SKU: 34568052166
planting ground cherry seeds

planting ground cherry seeds New Hanover' Ground Cherry – Experimental Farm Network Seed Store

Sale price$26.17 Regular price$29.08
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 11 - Jul 16

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

planting ground cherry seeds New Hanover' Ground Cherry – Experimental Farm Network Seed StorePhysalis spp. (probably P. pruinosa) Origin: New Hanover, Pennsylvania Improvement status: Cultivar Seeds per packet: ~50 Germination tested 10 2024: 83% Life cycle: Annual Ground cherries are close relatives of tomatillos, considered a type of "husk tomato." The flavor is often more tangy than sweet, and can taste more like a vegetable than a fruit, but not the 'New Hanover': it's sweet, fruity, and addictive. It can be hard to save seeds from these

Physalis spp. (probably P. pruinosa)

Origin: New Hanover, Pennsylvania

Improvement status: Cultivar

Seeds per packet: ~50

Germination tested 10/2024: 83%

Life cycle: Annual

Ground cherries are close relatives of tomatillos, considered a type of "husk tomato." The flavor is often more tangy than sweet, and can taste more like a vegetable than a fruit, but not the 'New Hanover': it's sweet, fruity, and addictive. It can be hard to save seeds from these because you'll want to eat every fruit! At a tasting held by the American Institute of Wine and Food, it beat all other ground cherries tested. Try them in jams, jellies, sauces, pies or other baked goods, and they're also good raw or dried. The berries grow in profusion on upright, sprawling, drought-resistant plants, but the fruit are not worth eating until they've hit the ground (hence the name).

But as wonderful as this plant is itself, the story of the 'New Hanover' ground cherry makes it even more special. You should pull up a chair though... this is a long one...:

'New Hanover' is one of the first varieties we ever sold. We were given the seeds by William Woys Weaver, famed author and seed saver, steward of the Roughwood Seed Collection, and a founding board member of EFN. Will initially told us that the seeds came from the late Katie Hoffman Slonaker (1903-1983) of New Hanover, Pennsylvania, so that's about the only information we wrote in our description of the variety.

A few years later, I (this is Nate) was talking with Will at Roughwood, and we were marveling at how popular this variety was becoming. Will mentioned that he'd like to honor the young man who gave him the seeds by at least telling his story in the description. It turned out Will actually received the seeds from Katie Hoffman Slonaker's grandson. Back in the "80s or 90s", Jonas Slonaker managed the garden at Roughwood. Will remembered him as a hard worker and a kind soul who would, as he worked, sing the religious hymns of his conservative Pennsylvania Dutch childhood — but with hilarious and often lewd lyrics in place of the originals (little did I know then, I would eventually get to hear some of those lyrics). Will told us that Jonas quit one day and soon moved "out west", never to be heard from again.

The next day while revising some of our seed descriptions, I googled Jonas Slonaker. In no time I learned that a character in The Laramie Project — the famous play by the Tectonic Theater Project about the murder and torture of Matthew Shepard and the town where that horrible hate-crime took place — was called Jonas Slonaker. I soon learned that Jonas (like all of the "characters" in the play) was a very real person, and all of the biographical details I could find matched what I knew about Will's long-lost gardener: a middle-aged gay man, from a deeply conservative Pennsylvania Dutch community, "gone West" for personal healing in wide-open spaces. Jonas was inspired to come out of the closet after the murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man whom he had never met, and interviews with Jonas form some of the emotional core of the play. As it turned out, Jonas Slonaker was living in Laramie and working at the University of Wyoming!

A few months later, I happened to be driving from Nebraska (Meadowlark Hearth Farm) to Oregon (for the Organic Seed Growers Conference) with EFN co-founder Dusty Hinz and our friend and grower Clint Freund. A road sign alerted me that our trip would take us right through Laramie in just half an hour! I had emailed Jonas to put him in touch with Will, and his reply included a phone number, so I dialed him up right away and in short order we were knocking on his door. Culminating a seed-story so far-fetched I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been there for it, we soon reunited him with the long-lost seeds of his "Memmy" — who taught him the original lyrics to those hymns all those decades ago, and who cultivated in him a lifelong love of gardening.

