When to plant Ground Cherry in Zone 5a
In Zone 5a, Ground Cherry: start seeds indoors around Mar 17–Mar 31; transplant outdoors around May 12–May 19. Expect to harvest around Jul 21–Jul 28.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Transplant outdoors | May 12 – May 19 |
| Harvest | Jul 21 – Jul 28 |
Tip: Grown like a tomato; the husked fruits are ripe once they drop to the ground on their own.
Zone 5a averages a last spring frost around May 5 and a first fall frost around Oct 1. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 5a calendar in the tool →