Physalis varieties

Among the many popular edible plants from the nightshade family, the Physalis genus is still considered rare and exotic. Although it has more than 120 species, only about 15 of its varieties are of interest to summer residents and gardeners. The article makes an attempt to summarize all known information about the breeding work carried out in Russia with this plant, and to present the best varieties of physalis with photos and descriptions.

Variety of types and varieties of physalis

Due to the fact that this crop is relatively new for Russia, breeding work began only about 100 years ago - there are not many varieties of physalis. And even those began to appear mainly in recent decades, and among manufacturers there is still a lot of confusion and confusion with the names and descriptions of certain varieties.

And in their homeland, America, physalis have been known in culture for several millennia, since the times of the Incas and Aztecs.Therefore, physalis has many popular names associated with both its origin and its taste properties: strawberry tomato, Peruvian gooseberry, earth cherry, strawberry cranberry, emerald berry.

Due to the fact that physalis belongs to the nightshade family and the comparative exoticism of the plant, there are a lot of rumors surrounding it. Among the main ones is that there are edible and poisonous physalis plants. This is not entirely true. There are no poisonous physalises, but many species are indeed not intended to be eaten. They are famous rather for their decorative effect, and their fruits may contain bitterness, which is one of the distinguishing features of inedible physalis.

The belonging of physalis fruits to one or another botanical classification also causes a lot of controversy. Since scientists themselves have not fully decided on the correct name for the fruits of physalis, there are two main groups of edible plants: vegetables and berries.

Vegetable types

The most famous group of vegetable physalises are the Mexican species. These annual plants, as the name suggests, are native to the mountainous regions of Mexico. According to the growing conditions, they are very similar to ordinary tomatoes, only they are more cold-resistant. For example, their seeds germinate already at a temperature of + 10-12 ° C, and young plants are able to withstand frosts down to - 2 ° C. It is for this reason that any variety of vegetable physalis can be safely recommended for cultivation in Siberia.

Vegetable types of physalis have fairly large fruits: from 40-80 g to 150 g. Since one physalis plant can produce from 100 to 200 fruits, the yield of these varieties is significant - up to 5 kg can be harvested from one bush.These varieties of physalis are distinguished by their comparative early ripening - on average, the crop ripens 90-95 days after germination.

The taste of fresh fruits is quite specific, sweet and sour and usually does not cause any special delight. Although, if the weather was particularly good during ripening (lots of sun, little rainfall), then the first ovaries, fully ripened on the bush, can even please with their harmonious combination of acid and sugar and the almost complete absence of nightshade aftertaste. Judging by the descriptions in reviews, the Physalis variety Korolek is characterized by especially sweet fruits.

But from vegetable physalis you can make a delicious jam, not much inferior in taste to fig delicacy. Vegetable physalis is also pickled and other interesting exotic dishes are prepared.

The fruits often fall prematurely, but lying on the ground do not spoil. Moreover, one of the attractive characteristics of vegetable physalis is that intact and especially unripe fruits can be stored in cool conditions for 3-4 months. At the same time, the amount of vitamins and dry substances does not decrease, and the pectin content even increases. The jelly-forming properties of physalis are so noticeable that this has made it indispensable for use in confectionery.

Vegetable physalis, due to its good preservation, is perfectly adapted to long-term transportation.

Among the most famous varieties of vegetable physalis are Confectioner, Ground Gribovsky, Moscow Early, Jam, Marmeladny, Korolek, Plum Jam.

Berry species

Berry types of physalis are distinguished, first of all, by the small size of the fruits (1-3 g, some up to 9 g), which allows them all to be classified in this group. In other respects, this group is much more diverse in composition than the vegetable Physalis group. True, in comparison with the latter, all berry varieties are usually distinguished by later ripening periods (the growing season can be 120-150 days) and greater thermophilicity. Among them there are both perennial species (Peruvian) and annual species (raisin, Florida). But in terms of taste characteristics and the aroma inherent in many fruits, berry types of physalis are significantly superior to vegetable ones.

They can be eaten raw or dried, and, of course, they are used to make delicious-tasting jam. These are the sweetest varieties of physalis - the sugar content in them can reach 15%. Unlike vegetable varieties, it is better to pick physalis berries when they are fully ripe, although some of its varieties are capable of ripening already collected.

The yield of berry species is not very high - up to 1 kg per square meter. As for preservation, raisin varieties are stored very well - in suitable conditions they can last up to 6 months. The most famous and popular varieties of raisin physalis are Golden Placer, Raisin, Turkish Delight, Dessert, Bell, Surprise.

