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Can You Grow Ground Cherry in British Columbia?

Canada · Canadian Zone 8 · zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Grows well here

Ground cherries grow easily in your zone — a surprisingly productive and self-sufficient crop.

Plant zones

3a–9b

British Columbia last frost

early March

British Columbia first frost

early December

Days to harvest

70–85 days

When to plant Ground Cherries in British Columbia

Start indoors

Jan 18

Transplant

Mar 1

Harvest

May 10 – May 25

Dates are approximate, based on British Columbia's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Ground Cherry

Ground cherries (husk cherries) are a hidden gem of the vegetable garden — sweet vanilla-pineapple flavored fruits inside papery husks that drop naturally when ripe. Excellent for jam, baking, and eating fresh.

Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plants self-mulch with dropped husks — fruits inside stay fresh on the ground for weeks. Harvest husked fruits daily. Productive and drought-tolerant once established. Self-seeds freely the following year.

Full ground cherry growing guide →

Gardening in British Columbia

BC has dramatically different climates. The mild rainy coast (Zone 7-9) allows near-year-round growing. The interior is semi-arid (Zone 5-7) with hot summers and cold winters. One of Canada's most productive growing regions.