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
21 Nov 12, Shirley (Australia - tropical climate)
I bought a cape gooseberry plant which keeps growing & growing but hasn't had any fruit. I've had it for 3 or 4 months.
Reply or Post a new comment
19 Nov 12, Carmel (Australia - temperate climate)
Do I need to plant new plants each,or are the plants perennial
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Apr 13, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Carmel, Yes, the plants are perennial.
Reply or Post a new comment
01 Dec 12, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
Apparantly they are an annual in the temperate climates but mine has been growing fine for around 2 years now and still fruiting.
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Dec 12, Lumpie (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Adelaide. My Cape Gooseberry is now about 7yo and I cut it back to a stump each year. This year it has grown to over 3mts tall and have had to prune it at 5mts spread so as to get cars into shed. It is prolific bearer, although this year have suffered from fruit drop.
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Dec 18, Laura (Australia - temperate climate)
My Cape Gooseberry bush is dropping its fruit before the berries turn golden, the lanterns are dry and light brown, so they look right but they aren't. What do I need to do?
Reply or Post a new comment
09 Nov 12, irene (Australia - temperate climate)
what if any fertilisers are rquired for cape gooseberrys and how often....have a bush that has gone yellow in the leaves and seems to be dropping its leaves and fruit before they are ripe...
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Sep 12, Janice Banner (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I bought my seeds from Edens Seeds, who are situated at Lower Beechmont. They sell heritage seeds, and are excellent to deal with. You can find them on line.
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Sep 12, russ richards (Australia - temperate climate)
were can I get seeds for this plant ?
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Sep 12, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Do the plants lose vigour after a few yeard
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 331 - 340 of 393 comments
See comments for all plants

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

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.