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

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12 Mar 19, Vertical Gardener (Canada - Zone 8a Mild Temperate climate)
In case anyone is still searching, West Coast Seeds in BC offers cape gooseberry seeds. I've had success with their seeds, as well as seeds purchased through eBay from various sellers. Once you have berries you'll never have to purchase seeds again. In fact, I have to cull plants that self-seed each spring from the prior year's crop.
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14 Jan 19, Renee Chettle (Australia - tropical climate)
Available at Daley’s nursery, does online orders
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04 Jan 19, Gerd (USA - Zone 11a climate)
What to feed them,ph.Thank you.
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10 Dec 18, |Lily (Australia - temperate climate)
just wondering if the plants need to be pruned or just let them spread out Thanks
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13 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Maybe stake and support them and a light shaping of the bush.
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16 Nov 18, Mehdi Malekmohammadi (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, I am very keen to plant Physalis and wondering if someone guide me how to get the seeds and where to buy the plant of this herb?
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19 Nov 18, Joanna Hingston (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I have a large plant you are welcome to if you live locally. I'm in North Canterbury
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14 Sep 19, Lisa (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I bought a some seedlings on trademe from a seller in Akaroa. They have been growing really well and arrived in great condition.
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11 Dec 18, Mary Carshalton (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Joanna, I live in Woodend would love a piece of your cape goosberry. How can I find out your phone number?
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18 Nov 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Try to find some seed selling people/companies on the internet in NZ.
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Showing 131 - 140 of 558 comments
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Hi Carol, My guess is your plant isn't getting enough water and/ or manure. My cape gooseberry which is now in the green house has gone wild, it's taken over the greenhouse. Not that I mind because it is loaded with fruit. Occasionally I squeeze the green husks to feel how the fruits are developing. The husks that developed in early December has fruits the size of a marble. I don't think they are going to get much bigger than that. New side shoots are still emerging just like the tomato plants and new fruit are developing with these new shoots. How I look after my goose berry is I try to get keep the soil around the plant moist but not damp if you know what i mean. Occasionally I let the soil to almost dry out but never completely dry so the root system can breathe. If you see the leaves starting to wilt from dry soil this will affect the berries in the pods. Try putting dry leaves around the base of the tree to preserve moisture. I don't need to mulch mine because the plant is so bushy it's shading the base itself!! I feed the plant with horse manure. How i do it is, I have a plastic bin about 40 litres with a cover. I put about a supermarket size bag of raw horse manure in the bin then filled it up with water, put the lit on and let it sit for about 2 weeks. I then scoop 4 or 5 cups of this mixture including the grassy bits of the manure from the bin and put into a 10 litre bucket. Fill the bucket up with fresh water, stir them together and water the plants. I feed the plants once every 2 weeks. simple as that..

- Canh

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