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 S         S S S S S S
T T T           T T T T
P P P         P P P P P

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - sub-tropical 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

18 Aug 14, Ruth (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all, Is it true that all parts of the Cape Gooseberries (including the unripe fruit) are toxic? There seems to be conflicting info out there. I started some seeds from the Diggers Club undercover over a month ago, just sprouting now, so will plant out against a fence to keep away from frost. - Melbourne has had more frost than last year. Great germination rate so 20 was probably too many but looking forward to my first harvest. Awesome site by the way. Just found it today...
25 Aug 14, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I believe the unripe fruit are toxic to animals.
29 Jul 14, Julie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They handle light frost well. Only leaf damage and kept on growing. These are also excellent chicken treats to keep them away from your valuable veggies.
09 Jul 14, Glenda (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just purchased some gooseberry seeds which I will plant in August. I live 40 kms west of Bundaberg in Qld. My question is do they require a lot of watering?
29 May 14, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
I just received seeds from rangeview seeds and have sown them. Will grow them in my greenhouse for a start
23 May 14, Frank - Albany WA (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
grows well in well tilled free draining soil . I have a few plants which are growing voraciously one close to 2mts high which i have to prune every 3-4 weeks. I like to go out and just pick and eat 10 -20 'berries' straight off the bush- different flavors depending on the ripeness f the berries.
18 May 14, Carolien (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Can I grow cape goose berries from cuttings or only from seeds??? Thanks
07 May 14, Allie (Australia - temperate climate)
I just bought seeds from Fair Dinkum Seeds (fairdinkumseeds dot com). Now to try growing them...
30 Apr 14, Cher (Australia - tropical climate)
They are so very hardy and tolerant of weather extremes. I've grown them in many areas of Australia, mostly Queensland, and my latest offerings have just survived a drenching from cyclone Ita and are looking great. The harvest is always eaten straight after picking!
24 Apr 14, archie archive (Australia - temperate climate)
On a West facing balcony in Perth I planted a Cape Gooseberry I bought around September last year. It has been slow growing in its 40cm pot (but it is at least growing unlike the one I bought in 2012 which reached 30 cm and had three fruit). It began setting fruit about six weeks ago and has suddenly spurted - it is over 1.5 mtrs tall (above the pot soil level), bushing and is setting many fruit with many more flowers. My concern is that it is now only a couple of months to the cold weather and I wonder if the fruit will ripen in time and if the plant will over-winter. I remember picking fruit from my Grandfather's self-sown bushes many years ago in Kelmscott but cannot remember which season that was.
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