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

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - sub-tropical 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
01 Dec 13, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
I usually wait till they are about to fall off the tree, as the husk has to be brown and like paper. The fruit inside should be a yellowy/orange colour as well.
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11 Nov 13, K (Australia - temperate climate)
My cape gooseberries split inside its papery cover so I end up throwing them away. any hints to remedy this situation.
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01 Dec 13, Slice Of Eden (Australia - temperate climate)
One thing that can cause this is over watering as the fruit develops as it swells the fruit too quickly compared with the rate the skin grows. Try reducing watering if you may have been a little heavy-handed with the hose. It can happen with tomatoes also.
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05 Nov 13, BARBARA SKELTON (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The leaves of my goosberry bush are turning yellow. Does this mean we need to fertilise more often?
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30 Aug 14, sue (Australia - temperate climate)
I have observed my leaves turning yellow also, but what I have noticed is that as they turn yellow, there are new young green leaves [new growth] appearing right next to yellow leaves.these are just old leaves dying off as new leaves appear. Hope this helps. SUE
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30 Oct 13, Henry Phaltas (Australia - temperate climate)
Dear sirs, I love to have GOODBERRY........IS THIS INCA BERRY,.......ALSO MACA......do you have BOTH SEEDS. I live in SYDNEY.......High regards Henry
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26 Oct 13, Henry (Australia - temperate climate)
Dear Sirs, Kindlt advise how I buy the seeds of incaberry. Regards Henry
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08 Sep 13, Kay Bodman (Australia - temperate climate)
My bush is covered in 'fruit' - they stay green, very few ripen. if they do they are only half recipe. Many do not form. The bush is in full sun, very drained, and fed. Any clues. I am lucky to get 25 pods per week. Thak you
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04 Sep 13, Kay White (Australia - tropical climate)
Bunnings sell cape gooseberry plants in Queensland
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03 Sep 13, Kaye (Australia - tropical climate)
I have very vigourous looking plants with a few pods but nothing in them. What am I doing wrong? Ihave a friend nearby who gets heaps or fruit so it,s not my zone.
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Showing 301 - 310 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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