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      
              T T T T  

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in South Africa - Semi-arid regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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

01 Aug 16, Deon (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
hi do capegoose beries require full sun?
01 Oct 16, May (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
In my experience, they grow fine in full sun, but they bear more fruit if they have a bit of shade. I plant mine in flowerbeds and sheltered behind taller trees/plants, so they get morning sun and then dappled shade for the rest of the day.
24 Mar 16, Sandi Inch (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
would I be able to grow gooseberries on my window sill as I live in a flat. I have planted seeds and have a plant come up which is 3 - 4 cm in height....... will it survive?
04 Feb 16, Mandrid (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Does anyone still have cape gooseberry seedlings available?
25 Nov 15, omari (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I have cape gooseberry seeds and seedlings ...if interested get back to me
05 Feb 16, Mandrid Blignaut (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Omari Do you still have gooseberry seedlings available? We're looking for a large number.
30 Dec 15, bian kaighin (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hope I am not too late, f not I would like about 6 plants please. I live west Durban so please advise price including delivery
28 Aug 15, Beth Prins (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
What soil will gooseberries best grow in. I have managed to grow some from seed but they seem to wilt when they reach around 20/30 cm tall. I battle to get them to grow to full height and fruit.
21 Jul 15, Kalidasan (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I need cape gooseberry seeds. Where its possible?
10 Aug 15, Pam (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Try Living Seeds and Organic Seeds. Both are online shops
Showing 21 - 30 of 48 comments

Hi, i live in Ontario. I got a golden berry in the husk from the market. i saved the seeds as folows: open the fruit, squeeze all flesh and fruit in a strainer. Wash it well, the flesh will separate. Pick it up and wash the seeds some more. Then you can put them on a paper towel to dry, they will stick to that but you can plant them with the paper, no problem. Or put them on a plate, let them dry well adn the bag them or plant them. I planted about half the seeds. Cover lightly with soil and i set them under growing lights, covered. I started them in January, they took about 3 weeks to emerge, uncovered and let them grow under lights. Potted them up. They say do not fetilize, but the leaves came yellow with green stripes, so i fed them fish emulsion diluted. They grew beautiful. Fed them about 3 times only. Never since. It is end of May and couple of them have a handfull of flowers. I experimented with pinching the top. Online they say do not pinch, let them grow 9 to 12 nodes and they will split naturally. true. The ones not pinched split and the first flowers grows right there. The pinched ones do not have any flowers yet, they are bushier though. I will plant them out in sandy soil in a week. I will save seeds this year and can send to anyone in Canada wanting to try. They are annuals in zone 5 so you need to start them every year. Very easy to grow, and if they make 150 to 300 fruits per plant it is well worth it. In the husk they store up to 3 months at room temperature. I can let you know how long will take from seed to fruit. Have fun !!!

- Adela

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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.
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