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Can You Grow Ground Cherry in Missouri?

US · USDA Zone 6a · zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

3a–9b

Missouri last frost

early April

Missouri first frost

late October

Days to harvest

70–85 days

When to plant Ground Cherries in Missouri

Start indoors

Feb 17

Transplant

Apr 1

Harvest

Jun 10 – Jun 25

Dates are approximate, based on Missouri'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 Missouri

Missouri has a humid continental climate. Kansas City and St. Louis are Zone 6a-6b; northern Missouri is cooler at Zone 5b-6a. Four distinct seasons with a long growing window.