Physalis pineapple: cultivation and care, photo

Recipes for preparing pineapple physalis for the winter will help you get tasty and healthy preparations. The plant has beneficial properties on the body. It is planted in open ground or grown in seedlings. During the growing season, provide constant care.

Beneficial properties of pineapple physalis

Physalis is a member of the nightshade family, native to South and Central America. The shoots are erect, from 50 to 100 cm high. The leaves are thin, opposite, ovoid, with jagged edges. The flowers are solitary, cream or white in color. The calyx is bell-shaped, the petals have a pointed tip. The fruits are round, yellow-orange, weighing 5-10 g. The pulp is sweet, with a pronounced aroma.

Physalis berries have medicinal properties:

• have diuretic and choleretic effects;
• stop bleeding;
• relieve pain;
• destroy bacteria.

Pineapple physalis is useful for rheumatism, gout, colds, stomach ulcers, gastritis, diabetes, hypertension.The plant removes heavy metals, cholesterol, toxins and breakdown products.

Fresh berries restore the functioning of the endocrine and digestive systems, lower blood pressure, and relieve inflammation. Due to their low calorie content (53 kcal per 100 g), fruits are included in the diet.

It is not recommended to consume pineapple physalis fruits if you have high stomach acidity. Another contraindication is individual intolerance to berries.

Growing and caring for Physalis pineapple

Below we discuss the process of growing and caring for pineapple physalis with photos. Planting and caring for plants have their own characteristics.

Growing pineapple physalis from seeds

In warm climates, seeds are planted directly in open ground. The plant is unpretentious and produces good seedlings. Work is carried out in late April - early May. To improve the germination of seeds, they are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate or a growth stimulant. It is enough to plant the plant once; in the future it reproduces by self-sowing.

Physalis pineapple prefers neutral soil. The beds where cucumbers, cabbage, and onions grew a year earlier are suitable for it. It is not recommended to plant physalis after tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and other nightshades. Crops are susceptible to similar diseases.

Pineapple physalis seeds remain viable for 4 years. Before planting, they are soaked in a salt solution. Seeds that float to the surface are discarded. The remaining planting material is kept for 30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate.

Before planting pineapple physalis, the soil is dug up and fertilized with ash and humus. Seeds are planted in increments of 10 cm.As they germinate and develop, the seedlings are thinned out. Leave 30 cm between plants. Thinned seedlings can be transplanted; they will quickly take root in a new place.

Pineapple physalis is planted before winter. At the end of October, the seeds are planted in the ground. Shoots will appear in the spring. They are thinned out and the strongest specimens are selected.

Growing Physalis pineapple seedlings

In the middle zone, pineapple physalis is grown in seedlings. At home, a substrate is prepared: a mixture of peat, humus, turf soil and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:0.5. In mid-April, the seeds are pickled in a solution of the drug “Fitosporin”, then planted in containers.

Physalis pineapple shoots appear within 7-10 days. When 2-3 leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate containers. Seedlings are kept in a warm, well-lit place. 2 weeks before planting, it is transferred to the balcony for hardening. At first, the seedlings are covered with paper caps from direct sunlight.

Pineapple physalis is transferred to the beds when the spring frosts have passed. Keep 60-70 cm between plants. Holes are prepared for planting physalis. Seedlings are deepened into the soil up to the first leaf. The soil is compacted and watered abundantly.

Features of care

Caring for Physalis pineapple includes:

• moderate watering;
• feeding;
• hilling bushes;
• loosening the soil;
• tying to a support;
• weeding weed.

Physalis pineapple is watered regularly as the soil dries. To prevent water stagnation, the soil is loosened after rain or moisture. In early spring, the plant is fed with an infusion of mullein or chicken droppings. During flowering and fruiting, 30 g of superphosphate and potassium salt are incorporated into the soil. Fertilizers can be added to 10 times water and water the soil with the solution.The plant is fed no more than once every 2 weeks.

Physalis pineapple does not require pruning or pinching. The fruits are formed in branches. The more shoots grow, the higher the final yield. The bushes are tied to a support so that they do not lean toward the ground.

Diseases and pests

Physalis pineapple rarely gets sick. Most often, diseases appear in the absence of care, as well as in cold and damp weather. The plant is affected by mosaic disease, causing light and dark spots to appear on the leaves. The disease is viral in nature and cannot be treated. The affected bush is dug up and destroyed.