Jonas told us that his grandmother called them “Juddekaersche,” or “Jew Cherries,” and since he was never sure why she called them this, he always assumed it was a “Wandering Jew” reference (they are very prone to self-seeding and do tend to wander around the garden from year to year). Will later told me that "Juddekaersche" is simply the Pennsylvania German name for them, and it's because "they're like cherries, but slightly off" (Will says Pennsylvania Germans commonly used "Jew" as a modifier to mean "slightly off"!). As a Jew myself, I confess I like Jonas's theory better.

Even in the dead of winter, Dusty, Clint and I had a great time touring Jonas's frozen garden, examining the skeletal frames of his bush cherries, plums, currants, and gooseberries, and tasting his delicious purple carrots (we spent quite a bit of time admiring his beautiful artwork too!). I'm grateful to report that we've stayed in touch — he is a truly wonderful man, generous and fun, and an excellent artist to boot — and I happily stayed in his basement when I again passed through Laramie a year later. I very much look forward to my next visit and I will be forever grateful to this plant for bringing Jonas Slonaker and his inspiring story into my life.

What a blessing.

GROWING TIPS: Ground cherries can take a while to germinate, so don't give up on them! They may take two weeks to sprout, or more. We recommend starting seeds indoors in March or early April — surface sown and kept moist — and transplanting them to the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Plants could be two feet apart, maybe more. Prefers full sun.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 34568052166

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell planting ground cherry seeds

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 791 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
L
Verified Purchase
Lesa
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Great quality!
These are every bit as good as the more expensive plastic ware. They’re thick and sturdy. I particularly like the cutouts in the handle. They’re easier for me to grip and keep ahold of. Extremely happy with this purchase.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
E
Verified Purchase
Ekaterina S.
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
perfect for daily use — not too thin, not overly thick
Style: 200 Count, Style: 200 Count
I bought the Vanity Fair Everyday Paper Napkins for everyday family meals, and they’ve been great. They’re soft and smooth, but still durable enough to handle spills without falling apart. The size is perfect for daily use — not too thin, not overly thick — just right for kids and adults. I also like that they feel a bit more premium than basic napkins, which makes the table look nicer even for simple dinners. The 200-count pack lasts a while, so it’s a good value for the price. Simple, reliable, and perfect for everyday use.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2026
Y
Verified Purchase
Yuliia Bezhenar
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect balance of softness and durability for everyday use.
Style: 400 Count
Great everyday napkins – good value for the price I’ve been buying Vanity Fair Everyday napkins for a while now, and they’re perfect for daily use. They’re soft enough to feel comfortable but still strong and absorbent. They don’t fall apart easily, even with messy meals or spills. The value pack is especially convenient and lasts a long time, which makes it a great option for families or regular use. They’re not overly thick like premium dinner napkins, but for everyday meals, lunches, or kids’ snacks, they work perfectly. Overall, a reliable, affordable choice that I keep reordering.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2026
I
Verified Purchase
iCANunn
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Multi use…
Style: 200 Count, Style: 200 Count
I love these Vanity Fair Napkins. They fit perfectly in my counter dispenser. They are a nice, attractive napkin whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And they are at a good price point. But truth be told, they come in handy when you have a cold. Grab a handful and take along with you for blowing your nose. They are stronger than bath tissue, yet softer than a paper towel and strong enough for all your congestion.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
Samantha
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Reliable and High-Quality for Daily Use
Style: 400 Count, Style: 400 Count
These napkins have a great weight to them. They are surprisingly thick, which adds to their sturdiness—they don't fall apart the moment they get slightly damp like cheaper brands. The size is perfect for everyday meals. Because they are soft yet strong, they are a breeze for ease of use, whether you're cleaning up a quick spill or just setting the table. The bright white color looks clean and classic, making them versatile enough for both casual lunches and nicer dinners. With the 400-count value pack, you really get excellent value for money. It’s much more convenient to buy in bulk so you aren't constantly running back to the store.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2026

recommand products