An Austrian heirloom named after the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, this golden-fruited ground cherry called Schöenbrunn produces tall, vigorous plants reaching over 3 feet, often closer to 4–5 feet under good conditions. Lush and branching, they’re both ornamental and highly productive.
The fruit is wrapped in papery husks that turn pale gold to tan when ripe. Unlike most ground cherries, Schönbrunner Gold does not drop its fruit—each one must be picked directly from the plant for best quality. The berries are about an inch wide, glowing golden-orange inside their husks, with a rich, tropical flavour reminiscent of guava, mango, and citrus. Excellent fresh, dried, or cooked into jams, chutneys, and sauces.
Start seeds 8 weeks before planting out, the same time as tomatoes. Sow in warm soil (20–25 °C) and transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0–6.8). Matures in roughly 80 days from transplant. Provide support for taller plants, especially in breezy sites.
Fruits store well in their husks for several weeks, making this an excellent choice for market growers and home gardeners alike. A beautiful and flavourful heirloom that brings a taste of the tropics to northern gardens.
To watch a short about the longkeeping abilities of Schöenbrunn ground cherries, visit my You tube channel.
These seeds are available directly from Garden Faerie Botanicals in the heart of British Columbia, Canada. The collection features heirloom and heritage seeds that are personally cultivated organically without the use of any chemicals. Emphasizing historical, rare, non-GMO seeds, this selection preserves biodiversity through open-pollination.
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