ripen, if not on the plant? I wasn't sure what to do so I left them on the plant til now hoping they'd ripen but clearly it's now too cold and dark. 
  • alessiab78lez4OUyFKIalessiab78lez4OUyFKI Posts: 16
    Looking online just now it doesn't seem that the fruit will ripen once picked. I wonder if I should maybe give just give up on the fruits, prune the plants a bit and cover them with horticultural fleece? 
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,119
    alessiab78lez4OUyFKI said:
    Looking online just now it doesn't seem that the fruit will ripen once picked. I wonder if I should maybe give just give up on the fruits, prune the plants a bit and cover them with horticultural fleece? 

    I think that's your best bet. I have left them in a cold greenhouse over winter without pruning and the unripe fruit just went mouldy. Without the warmth or light, they just won't ripen now in the uk.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,492
    @alessiab78lez4OUyFKI  They will pose a similar challenge to keeping toms and peppers over winter with the idea of an early start for next year.
    It depends on your location of course as they are outside.  A hard or prolonged frost will see them off. and I don't know whether fleece would be sufficient.  They can be surprisingly hardy to a degree - pips in my compost heap have produced quite sizeable plants here ( SW coastal UK ) and if I bothered to pot them up and stick them in my cold GH, they may well give me a start next year.
    If your fruits are still good and starting to turn, you may still be able to ripen off in a warm area but not guaranteed.
    Best of luck - they are a favourite of mine :)
  • Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 166
    It wasn't a particularly cold one but one plant of mine survived in the ground over winter in the greenhouse, the fresh planted one did better but was also in a better spot. I still pick a handful each week and will see how long that lasts.
  • alessiab78lez4OUyFKIalessiab78lez4OUyFKI Posts: 16
    Can't put them indoors as I don't have room, or a greenhouse- so I will just prune a bit and put fleece round them, I think. It is a real shame the fruit won't ripen after being picked, because both plants are full of green lanterns, and it's still flowering!!
  • alessiab78lez4OUyFKIalessiab78lez4OUyFKI Posts: 16
    Forgot to add I'm in London! Growing these in large pots
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