Ground Cherry is a perennial grown for its fruit, ready to harvest about 70 days after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 11 and stands up to deer. Its flowers are a modest draw for native bees, even though the fruit is the prize. As a nightshade, give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
3-11
pH Range
4.3-8.2
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
70
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What Ground Cherry is
Ground Cherry grows as a perennial and reaches around 2.5 feet at maturity. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Ground Cherry
Ground Cherry grows in USDA zones 3 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 70 days after planting. Ground Cherry does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.3 to 8.2, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 80 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
3-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.3 - 8.2
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
50°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
70 days
Ground cherry / husk cherry; from transplant; long indoor start.
UMass-Veg; Cornell
GDD Required
2000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
80+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant ground cherry in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Ground Cherry prefers pH 4.3 to 8.2 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Ground Cherry is ready about 70 days after planting (UMass-Veg; Cornell). Pick when the fruit is full-colored and parts easily from the stem.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — ground cherry is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Ground Cherry offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Ground Cherry thrives
On hardiness alone, ground cherry grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 3 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–11·Where Ground Cherry growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Ground Cherry can grow in these states:
See if Ground Cherry will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether ground cherry actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Ground Cherry in my zone?
Ground Cherry grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Ground Cherry take to grow?
Ground Cherry is ready to harvest about 70 days after planting (UMass-Veg; Cornell). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Ground Cherry?
Most growers plant ground cherry after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 80-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Ground Cherry need?
Ground Cherry needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Ground Cherry need?
Ground Cherry prefers soil pH 4.3 to 8.2, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Ground Cherry attract pollinators?
Yes — ground cherry's flowers are a modest nectar source for native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Ground Cherry safe for pets?
Ground Cherry is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.