But it is advisable to consume the varieties of Peruvian physalis (Columbus, Kudesnik) as soon as possible after harvesting - they can spoil literally within a month.

Decorative types

There are several varieties of physalis, which are perennial plants and are grown solely for the beauty of the fruits, dressed in a corrugated, almost weightless box of bright red-orange shades. It is thanks to the bright colors and airiness of this box that the decorative physalis received the popular nickname - Chinese lanterns. Any variety of physalis has such a sheath, but in edible species it, as a rule, has a not very attractive appearance - from a dull light yellow to beige hue. In addition, this cover often spreads as the physalis berry ripens. In decorative species, the berry itself is very small in size, and the cover, on the contrary, reaches 4-5 cm in height and is very strong and beautiful in appearance.

In addition, ornamental species are very unpretentious - they easily reproduce by rhizomes, withstand harsh Russian winters and require virtually no care. In winter, their entire above-ground part dies off, and in the spring it is renewed from the roots.

The best varieties of physalis

Many domestic manufacturers and trading companies still have some confusion and confusion in the description of physalis varieties. Therefore, the basic information on which the descriptions of the varieties listed below are based is taken from the official source - the State Register of Plants of the Russian Federation.

Physalis Franchet

Many may recognize this most common representative of the physalis family from the description.Its homeland is Japan, and this partly explains the fact that it has taken root well in the vastness of Russia.

Every spring, curved-angular stems grow from the creeping rhizome, reaching up to 80-90 cm in height. The leaves are oval, up to 12-14 cm long, widened at the base. The flowers are solitary, inconspicuous, sitting in the axils of the stems, whitish in color, about 2-3 cm in diameter. But after flowering ends, the calyx surrounding the fruit grows both in length and width.

It turns a bright red-orange color and up to 12-15 of these festive-looking “lanterns” can form on one shoot. This riot of colors begins in the second half of summer and continues until frost. Inside are small berries the size of cherries, reddish in color with a pleasant aroma and taste. The seeds are very different from the seeds of vegetable and berry forms of physalis. They are black, leathery, and quite large in size.

Plants tolerate winter well, since during this period all shoots with leaves die off. Chinese lanterns can grow on any soil, but on calcareous soils their development will be especially vigorous.

Physalis Orange Lantern

This variety is another representative of the decorative group of physalis. Physalis Orange Lantern is not included in the State Register of Russia, and is found only among the seeds of the Sedek trading company. Judging by the description, all its characteristics almost completely coincide with Physalis Franchet. For some reason, the description on the packages only indicates the one-year plant development cycle. In addition, the shade of the covering capsule is described as more orange than red.

Physalis Confectioner

One of the oldest Russian varieties of physalis was bred in the middle of the last century.In those days, the emphasis was mainly on suitability for industrial use, so taste was not at all in the first place. Plants were valued, first of all, for their cold resistance, early ripening, productivity and suitability for machine harvesting. All these qualities are fully inherent in the vegetable physalis variety Confectioner. In addition, the name itself suggests that this variety was created for the confectionery industry, therefore special emphasis is placed on the increased content of pectin substances and various acids.

The fruits of this variety make good preparations for the winter, jams and preserves, especially if it is used as a jelly-forming additive, and the taste and aroma are determined by other berries and fruits. Judging by the reviews, Physalis Confectioner is not at all suitable for fresh consumption.

The plants are mid-early, ripening in 100-110 days from the moment of emergence. The bushes branch well and grow up to 80 cm. The fruits have a greenish tint even when ripe, their weight varies from 30 to 50 g. The seeds have good germination.

Physalis marmalade

One of the interesting and relatively new varieties of vegetable physalis. It was bred by specialists from the Sedek company and registered in the State Register in 2009.

Physalis Marmalade is more likely to be mid-season, since the growing season lasts up to 120-130 days. But the bushes are low-growing (it’s convenient to pick berries, and it doesn’t need shaping), and quite productive - up to 1.4 kg per plant. Plants are shade-tolerant. The flowers are yellow, and the color of ripe fruits is cream. They are small - the weight reaches only 30-40 g.

This is a clear exaggeration and you should not trust such seeds.

Differs in versatility in use. For lovers of physalis, the fruits can be called tasty even when fresh, but the best preparations are obtained from this variety. Moreover, it is equally good both in pickled form and as part of preserves and jams.

Physalis Jam

At the same time, the breeders of the Sedek company developed another attractive variety of vegetable physalis - Jam. Many of its characteristics coincide with the description of the previous variety. The main difference is the fact that Jam is a tall and quite powerful plant with large leaves. The flowers have an orange tint, but the color and size of the fruits are completely the same. They are also ideal for making delicious jam, which, by the way, is reflected in the name of the variety.

