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 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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05 Mar 14, sue (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
bought 2 plants in local nursery. getting nice lot of fruit
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08 Feb 14, Sid and Barbara Dyer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can you tell me where I can purchase Cape Gooseberry's plants...I would like 4 of them if I have to order...Eating fresh as well as it also makes a great Jam.
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13 Sep 15, Ted Dahms (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sid and Barbara Try Turners Garden Centre, Rochedale 4123 Regards Ted
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30 Aug 14, sue (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought my gooseberry plants from Bunnings last year.
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19 Jan 14, Sid Dyer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where can I buy Cape Gooseberry' Plants OR Seeds in Australia...They are 'YUM" Barbara D.
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19 Jan 14, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Eden Seeds have Cape Gooseberry seeds
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18 Jan 14, Roslyn campbell (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Dear Brad Did u get an answer to yr query as to why you r getting no fruit? I am having the same problem
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09 Jan 14, ray obrien (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
where can i please buy some cape gooseberries or some seeds we live on bribie island just 1 hr north of brisbane and our email is [email protected] and our phone is [07] 3408 8787 thank you i think they are the nicest fruit
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10 Jan 14, Nina (Australia - temperate climate)
I never liked this fruit as a child but now I'm crazy about them :) Did you have any luck getting seeds? If not, I can post you some (next time I buy the dried Inca berries - or if you can get the dried fruit, save your own) ... or if you happen to be in Sydney I'll dig you up a plant. Mine are still small and not yet fruiting.
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04 Apr 14, Venus Law (Australia - temperate climate)
Nina! I looking for cape gooseberry seed too... I have plenty of Husk Tomato seed...I lived in Sydney as well.. Can we exchange it. Venus
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Showing 281 - 290 of 393 comments
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Have a cape gooseberry going on 3 summers now. Not much fruit in first year, bucket load in 2nd summer, now bucket loads in 3rd summer. Red spider mites would attack it from about March through to start of winter, but we just cut it back to about 20cm from base and the spider mites disappear heading into the winter. Noticed about a month ago after the hot weather hit, that alot of new flowers would just fall off at the slightest touch. Put this down to lack of water, so we placed sugar cane mulch to about 6 inches thick and out to a radius of about a meter, then stretched shade cloth over the mulch and pegged down (to keep the blackbirds from destroying the mulch). Under the mulch cover we also placed weaper hose and had this going for a few hours each day, and problem soon resolved with loads more flowers and setting fruit.

- Brad

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