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 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

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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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Have a cape gooseberry going on 3 summers now. Not much fruit in first year, bucket load in 2nd summer, now bucket loads in 3rd summer. Red spider mites would attack it from about March through to start of winter, but we just cut it back to about 20cm from base and the spider mites disappear heading into the winter. Noticed about a month ago after the hot weather hit, that alot of new flowers would just fall off at the slightest touch. Put this down to lack of water, so we placed sugar cane mulch to about 6 inches thick and out to a radius of about a meter, then stretched shade cloth over the mulch and pegged down (to keep the blackbirds from destroying the mulch). Under the mulch cover we also placed weaper hose and had this going for a few hours each day, and problem soon resolved with loads more flowers and setting fruit.

- Brad

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