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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13 Nov 17, Colin (Australia - temperate climate)
I am a proud owner of one cape gooseberry "bush". I am experimenting with propagation by cuttings, taken from vigorous side shoots down low near the ground surface. Has anyone propagated with cuttings. After some 4 weeks the one cutting I have taken appears to have "taken" and looks healthy. There are many new side shoots on my "bush" and I wish to take many more cuttings. Has any one been down this path. Any problems I should be aware of.? I live in Western Victoria, on hours drive from the coast. Thank you in anticipation. Colin
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08 Oct 17, Dom (USA - Zone 6b climate)
Will the Golden Gooseberries grow in zone 6b in the USA?
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10 Oct 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
According to this site, sow seeds in April or May.
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09 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try spring and summer I read.
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09 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check your climate against the ones listed here for Australia. Then look up the planting requirements etc for it here. I.E. A similar climate to yours might be sub tropical in Australia. Put sub tropical in the climate zone in the top section here and read up about it. Or try the internet for growing in the USA.
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19 Sep 17, Trish (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi All. We have a very healthy cape gooseberry plant. Heaps of flowers and fruit and thriving on neglect to a certain degree (thank goodness for drip systems). I am in Brisbane and we are now getting something burrowing into the fruit. Never had issues previously and can't seem to see any grubs. Any ideas or assistance on dealing with these would be helpful. Thanks.
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23 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try stuff for tomatoes. Look up organic sprays for tomatoes. Can only try.
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26 Sep 17, Trish (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Thanks Mike, will do.
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04 Sep 17, Carole - Brisbane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I just purchased 2 Cape Gooseberry plants from Timbara Nursery at Thornlands, Brisbane. I have yet to plant them but hopefully they will go well.
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06 Sep 17, amy (Australia - arid climate)
Hi Carole, please tell me from where did you buy cape gooseberry plants.Regards
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Showing 201 - 210 of 558 comments
See comments for all plants

Hello George Cape Gooseberries planted in the ground need little or no extra Nitrogen fertiliser otherwise they will grow too much vegetation with very little fruit. Just before or at flowering time you should add Phosphorus - I add half of the recommended amount every 2 weeks. Phosphorus increases the number of flowers. After the fruit starts to form I start adding small amounts of Potassium to the soil or watering with a liquid Potassium - the liquid Potassium is absorbed quicker. Potassium is responsible for making the fruit sweeter or with flowering plants ( roses etc.) the flowers bigger and more colourful. It is a very common mistake that Potassium makes more fruit and flowers - it's Phosphorus that does that. I have been growing Cape Gooseberries for at least 35 years this way so I know by experience and I have experimented with these fertilisers. I also grow not only the usual citrus (10 dwarf trees in pots and some in the ground), bananas, figs, but other fruit like Star Fruit, Dragon Fruit , Black Sapote and I always use the same fertilising procedure with very good results. I grow my Cape Gooseberries in the vegetable garden - 3 plants in a row with 4 x 1.8 metre stakes and thin rope wound aroud the 4 stakes to keep the plants from spreading out over the garden.

- John W

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