Look carefully underneath the plants in the Culinary Herb Garden, because the husk cherries are ripe and ready for picking. Sometimes called ground cherries, these nightshades are nestled in a lantern-shaped husk with yummy light orange ‘cherries’ inside.
Similar to cherry tomatoes in appearance, their flavor is slightly sweet and tropical, often compared to a mix of strawberry, mango and pineapple with a gentle acidity. An heirloom dating back to the mid-19th century, this simple-to-grow veggie was once a staple in most home gardens. Preferring the same conditions and ripening time as tomatoes, husk cherries are protected by crinkly, tan husks and tend to be more hardy and resistant to common pests and diseases.
Self-pollinating and easy to manage in the ground, containers or raised beds, the plant will keep producing fruit up until the first frosts of autumn. Husk cherries can be stored in cool, dry places for up to a month or frozen solid to store in the freezer for later use.
Information sourced from Boston Organics and P. Allen Smith (great overview and more information here).
