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 5a 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 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 39 - 59 inches 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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18 Oct 14, Ange (Australia - temperate climate)
My cape gooseberry grew like a crazy thing and produced loads of fruit in decent sunlight late in a sydney winter when nothing else in the garden looked very happy to be alive. Doesn't mind cold wet conditions but not sure about frost. I'm coastal so frost not an issue. Good luck. Cape gooseberry jam is the best thing!
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22 Sep 14, Suzanne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a lovely bush growing with lots of big fruit, but there are lots of oval shaped pale yellow beetles with black stripes which congregate on the bush and lay clusters of tiny yellow eggs on the undersides of leaves. These then apparently develop very quickly into fat squishy larvae which just demolish the leaves. Can anyone identify the beetle and advise how I can beat them other than by pulling them off every day and stomping on them?
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02 Aug 15, Terry (Australia - temperate climate)
Try throwing wood ash over the plant - it works for pear slug - so may work for these bugs too.
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24 Oct 14, Robin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The beetle is the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittata, - kill any beetles, eggs, larvae as soon as possible - I sprayed my plants with pyrethrum to good effect but you still need to be very vigilant as numbers build up very quickly if you do not look every day - good luck!
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13 Sep 14, Rose (Australia - temperate climate)
My two new Cape Gooseberry plants, still in small pots, have yellowish spots on their leaves. Does anyone know if this is normal or is it a sign of fungal development? If so what would be the best fungicide to use?
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06 Sep 14, Christian (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, Could you let me know where you are and if possible to pick up some seeds. I have just returned from Portugal where they were used in salads and like to try and grow. [email protected] if you can help
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10 Oct 14, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I got my packet of seeds from Bunnings. The brand is Johnsons and they seem to specialise on more obscure seeds. Probably your best bet, more expensive than most of the other seeds, but high yield when established.
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16 Sep 14, Dan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hey, i just picked up a packet of seeds from a nursery called 'golden berry' i know their known by alot of names but that seems to be the one sold in packets. Bunnings sometimes stocks them as 'Cape Gooseberry seedlings' hope that helps
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30 Aug 14, Gwenneth (Australia - tropical climate)
Can you prune this plant after fruit has finished?
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14 Dec 14, Kay (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I wish to know the same thing. It is December in Brisbane. I got a reasonable crop. Those bugs attached but no matter how prolific they are I am like a terrier as I am determined not to lose the bush like I near did a previous season but it has left the bush big and rangey. It is just starting to bear some fruit but I would love to prunit6 it but I am not game unless I kill it.
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Showing 251 - 260 of 393 comments
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Cape Gooseberry is an entirely different species to the Gooseberry bush you bought at bunnings. Cape Gooseberries taste like tiny cherry tomatoes and are from the tomatillo family, where as gooseberries are from similar hedgerow families to blackberries. The bush you bought will produce very sweet, tart berries, but the cape gooseberry is quite different- and nice! Grab some cape gooseberry seeds from ebay, sprinkle a packet over your garden & go nuts!

- Bel

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