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

29 Sep 16, Sue (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes, I just bought seeds from Bunnings. Could not believe my eyes! Whoever would have thought that Cape Gooseberry seeds would be sold in the shops!
19 Jul 16, Rodney (Australia - temperate climate)
Do I have to prune them at all
20 Jul 16, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I prune mine as it can get very large and leggy. Prune the top by 1/3 if it is tall, and the side shoots to keep it from spreading.I pick the fruit as it ripens and either freeze or partially cook, then adding more as they ripens till I get enough to make jam or chutney.
29 Jun 16, Maeve Murphy (Australia - temperate climate)
I am in Dublin, Ireland. I have the golden berry plants in a greenhouse. Do they need to be sprayed against any pests?.
03 Jul 16, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Maeve, they're pretty hardy, but might get some of the same pests as tomatoes (white fly, etc). I don't think you need to spray them until you see a problem.
03 Jun 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Lyn I leave the over ripe gooseberries (or take a few ripe ones ) and just scratch them into the soil around the gooseberry bush or somewhere else in the garden if I want to plant more and they spring up next growing season. I usually just squash the gooseberry and spread it around a bit. They can be a bit unsuccessful if you try to transplant them after they have popped up out of the ground. As a precaution I always squash some and spread them out on a paper towel and dry them, seal them in an airtight bottle and next season plant them paper and all by tearing the paper into strips ( the seeds stick to the paper )
30 May 16, Phil (Australia - temperate climate)
I have 2 plants about one metre high. I am getting plenty of fruit but they won't ripen properly. They get three quarters ripe and fall off the bush. I collect them and take them inside but they don't get any riper. This means they have a slightly sour taste still.?? please help
04 Sep 16, Stephanie (Australia - temperate climate)
I love mine slightly tart. The usual rule is for the pod to become transparent and the fruit change from green to orange. Then they are ready! I have grown them easily from Sydney to Taree, and am told that they grow well around Portland SW Vic too. Anyone know where I can obtain some??
09 Sep 16, Soob (Australia - temperate climate)
seedcollection.com has them, I've only just started raising seedlings.
03 Jun 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Phil Try fertilizing with liquid Potassium (available from Bunnings) Potassium promotes the growth of fruit and flowers and should make the fruit ripen properly. I spray most of my fruiting plants and my flowering plants (roses etc ) regularly with liquid potassium for great results.
Showing 301 - 310 of 557 comments

Never grown them but 50cm sounds far too close. If like tomatoes then 90-100 cm should be sufficient. The further apart the more soil the plant has to draw nutrient from and then the bigger the plant in size. I have zucchini plants approx 1.2m across, nothing growing near them.

- Anon

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