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                  
        T              
        P              

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in USA - Zone 5a 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 USA | for all countries
25 Jan 21, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I sow seeds in November last year which was bought from Bunnings and they are still very tiny plants around 15cm height. Not sure what's wrong or do I just need to be patience?
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Jan 21, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I think you have very poor soil. Or it is very hot temperature. Try again early autumn.
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Nov 20, Sue Nicoll (Australia - temperate climate)
What causes cape gooseberry leaves to start turning blackish. Growing in large pot and has fruit on it. Seems healthy apart from the blackness on most of the leaves. We have a bore, not sure if this is causing the problem
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Dec 20, Brad (Australia - temperate climate)
conditions very close to a frost can cause blackening of the leaves. Cover the plants when you expect temperatures to dip below 2deg C during colder months.
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Nov 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Phone an agric company with an agronomist and ask them.
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Oct 20, Kahu (Australia - tropical climate)
Why has my cape gooseberry gone white.
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Oct 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Might have powdery mildew. Google it and do some research.
Reply or Post a new comment
11 Sep 20, Rodney Lewis (Australia - temperate climate)
Does the Inca berry tolerate lower temperatures throughout winter and frosts Being a perennial will it continue to grow and produce through the colder months
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Sep 20, Anonymous (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
If you can grow in a cool/mountain climate then it will tolerate winter temps. A perennial will generally have a growing time ,a fruiting time and a quiet time (winter).
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Aug 20, Anna (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Golden Berry | Physalis Is this plant will survive in Canadain winter (Place called Mississauga, ON, also called GTA (Greater Toronto Area)) if I kept in my garden & grow up again next March. I belief it perennial . Please confirm me.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 61 - 70 of 556 comments
See comments for all plants

Hello, I'm researching information on growing this plant and this site has the most, however after reading all the comments I am a little confused. could somebody clarify some bits please? 1) Most comments and tips agree on that the plant doesn't need any fertilizer but some speak about potassium and manure. If I use whatever is suitable for tomatoes will i hurt the plant or just get a lot of vegetable growth but no fruits? 2)Last year I grew 4 plants and managed to destroy two of them by over-watering (I had them all in pots so i guess draining was the issue). I live on a Greek island and the summer here is pretty hot while we get no frost during winter (the entire month of July passed with temperatures in the range of 30-43C). I grew two more from cuttings planted on the ground and they all seem to do well though I'm experimenting on different sun exposure. The plants I have in pots are under direct sun light for the most part of the day (10 hours min.) while the ones on the ground are under partial sun exposure (4-6 hours a day) though the latter are approximately 1m tall while the first are up to 2m. My problem is that I do not get any blossoms at all. There's plenty of them on the plants but they never get to grow into flowers, as soon as they get thick as a needle they seem to burn out. Do I need to water the plants twice a day or add fertilizer? Last year the plants were less than 1m tall and I got only a single flower which of course couldn't turn into fruit (but at least it was a flower :) ) so I thought I was off to a good start but obviously I'm doing something wrong.

- George

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.