During the harvest period, physalis may suffer from late blight. Dark spots appear on the fruits and grow rapidly. This crop is not suitable for food. To prevent the disease, the bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.

Physalis is susceptible to attack by wireworms and mole crickets. To protect the bush, traps with vegetable bait are prepared. Spraying with a solution of the drug “Iskra” or “Fundazol” is also effective. In the fall, be sure to dig up the area, then insect larvae will end up on the surface and die from the cold.

Harvesting

The fruits of pineapple physalis are harvested from the end of July until the onset of the first cold weather. They are removed from the shoots along with the shell. For cleaning, choose a dry, cloudy day. The harvest is stored for a long time in a cool, dry place.

What to cook from pineapple physalis for the winter

Jams, jams and compotes are prepared from pineapple physalis. If you dry the berries, you can use them as a dessert.

Jam

Ingredients for making jam:

• ripe fruits – 600 g;
• granulated sugar – 800 g;
• cinnamon – 2 pcs.

Recipe for winter jam from Physalis pineapple:

1. The berries are peeled, washed and the skin is pierced with a needle.
2. Pour the mixture into a saucepan, add sugar and leave for half an hour.
3. Then add a glass of water and place the container on low heat.
4. The mixture is stirred until the sugar is completely dissolved and 4 cinnamon sticks are added.
5. Boil the jam for 5 minutes, then turn down the heat and keep on the stove for 2 hours.
6. The finished product is placed in jars.

Jam

To make jam you need the following set of products:

• ripe berries – 1 kg;
• sugar – 1 kg;
• water – 1 glass.

Simple jam recipe:

1. The fruits are peeled, washed and dried on a towel.
2. Physalis is poured into a saucepan, water is added and put on fire.
3. The mixture is boiled for 20 minutes until the berries are completely softened.
4. When the pulp is boiled, add sugar.
5. Keep the jam on low heat for another 25 minutes until you get a homogeneous consistency.
6. The finished jam is placed in sterilized jars for the winter.

Candied fruit

Candied fruits are fruits boiled in sweet syrup. This dessert can be obtained from physalis. The process is quite simple, but takes a lot of time.

Main ingredients:

• berries – 1 kg;
• sugar – 1.2 kg;
• water – 0.3 l.

Recipe for candied fruits:

1. The berries are removed from the boxes, washed and poured boiling water for 2 minutes.
   This will remove the top layer containing a sticky substance with an unpleasant odor.
2. The fruits are washed with cold water, then pierced with a needle.
3. A syrup consisting of water and sugar is placed on the stove to boil. The liquid is boiled, then the heat is turned down and the granulated sugar is allowed to dissolve.
4. The berries are dipped in hot syrup and boiled for 5 minutes. Then the stove is turned off and the mass is left for 8 hours at room conditions.
5. The process is repeated 5 more times.
6. When the last cooking is complete, transfer the berries to a colander and wait for the syrup to drain.
7. The fruits are laid out on sheets of parchment and dried for 5-7 days.
8. Candied fruits are sprinkled with powdered sugar and stored in a cool, dark place.

Compote

To get a delicious drink you will need:

• Physalis pineapple fruits – 800 g;
• sugar – 400 g.

Algorithm for preparing compote from Physalis pineapple:

1. Ripe fruits are peeled and washed under running water.
2. The resulting mass is transferred to a saucepan and scalded with boiling water.
3. The berries are cooled in cold water.
4. Place the container on the fire and add sugar.
5. The fruits are boiled until they soften.
6. The finished compote is poured into sterilized jars and covered with lids for the winter.

Raisin

To prepare Physalis raisins, take the required number of berries. Dried fruits are added to muesli, salads and yoghurts. They can be used as a seasoning for soups and main courses.

The procedure for obtaining raisins from Physalis pineapple:

1. The berries are cleaned and blanched with boiling water. Then the thin transparent peel is removed from them.
2. The fruits are laid out on a baking sheet in one layer.
3. Turn on the oven at 60°C and set the berries to dry.
4. Store finished raisins in a cool, dark place.

If weather conditions permit, pineapple physalis berries are left outside in direct sunlight. A convenient way to obtain raisins is to use electric dryers.

Reviews of Physalis pineapple

Conclusion

Recipes for preparing pineapple physalis for the winter allow you to get delicious desserts and drinks. To get a harvest, follow the rules of planting and caring for the plant. The plant is unpretentious and requires minimal care: watering, fertilizing, weeding.

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