Cape Goosberry

Physalis peruviana

Synonyms : Uvilla, Ground-cherry, Golden berry, Physalis, Aguaymanto, Inca berry, Poc-Poc [....].



Origin : Native to high altitude tropical lands in South America. More precisely, Physalis is native to Andean region of Venezuela (between 800 and 3000 meters high). However, fruits were cultivated in South Africa, in the region of the Cape of Good Hope during the 1800s: it is presumably the origin of its common name, Cape goosberry.



Area of Culture : After the cultivation of these fruits in the Cape of Good Hope, they developed in Australia. Now, Cape goosberries have spread to a large scale in the world and have naturalized in tropical regions around the world.


Description : Physalis is a perennial plant reaching from 1 to 2 feet in height: it is usually small, like tomato plant. The plant has green hairy leaves. The yellow flower is hermaphrodite. The fruit is a small round berry about the size of a marble with a lot of small yellow seeds in it. The colour of the ripe fruit is yellow or orange. The fruit is surrounded by a calyx: a kind of pod which looks like a lantern.





Climate conditions : Cape goosberry grows best in tropical areas with not quite hot temperatures (warm temperatures). The plant needs also to be covered from frost because the aerial part of the plant is nipping at (- 3°C). Howling winds can damage or kill the plant.




Cultural method : Plants are propagated by seeds or by stem cuttings. Physalis can grow in most soil types. It can accept very poor soils to grow and also to be cultivated in pots. However, Cape goosberry feared misdrained soils and suffocating one. Densities of population do not exceed 6500 to 11000 plants per hectare. We have to provide lots of water thoughout the growing period of time except when the fruit begins to ripe. Physalis can be cultivated as an annual or as a biennial plant.




Uses : The fruit is commonly eaten raw but it can also be used in jams, jellies or pies [....]. It is also popular to find cape goosberries in a restaurant used as a garnishment for a table or a dish because of their appearances with husks. In South America, fruits are also used in medicine because of their diuretic properties.

Dragon Fruit

Hylocereus undatus

Synonyms : Pita(ha)ya (Spanish), Belle of the Night (English)

Origin : The exact origin is unknown and undated but the plant might come from an area situated between Mexico (Central America) and South America.

Area of Culture : Now, dragon fruit is widespread: it is cultivated around the world in tropical areas. You can find it mostly in Southeast Asia, Australia and South America.

Description : Pitahaya is a succulent and vining or creeping plant with green steems reaching from 6 to 12 feet long. The plant climbs onto trees using aerial roots. They propaged by seeds or by stem cuttings.

Flowers are beautiful and some species are used as ornementals. They bloom only at night and one time. Flowers are called "Moonflower" or "Belle of the night". Blossoms are grouped together: 4 to 6 blossoms could succeed between December and April. These flowering cycles are leading to 4-6 fruiting cycles per year. As a consequence, you can find on the same plant at this period of time, buds, young fruits and mature fruits. Pollinisation is necessary to set fruit.

Dragon fruits will be harvest around one month later pollinisation. They can weigh from 150-700g each. Some fruits reach 1kg.

They are three types of dragon fruits:

- Hylocereus undatus (Red Pitaya) with red skin and white flesh composed of a lot of small black seeds. The most commonly known as "Dragon fruit".

- Hylocereus costaricensis with red skin and red flesh composed also of a lot of small black seeds.

- Hylocereus megalanthus (Yellox Pitaya) with yellow skin and white flesh composed also of a lot of small black seeds.

Climatic conditions : Dragon fruit grows best in dry tropical areas with a moderate amount of rain. The annual rainfall may be situated between 600 to 1300 mm per year with an alternation of humid and dry seasons. The first summery rains begin blooming period. The plant tolerates high temperatures (38-40°C) and short period of frost otherwise the plant will be damage or kill.

Cultural methods : Because of their epiphytic nature, plants are not much depending on soil types. It is recommended to grow them in soil that is supplemented with a high amount of organic materials. The plants also grow successfully in sandy soils. Attention needs to be paid to the plants because of their environment. A specie of ant Solenospsis germinata cause important damages to the plants and particularly to the fruits and steems. The bites caused seem to be a good entrance for other diseases for Pitaya. Birds can also be a nuisance for the plant. Overwatering or excessive rainfall can cause the flowers to simply drop off and rot. A specie of bacteria can also cause steems to rot.

Uses : The only part of the fruit which is edible is the flesh: the skin is not eaten. It is recommended and very popular that dragon fruit is eaten chilled and alone to improve flavour. The fruit is low in calories. Eating fruit is likened to kiwi fruit. The fruit can be also converted into juice or used to flavour other drinks (tea..). Unopened flowerbuds are cooked and eaten as vegetables.