tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post1773902834423836380..comments2023-11-03T08:56:03.162-04:00Comments on Grow the Change: Fruits: a celebrationFreija and Beringian Fritillaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-77964511452995609102009-10-10T20:41:40.674-04:002009-10-10T20:41:40.674-04:00The ground cherries are called Cape Gooseberries h...The ground cherries are called Cape Gooseberries here in Aotearoa NZ.<br /><br />They grow really well here. It's a climber so it's often grown over decks, frames etc. The fruit is delish isn't it? Ours are ready in autumn - March/April.<br /><br />Hadn't thought about drying them though... although have seen them used in lots and lots of chutneys.<br /><br />Christopher.Christophernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-69160866935523847862009-09-30T15:59:23.127-04:002009-09-30T15:59:23.127-04:00slowcoast, thank goodness there's always next ...slowcoast, thank goodness there's always next year!<br /><br />Tammy, actually yes, ground cherries are fabulous in chutneys. I've got a variety called Aunt Molly's, although I have seen a shorter season variety, I think it was from Johnny's seeds. Too bad about those voles, they sometimes get into my squash and carrots.<br /><br />June, I love your description of chutney!<br /><br />randi, aren't ground cherries just the strangest little fruits?! If you have a smallish haul, you can dry them quickly in the oven, even on cookie sheets and pie plates. Keep the temp around 100-120 (you will probably have to turn it on for a bit and off again, since there's usually no setting that low). They will be raisins in like 8-12 hours. You can leave them overnight and finish them the next day, pretty flexible. And if you want to know if they are done, examine a raisin, feel the texture and squisibility and aim for that. I usually remove the quicker-to-dry individuals a few times during the process. Enjoy!!!<br /><br />simplesuburb, the tomatillo would be the ground cherry's closest garden relative, they have similar flowers and leaves, but the ground cherry has a light fuzz on the leaves, and the fruits do not burst out of their husks when ripe like the tomatillos do. I do love tomatillo salsa verde, ground cherries can be added for a bit of a sweet salsa.Freija and Beringian Fritillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-16044819338258171672009-09-23T14:05:42.574-04:002009-09-23T14:05:42.574-04:00Are the ground cherries related to the tomatillo? ...Are the ground cherries related to the tomatillo? We grow tomatillos, and they look alot alike, and have the same paper wrapping, but are a larger fruit. Great for salsa verde!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-48569043519687255112009-09-22T08:00:47.887-04:002009-09-22T08:00:47.887-04:00glad you wrote about the ground cherries as this w...glad you wrote about the ground cherries as this was the first year I've ever grown them, just a single plant, and boy, am i mad about them. A new favorite for me. At the moment my small haul is drying in the shed but I was wondering,(until you provided me with the stringing method), how to keep them. I plan to grow a ton of these next year. I don't know how I made it this far in life NOT growing them!randihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03437879726079466007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-40286532384273362042009-09-21T20:43:47.494-04:002009-09-21T20:43:47.494-04:00Tomato chutney is always the first thing I do when...Tomato chutney is always the first thing I do when fruit finally begins ripening. It just seems like a gift we give ourselves in the middle of winter, jewel-like and rich with summer flavor.<br /><br />I am intrigued by the ground cherries.Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04630593290368661236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-73768848636056258552009-09-21T20:09:49.948-04:002009-09-21T20:09:49.948-04:00I have a friend in Texas that raves about these. ...I have a friend in Texas that raves about these. You're probably closer to my New England climate than she is, though. How are you using them? Some part of me feels like they'd be awesome in a chutney.<br /><br />Which variety are you planting? <br /><br />Sheesh, full of questions tonight, aren't I? LOL. The idea of planting something that most animals seem to avoid is appealing to me especially as today I dug up my first ever planting of potatoes (kennebunks) to discover that moles or voles have gleaned a bigger harvest than I will!Tammyhttp://www.frugal-families.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-17897276113246501692009-09-21T18:32:36.652-04:002009-09-21T18:32:36.652-04:00Nice! I'd love to try some dried ground cherri...Nice! I'd love to try some dried ground cherries. Well, maybe next year...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com