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 S S S S
                T T T T
              P P P P P

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - temperate 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

03 Jun 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Lyn I leave the over ripe gooseberries (or take a few ripe ones ) and just scratch them into the soil around the gooseberry bush or somewhere else in the garden if I want to plant more and they spring up next growing season. I usually just squash the gooseberry and spread it around a bit. They can be a bit unsuccessful if you try to transplant them after they have popped up out of the ground. As a precaution I always squash some and spread them out on a paper towel and dry them, seal them in an airtight bottle and next season plant them paper and all by tearing the paper into strips ( the seeds stick to the paper )
30 May 16, Phil (Australia - temperate climate)
I have 2 plants about one metre high. I am getting plenty of fruit but they won't ripen properly. They get three quarters ripe and fall off the bush. I collect them and take them inside but they don't get any riper. This means they have a slightly sour taste still.?? please help
04 Sep 16, Stephanie (Australia - temperate climate)
I love mine slightly tart. The usual rule is for the pod to become transparent and the fruit change from green to orange. Then they are ready! I have grown them easily from Sydney to Taree, and am told that they grow well around Portland SW Vic too. Anyone know where I can obtain some??
09 Sep 16, Soob (Australia - temperate climate)
seedcollection.com has them, I've only just started raising seedlings.
03 Jun 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Phil Try fertilizing with liquid Potassium (available from Bunnings) Potassium promotes the growth of fruit and flowers and should make the fruit ripen properly. I spray most of my fruiting plants and my flowering plants (roses etc ) regularly with liquid potassium for great results.
28 May 18, Kingy (Australia - temperate climate)
My berries won’t ripen either! I will try the potassium... Thank you! Would love anymore tips too! :)
26 Aug 18, Robert (Australia - temperate climate)
How did you go with the liquid potassium? . I also have many berries thaf are not rippening.
17 May 16, Lyn Teaf (Australia - temperate climate)
I have some gooseberry fruit and would like to know if I have to dry them out so the seeds are dry or can I plant the whole fruit. I live in Perth.
29 May 16, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Perth (hills) and have just potted on a few dozen small plants that I grew in a large foam container from seed. I had a mixture of dried seeds and seeds still inside the soft fruit (I wanted to see which would work best). All the seeds have germinated I literally have a few hundred seedlings. I am now in the process of seeing which growing conditions are going to work best up here. I think I will plant the seeds directly into the ground next time.
28 Apr 16, Mitch Orchard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We have successfully grown a number of Cape Gooseberry plants in our school garden (located at Bundarra - NW NSW). We are currently harvesting the fruit and the yield is fantastic.
Showing 191 - 200 of 393 comments

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Cape Gooseberry

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.