Among the Solanaceae family, physalis is one of the most unusual and exotic plants. Many gardeners don't even know whether physalis is edible, considering it purely ornamental. Meanwhile, many edible varieties have been developed, the fruits of which are used for making preserves, jellies, and marinades.
Variety of Physalis species
In the wild, the plant grows on the American continent. The Aztec and Incan tribes knew about the benefits of the plant's fruits, using them for food and to treat certain ailments. About 15-20 varieties are cultivated in Russian gardens, including edible ones, although the number of natural species exceeds one hundred. The fruits are round, formed in "capsules" (flowers) colored bright orange or yellowish.
The following varieties are of interest for fresh consumption and preparation of various preserves: physalis:
- Vegetable. Characterized by cold resistance, high yields, and early maturity. This group consists primarily of annuals producing relatively large fruits (weight 50-120 g). A bush produces up to 150-200 berries. The taste is sweet and sour, with a distinctive character. Vegetable physalis is primarily used for preserves. It has a shelf life of up to 3-4 months and is suitable for transportation.
- Berry. Heat-loving and late-ripening plants, they produce fruits weighing up to 7-9 g (average 2-4 g). They come in annual and perennial varieties. The fruits are sweet, high in sugars, and have a vibrant aroma. Yields are lower than those of vegetable varieties, reaching 0.8-1 kg per square meter. They are eaten fresh, used to make jam, jellies, pastilles, and dried. Some varieties are suitable for long-term storage (up to six months), while others are best eaten immediately after harvest.
You may be interested in:A group of tropical species of the crop is considered edible, but due to the long maturation time of the plants, this type of physalis is not grown in Russian conditions.
Edible varieties of physalis
Many cultivars of this crop have been developed in the last 10-15 years. Breeders aimed to produce plants with sweet fruit, frost resistance, and early ripening.
Varieties:
- Confectioner is a well-known variety, developed in the USSR. Determinate plants grow up to 60 cm tall, with elongated light green leaves. The fruits are round, turning yellow when fully ripe. The flavor is pleasant and contains a high amount of pectin. This variety is a vegetable, recommended for processing.
- Early Korolek will delight you with an excellent yield (4-5 kg of fruit per bush) and a pleasant, fine flavor. The harvest ripens in approximately 90-100 days. Jams, vegetable caviar, and candied fruit are made. According to reviews, the juicy yellow fruits make delicious pickles and marinades.
- Plum jam is a vegetable variety that keeps well and is suitable for processing. Its distinctive features are its dark purple fruits, resembling juicy, round plums. The flavor is pleasant and has a strong aroma. For a good harvest, it's best to plant in a sunny location.
- Moskovsky ranniy (Moscow Early) is a low-growing, semi-recumbent variety with elongated, oval leaf blades. It blooms yellow and produces round berries weighing 50-80 g, amber-colored when fully ripe. Up to 4-5 kg can be harvested per square meter. The flavor is sweet and pleasant.
- Surprise is an early-ripening berry variety. It produces bright yellow fruits with juicy, fragrant flesh. The bushes are low, with heavily pubescent shoots and dense foliage. The flowers are yellow, with a dark spot at the base. Surprise berries often fall unripe, so they are picked and ripened thoroughly.
You may be interested in:- Bellflower is a berry variety with sweet orange fruits. The plants are vigorous, growing up to 1-1.2 meters tall, and partly trailing along the ground. Ripening time is 100-120 days, but the exact time is determined by weather conditions. It is used fresh and for various preserves.
- Sugar Raisin is an early variety of berry physalis, characterized by its high sugar content. It is tasty, juicy, and suitable for fresh eating and processing. The bushes grow up to 60 cm, with an average yield.
- Columbus is a Peruvian berry variety. It ripens in late (150-160 days) and is tall. The berries are yellow, juicy, and sweet. The Columbus pulp is noted for its high iron content. Its flavor is vaguely similar to strawberries and kiwi.
- The "Kudesnik" (Sorcerer's Tooth) is a Peruvian berry species. It is a very vigorous, tall plant (up to 1.8-2 meters) with shortened internodes. It requires no pollination and produces fragrant, brown-yellow fruits. The flesh is juicy, with a pleasant sweet flavor. According to reviews from those who have grown this variety, the flesh is reminiscent of strawberry and pineapple in taste and aroma. The fruits of the "Kudesnik" are used in a variety of preserves and are also used as fresh desserts.
Almost everything varieties of edible physalis They are suitable for candied fruit, drying, and preserving. Some varieties with high pectin content are in demand in the confectionery industry. By planting this unusual plant, you can reap an excellent harvest of tasty and healthy fruits. Moreover, physalis makes a wonderful garden decoration, blooming until the frost sets in.
Is it possible to eat physalis: features of choosing varieties