Growing Cape Gooseberry, also Golden Berry, Inca Berry

Physalis peruviana : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	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

20 Nov 17, Roy (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate): Hi I have planted 6 cape gooseberries in June they have grown well until now . I have loads of green husks but every thing has come to a standstill Also as they are perennials how and when should I prune them .Your advice would be much appreciated Thank you Ro7
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21 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I'm no expert here. Maybe a light fertilizing with a K leaning. Your weather would be coming into winter - may cause them to slow down growing. If you want to prune them I would do it after they have fruited. Google how to grow them. Try a site called gardening channel.
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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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Hello, I'm researching information on growing this plant and this site has the most, however after reading all the comments I am a little confused. could somebody clarify some bits please? 1) Most comments and tips agree on that the plant doesn't need any fertilizer but some speak about potassium and manure. If I use whatever is suitable for tomatoes will i hurt the plant or just get a lot of vegetable growth but no fruits? 2)Last year I grew 4 plants and managed to destroy two of them by over-watering (I had them all in pots so i guess draining was the issue). I live on a Greek island and the summer here is pretty hot while we get no frost during winter (the entire month of July passed with temperatures in the range of 30-43C). I grew two more from cuttings planted on the ground and they all seem to do well though I'm experimenting on different sun exposure. The plants I have in pots are under direct sun light for the most part of the day (10 hours min.) while the ones on the ground are under partial sun exposure (4-6 hours a day) though the latter are approximately 1m tall while the first are up to 2m. My problem is that I do not get any blossoms at all. There's plenty of them on the plants but they never get to grow into flowers, as soon as they get thick as a needle they seem to burn out. Do I need to water the plants twice a day or add fertilizer? Last year the plants were less than 1m tall and I got only a single flower which of course couldn't turn into fruit (but at least it was a flower :) ) so I thought I was off to a good start but obviously I'm doing something wrong.

- George

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Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Cape Gooseberry, also Golden Berry, Inca Berry

Physalis peruviana : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Cape Gooseberry, also Golden Berry, Inca Berry

Physalis peruviana : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

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