Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry

Solanaceae

Ark of Taste heirloom from 1850s Pennsylvania. Sweet-tart tropical flavor (pineapple, vanilla, mango, banana notes). Fruit DROPS to ground when ripe — collect from ground, not plant. Husk turns tan/papery, fruit golden-yellow inside. Exceptional storage (2-3 weeks to 1+ month in husk). Prodigious self-seeder — may never need replanting. High pectin for preserves. ALL unripe fruit, leaves, and husks TOXIC. Deer resistant.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

70–90 days

Sun

6+ hours

Container

Not Ideal

5+ gallon pot

Height

1–2.5 ft

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 7–14 days

Optimal Temp 80°F

Seed Depth 0.25"

Watering

Needs Moderate

Resilience

Heat: Medium Cold: Low Drought: Medium

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Recommended Recipes Worm castings topdress, Compost tea

Harvest

Husk turns tan/papery. Fruit golden-yellow inside.

Sources

seed-catalog Territorial Seed seed-catalog Pinetree Garden Seeds university UMN Extension university Crow Wing Master Gardeners (UMN Master Gardener program) seed_catalog Jung Seed

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Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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