Physalis Plum or Plum Jam

This is one of the few varieties of vegetable physalis with fruits that have a bright lilac-violet hue. True, when cut, the berries still have a greenish color. This is its difference from another variety with purple colored fruits, Tomatillo, whose cut flesh has a lilac tint.

In general, in terms of growing technology, Physalis Plum Jam is no different from its counterparts. Only in order to obtain such a bright color of the fruits, the plants should be planted in a sunny place.

In favorable conditions, bushes can grow to a height of almost 2 meters. Productivity and ripening time are average, so the main advantage of this physalis is the attractive color of its rather large fruits.

Physalis wren

Physalis Korolek, bred by VNIISSOK breeders in the late 90s of the last century and included in the State Register in 1998, is the most productive variety of vegetable physalis. Its fruits are quite large, weighing on average 60-90 g, and the yield per plant can be up to 5 kg. Gardeners who grow different varieties of physalis claim that in terms of taste, Korolek is one of the most delicious among vegetable varieties.

In terms of ripening time, Korolek is an early ripening variety; the berries ripen within 90 days after germination. Plants are medium in size and bushy. At the ripening stage, the berries acquire a light yellow or even bright yellow color. They contain up to 14% pectin and up to 9% dry matter.

Physalis florida Philanthropist

Florida physalis is a completely new species for Russia and at the moment there is only one single variety of it - Philanthropist. It was obtained by breeders of the Gavrish company and included in the State Register in 2002.

Philanthropist belongs to the berry group throughout its developmental biology, and in appearance it resembles vegetable physalis only in a slightly reduced size. It reaches a height of 30 cm (in open ground) to 50 cm (in greenhouses).

The average growing season is about 120 days. All parts of the plant contain anthocyanin color (with a purple tint) in one form or another, which gives the bushes a very decorative appearance.

The berries are small, weighing about 2 g, yellow, with purple inclusions when ripe. They tie well even in adverse weather conditions. In general, plants of this species tolerate stressful growing conditions very well.

The berries are sweet and juicy, without sourness, and almost without aroma, they are quite edible even when fresh.Slightly reminiscent of yellow cherries in taste. The jam they make is sweet, but for flavor it is better to add some herbs or berries.

In rainy weather, the berries are capable of bursting, and if there is no damage, they can be stored in a shell in cool conditions for only 1.5 months.

Physalis Gold placer

One of the oldest varieties of Physalis berry raisin, obtained at the end of the last century. The description of the variety is quite standard - the plants are small in size (up to 35 cm in height), early ripening (about 95 days of growing season). The bushes form a kind of bowl. The yield is small, up to 0.5 kg per plant. The berries themselves are small (3-5 g), and when ripe they acquire a yellow color. The taste is good with a characteristic taste of all raisin varieties of both strawberry and pineapple.

Physalis Dessert

Dessert was already a significant step forward in breeding work with raisin varieties of physalis. It was obtained in 2006 by VNIISSOK specialists and is quite suitable for growing in open ground in the middle zone, since it tolerates extreme conditions (heat or cold).

According to the description, the bushes are erect, reaching a height of 70 cm. The fruits are small (about 5-7 g), at the ripe stage they are colored yellow-orange. The yield is already up to 0.7 kg per plant. The fruits are universally used; they can be eaten fresh and a variety of delicious dishes can be prepared: caviar, pickles, jams, candied fruits.

Physalis Bluebell

In the same year, specialists from the Poisk company developed another interesting variety of raisin physalis - Kolokolchik. For some reason, in the descriptions of the variety on the manufacturer's bags, there is nowhere clear information about which group Physalis Bell belongs to - berry or vegetable.

Of course, this is a typical raisin variety that belongs to the berry group, since its bright orange fruits, although they are one of the largest, still do not exceed 10 g in weight.

The bushes can reach a height of 1 m. Although, given their semi-creeping growth form, they occupy space rather in the horizontal plane than in the vertical. Productivity can reach 1.5 kg per plant.

According to the ripening period, Bellflower is classified as mid-ripening.

Physalis Turkish Delight

A variety with such an attractive name could not but arouse interest among gardeners. True, there is no description of it in the State Register, however, judging by the reviews, Physalis Turkish Delight is in demand and popular among summer residents and gardeners.

Its seeds can be bought from the Aelita trading company and, judging by the description on the bags, the plants are cold-resistant and ripen quite early - 95 days after the detection of seedlings. Seed germination, like most raisin varieties, is not too high: from 50 to 80%.

