When to plant Ground Cherry in Zone 9a
In Zone 9a, Ground Cherry: start seeds indoors around Jan 10–Jan 24; transplant outdoors around Mar 7–Mar 14. Expect to harvest around May 16–May 23.
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| Start seeds indoors | Jan 10 – Jan 24 |
| Transplant outdoors | Mar 7 – Mar 14 |
| Harvest | May 16 – May 23 |
Tip: Grown like a tomato; the husked fruits are ripe once they drop to the ground on their own.
Zone 9a averages a last spring frost around Feb 28 and a first fall frost around Dec 5. These are zone averages — look up your ZIP for your exact area.
See the full Zone 9a calendar in the tool →