Growing Cape Gooseberry, also Golden Berry, Inca Berry

Physalis peruviana : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                    S  
  T                    
  P                    

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in USA - Zone 10a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 100 - 150 cm apart
  • Harvest in 14-16 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Will happily grow in a flower border but tends to sprawl over other plants.

Your comments and tips

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23 Mar 17, Jonno (Australia - temperate climate)
Cape gooseberries are normally treated as an annual. The cooler nights and mornings are probably contibuting to its sad appearance. It may still survive in a sheltered spot. Another alternative would be to buy some seed and germinaate them inside. Grow them on in individual pots ready for planting out in spring. That would get them established for a good season ahead.
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13 Mar 17, Anton Morrison (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown cape gooseberry from seeds and have just recently started repotting them. With some of the plants there are obviously more than one plant in them. Should I cut back all but the smallest or will they just carry on regardless? Thanks in advance. A.
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14 Mar 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
Normally you would select the strongest plant and cut off or remove the others. This would give the remaining plant the best chance of developing. Cape gooseberies are frost tender and are normally treated as an annual but will cary over in areas with mild winters. You could pot them on and keep them in a protected area until the spring before planting out if you need to.
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03 Feb 17, Gayle (Australia - tropical climate)
Will gooseberry bushes grow in Rockhampton Central Queensland and can I buy from you (We don't sell plants - Gardenate)
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05 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Look up seed catalogues on the net. They are easy to grow from seed.
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30 Jan 17, Lenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Cucumber beetles mencozeb fixed the problem
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28 Jan 17, Lenny (Australia - temperate climate)
Striped beetles on plant making a mess
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21 Jan 17, Max Collier (Australia - tropical climate)
I am wondering why i haven't got a reply about my Cape gooseberry plant yet, i still don't have fruit coming on?, Max.
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13 Apr 17, Quyen (Australia - tropical climate)
Im not expert but i think you must help the pollinating process by using ear cotton stick to touch from flower to another ones. I often do it for some kind of vegetable in my garden. It worked! (or soft artist's brush - Liz)
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07 Apr 17, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
How did your Cape Gooseberry go? Did it flower? Did it fruit? I just read your post and saw no reply so thought I'd ask. I hope it ended up fruiting for you.
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Showing 151 - 160 of 393 comments
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Hi Nafisa, I just replied to Greg telling him that I've given all my potted gooseberry plants to people at my work. I've been giving away fresh cucumbers and zuuchinis at work and telling people about the cape gooseberry plants. So they were all very curious and wanted to plant them. So i am out of of stock at the moment but I am going to do a big batch this weekend and sure I am happy to send a few out to you once they take roots or I am happy to wrap them in wet newspaper and put them in Chinese take way plastic container and post to you if you want to grow them from cuttings yourself. My mobile is 0403 706 007, text me your address and let me know if you want to wait til they taken roots or send you just the cuttings. They are very easy to take roots, just follow my instructions from the original post if you want to try it yourself. Canh

- Canh

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