[http://www2.arhomeandgarden.org/_includes/ask_janet_carson.htm]

Vegetables - Husk Tomato
Back to Vegetables

'Q' (Question)  My brother ordered the seed for this plant that I have enclosed. He said they were listed as exotic tomatoes. They are like no tomato I have ever seen. I would like to know what they are. The one we have is about three feet tall.

'A' (Answer)  The plant is a husk tomato, Physalis peruviana. Other common names include ground cherry and strawberry tomato. The fruits are about the same size as a cherry tomato and are produced inside a paper-like husk. When ripe, the husks turn brown and the fruits drop from the plant. It is related to the Chinese lantern plant. It has a distinctive flavor and is used raw in cocktails or for a dessert. It is frequently used in pies or as a cooked sauce on cakes and puddings. A close cousin is the tomatillo, a tart flavored fruit, used in Mexican cooking.


Back to Vegetables

[http://www2.arhomeandgarden.org/_includes/bottom.htm]