Your comments and tips

10 Feb 22, B Welch (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

I plant the public road fences of my farm with various edibles. Our Cape Gooseberrys are dropping fruit on the ground, some of which I assume will grow. I intend to drill holes about 3m apart, 150mm deep, just to loosen the clay, then push a whole fruit in, and cover with 10mm of clay, hide it from birds etc. I know that sounds rough, but it's a lot of planting, so I'd like to keep it simple. what are my chances? What extra must I do? Slow release fert? Thanks B.

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06 Mar 23, Kiwi Permaculture Beginner (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Just wondering if you tried your drill method for planting up your fences with cape gooseberry (or anything else for that matter) & what your results have been like?

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17 Feb 22, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)

Clay soil is a massive topic, I suggest you read a few articles - here is a very positive one: https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/dirt-dirt-clay -- like the article states your soil is probably loaded with nutrition, water is the real issue; the way clay soil gets water logged and heavy. The standard rule of thumb with clay soil is: load it up with organic matter (manure, leaves, kitchen compost, etc.). You can just LAYER these on the soil. Additionally, choosing plants that tolerate/like clay soil -- I think the hardy kiwi can tolerate this soil as well as American Persimmon, osage oranges and lots of other plants. They have online plant finders that can help you isolate which plants have the highest probability of success. One thing I did notice when working with heavy clay soils was that plants take a lot longer to establish and grow. I suspect I wouldn't make the effort to plant anything other than plants that are specifically listed as clay tolerant -- you have to go right down to the type of plant: for example: OSAGE oranges not just any oranges .... but maybe all oranges can tolerate clay... you need to check by the type.

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11 Feb 22, Anonymous of Bundaberg (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

You need better soil than clay. It is like anything, the better the preparation the better the result. A shovel load of good soil will have better results.

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13 Jan 22, Elisabeth (USA - Zone 7b climate)

Are cape gooseberries and ground cherries the same?

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17 Jan 22, Anonymous (USA - Zone 4a climate)

Ground cherries (Physalis spp.), often called cape gooseberries, are native in many parts of the United States and often grow in fields and alongside roads.

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06 Jan 22, Tara Sikorski (USA - Zone 7a climate)

-I planted the seeds from the berries I had from the store. -I live on Long Island, NY. -I started them in a small pot, a bit too late to sow- so I kept them indoor. I have my own odd ways of trying things- but this has been my biggest thriving indoor plant. (It was tiny and slow growing for a few months and then one day they just shot up and just keep growing a couple feet tall, and some are crazy looking (like one stem made a complete u-turn because the wall was in the way lol)... But for a start off-let's see if this will work experiment, it surprisingly worked out well. I will do it outdoors this year for sure. My second best plant has been dragon fruit.... So weird I know. I gave some pots with them already 6-12 inches high to people in VA and South Carolina, and some how- no one could grow it larger, and mine is looking like cousin it with green spiked hair. Lol.

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31 Aug 22, Chris (USA - Zone 8b climate)

Where do you have it in the house? Is it near a window or is it in a sunroom or what? That sounds cool are you eating those berries yet bud?

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06 Dec 23, Camille (USA - Zone 5a climate)

It's better to have sunroom. I place the golden berries plants indoor near the window since Oct. Warm and sunny make it grow faster.

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11 Jan 22, Anonymous (USA - Zone 4b climate)

Most plants require certain climate conditions to grow. A soil temperature range to germinate etc. Hours of daylight sun to grow well. That is why you plant crop at a certain time of the year.

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