How to grow Chinese Lantern

Physalis alkekengi

Young plants are susceptible to frosts though established plants are frost hardy. Plants are slow to break dormancy in cold climates. Young plants may be susceptible to slugs. Full sun to part shade, prefers well-drained, poorer soil.

CAUTION!: All parts of the plant are poisonous except the ripe fruit. Fruits apparently may be eaten when fully ripe or cooked; see: Plants For a Future (http://www.pfaf.org/index.php) reference page for more information.

CAUTION!: Plant may be invasive if allowed free reign – to avoid this potentiality it is best grown in a pot.

Growing Chinese lantern from seed

Barely cover with soil.

May be Winter Sown.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.95 inches (5.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.04 inches (0.1 cm).

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Chinese lantern about 56 days before your last frost date .

How long does Chinese lantern take to grow?

These estimates for how long Chinese lantern takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Chinese lantern to germinate?
13 days

Average 13 days | Min 7 days | Max 65 days (6)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Chinese lantern?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Days to Maturity How long until Chinese lantern is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Chinese lantern?
= days

When should I plant Chinese lantern?

Our when to plant Chinese lantern estimates are relative to your last frost date.

When to sow The number of days to sow Chinese lantern before or after your last frost date.
56 days before Last Frost Date

Chinese lantern Folklore & Trivia

There is a long history of medicinal use (caution: all parts of the plant are poisonous except for the ripe fruit).

Other names for Chinese lantern

Winter cherry, Japanese lantern, Bladder-cherry

Physalis franchetii, Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii

Footnotes

1 http://gardening.about.com/od/allergiesarthritis/tp/Five-Poisonous-Plants.htm


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