Home › Ground Cherry › Grow in Indiana

Can You Grow Ground Cherry in Indiana?

US · USDA Zone 5b · zones 5a, 5b, 6a

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

3a–9b

Indiana last frost

early April

Indiana first frost

late October

Days to harvest

70–85 days

When to plant Ground Cherries in Indiana

Start indoors

Feb 23

Transplant

Apr 7

Harvest

Jun 16 – Jul 1

Dates are approximate, based on Indiana'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 Indiana

Indiana has a humid continental climate. Northern Indiana is Zone 5a-5b; southern Indiana is warmer at Zone 6a. Four distinct seasons with a 5-6 month growing window.