The bushes are small and quite compact, but the berries for raisin physalis are characterized by large sizes - weighing up to 8-12 g. They are very tasty fresh, from them you can get dried fruits similar to raisins, and, of course, make jam or jam.

The description of Physalis Turkish Delight also contains information about plant resistance to the main diseases and pests that especially plague nightshades: late blight and the Colorado potato beetle.

Physalis Raisin

On sale this physalis is also found under the name Sugar raisin. The variety from the breeders of the NK "Russian Garden" corporation was developed relatively recently, but has already gained great popularity among the people.

It has not yet been included in the State Register, so a description of Raisin can be given solely from information from its manufacturers and numerous reviews from gardeners.

Plants of medium height with small berries (weighing 3-6 g). The ripening period appears to be average. Growing and caring for Physalis raisin is quite standard.

1. Seeds germinate only at a temperature of at least + 20-22 ° C.
2. They are planted either in a greenhouse or in beds when all frosts have passed.
3. He doesn't need a garter.
4. Grows in almost any soil, but likes to be watered.

Although in mid-August, before harvesting, it is better to stop watering. The fruits store very well, up to six months, and also dry easily and quickly.

According to reviews from gardeners, Physalis Raisin has the most delicious berries among raisin varieties. They have the most pronounced pineapple flavor, and their juice is slightly reminiscent of tangerine.

Physalis peruviana

Peruvian physalis is usually classified as a berry plant, although this species is completely unique. First of all, these are perennial plants that are unable to winter in Russian conditions and are grown either as annuals, or they are transplanted into tubs and transferred to a house, greenhouse, or winter garden.

1. It is quite possible to grow them from seeds, but they have a long growing season, from 140-150 days. This means that Peruvian physalis varieties must be sown for seedlings no later than February, otherwise they will not have time to bear the harvest.
2. Plants are characterized by significant growth vigor; they can reach a height of 2 meters.
3. They are light- and heat-loving, so in the northern regions it is better to grow them in greenhouses.
4. They need to be formed - usually all the stepsons below the first inflorescence are pinched.
5. In the second half of summer, first feeding and then watering are stopped so that the growth of green mass stops and the berries themselves have time to ripen.
6. The maturity of the berries is determined by the yellowing of the “lanterns”, and the fruits themselves acquire an orange color.
7. Unlike raisin varieties, the berries themselves do not fall off, but stick to the bushes so tightly that you have to cut them off with a knife.

The berries are very tasty and tender, their composition is closest to garden strawberries. They have a strong fruity aroma, which may even seem overwhelming to some. Dried fruits are vaguely reminiscent of dried apricots, but with much richer flavors.

Peruvian physalis is very easy to propagate from cuttings, so just one plant is enough so you don’t have to worry about seedlings later. The harvest from cuttings can be obtained already 5-6 months after rooting.

It is better to cut cuttings from side shoots at an angle of 45°. Their length should be at least 10 cm. They take root easily even without treatment with stimulants, simply when planted in light nutrient soil for about a month.

Physalis Peruvian Magician

This variety is distinguished by the largest berries (up to 9 g) and quite significant yield indicators for such an exotic crop (0.5 kg per plant).

The berries are slightly flattened, have an orange-brown color of pulp and skin. The taste of the juice is sweet and sour, reminiscent of grapefruit due to its slight bitterness, but much richer in aroma and accompanying shades. The berries are very good both fresh and for making all kinds of desserts.

The plants are not the tallest (in open ground they barely reach 60-70 cm).The average ripening period is about 150 days. Among the Peruvian varieties, it is considered the most shelf-stable - the berries can be stored for up to 2 months.

Physalis Peruvian Columbus

This variety of Peruvian physalis ripens another 10 days later than Kudesnik and has very small berries (3-4 g). But, according to many gardeners, Columbus is the most delicious variety of physalis. The berries have an orange tint to the skin and pulp, and their flavor range is unusually rich. Neither bitterness nor nightshade flavor can be found in them. But there is a strong aroma, slightly reminiscent of strawberry.

Columbus bushes grow tall and quite powerful. The berries are so tender after ripening that they are stored for a very short time, a maximum of a month. They are best consumed fresh or dried. Physalis Columbus produces a very aromatic, tasty and beautifully colored jam.

Reviews of Physalis varieties

Conclusion

The varieties of physalis with photos and descriptions presented in this article, of course, do not exhaust the entire diversity of this culture in Russia. However, descriptions of the most popular and best varieties allow you to get to know an unusual but very useful plant called physalis.

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