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
                T T T T
              P P P P P

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - temperate 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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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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Search -- edible.co.nz Full sun Shelter from winds and tolerates moderate salty marine conditions. Are frost tender and grows as an annual in colder regions. In warmer areas they will grow for several seasons producing seedlings to continue the plants. Frosts can burn the plants but will recover unless the frost was hard. Prune back after all frosts have passed. Cape Gooseberries will grow in a wide range of soils and pHs. Soil must be well draining. Plants will handle periods of drought but too much moisture could encourage fungal problems. Plant in early spring as this will help with an earlier fruit set, space 0.5-1.5 apart. In most situations Cape Gooseberries do not need any fertiliser. Unneeded fertiliser could result in lots of vegetation and little fruit. Pinch out new shoots to encourage bushy growth. Prune back hard in spring to encourage new growth for fruiting. Pests Very few problems unless the soil is too wet and causes fungal problems and rot. ------------------------------------------- if you are going to fertilise only put small amounts on. A 9L water can with a tablespoon or two of fertiliser - with a low N% with some P and K. Don't use the tomato fertiliser - far too much N. A suggestion - a little manure or compost mixed into the soil - compost or mulch around the plants will help cool the soil down in summer - also you will save water by doing this. With your high temperatures I would suggest you make a shade cover for summer - in Australia we have shade cloth - 50-70-90%. Find some cheap wood off cuts and make a frame - then nail the shade cloth to it. Or some black poly pipe about 25mm thick and make an arc over the plants. By the article the plants should only grow to a meter or so high.

- Mike

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