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Can You Grow Ground Cherry in Louisiana?

US · USDA Zone 8b · zones 8a, 8b, 9a

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

3a–9b

Louisiana last frost

late January

Louisiana first frost

mid-December

Days to harvest

70–85 days

When to plant Ground Cherries in Louisiana

Start indoors

Jan 1

Transplant

Jan 30

Harvest

Apr 10 – Apr 25

Dates are approximate, based on Louisiana'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 Louisiana

Louisiana has a humid subtropical climate with very mild winters and long hot summers. Year-round cool-season growing is possible; the summer is the only limiting factor.