Herb: Strawberry Tomato


Latin name: Physalis pruinosa


Synonyms: Physalis grisea, Physalis pubescens grisea


Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade Family, Potato Family)



Edible parts of Strawberry Tomato:

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, preserves etc. A delicious bitter sweet flavour. The plant conveniently wraps up each fruit in its own "paper bag" (botanically, the calyx) to protect it from pests and the elements. This calyx is toxic and should not be eaten.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Annual


Height:
60 cm
(2 feet)

Flowering:
July to
September

Habitat of the herb:

Dry open often sandy soils, old fields and wasteland.

Propagation of Strawberry Tomato:

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place quickly and freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination.

Cultivation of the herb:

Dry open often sandy soils, old fields and wasteland.

Medicinal use of Strawberry Tomato:

None known

Known hazards of Physalis pruinosa:

All parts of the plant, except the fruit, are poisonous.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.