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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
05 Sep 12, Pieter Booyse (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am looking for cape gooseberry seeds in South Africa. Any contacts please. thanks
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Aug 13, Lizelle (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
By far the best seed supplier is Livingseeds.co.za. They send the seeds to wherever you are, give excellent advice and the best service around.
Reply or Post a new comment
08 May 13, Peter Combrink (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I took the seeds from a berry and planted it. Growing properly and lots of trees.
Reply or Post a new comment
01 Oct 12, natasja (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Pieter, I don't know where you are from, but bought my gooseberry seeds from builders market in Bloemfontein, it is seeds from Mayford seed company I'm sure you will be able to buy them even from your local supermarket? Hope it helps! You can also google heirloom seed company in south africa they sell online!
Reply or Post a new comment
31 Aug 12, Melody (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Qld and you can often find the seeds you want on ebay or other seed selling sites. Be aware they cant always send to all states! Goodluck
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Aug 12, june rissman (Australia - temperate climate)
Could you give me any idea where I can buy gooseberry plants or seeds. Thankyou.
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Sep 12, Felicity (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi June, I bought my first gooseberry plant this year at Bunnings. I think it was about $4 Good luck :)
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Sep 12, June (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
HiJune, I have just bought a plant from my local Big W store, $9. 95.
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Sep 12, Fiona (Australia - temperate climate)
Diggers club have Cape Goosberry seeds - bought some on the weekend haven't planted them yet so hopefully they are not too hard to germinate.
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Jul 19, Kenneth Cross (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can anyone advise on the prevention of damage to the fruit by a fruit borer (tomato borer i think)?
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 491 - 500 of 558 comments
See comments for all plants

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

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.