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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15 Dec 17, michelle (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Trish; about your Cape Gooseberry fruit being attacked by 'borers', maybe it;s earwigs. The larvae do that to rose buds, maybe it's the same for the C.G fruit.
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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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Showing 111 - 120 of 393 comments
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Hi, i live in Ontario. I got a golden berry in the husk from the market. i saved the seeds as folows: open the fruit, squeeze all flesh and fruit in a strainer. Wash it well, the flesh will separate. Pick it up and wash the seeds some more. Then you can put them on a paper towel to dry, they will stick to that but you can plant them with the paper, no problem. Or put them on a plate, let them dry well adn the bag them or plant them. I planted about half the seeds. Cover lightly with soil and i set them under growing lights, covered. I started them in January, they took about 3 weeks to emerge, uncovered and let them grow under lights. Potted them up. They say do not fetilize, but the leaves came yellow with green stripes, so i fed them fish emulsion diluted. They grew beautiful. Fed them about 3 times only. Never since. It is end of May and couple of them have a handfull of flowers. I experimented with pinching the top. Online they say do not pinch, let them grow 9 to 12 nodes and they will split naturally. true. The ones not pinched split and the first flowers grows right there. The pinched ones do not have any flowers yet, they are bushier though. I will plant them out in sandy soil in a week. I will save seeds this year and can send to anyone in Canada wanting to try. They are annuals in zone 5 so you need to start them every year. Very easy to grow, and if they make 150 to 300 fruits per plant it is well worth it. In the husk they store up to 3 months at room temperature. I can let you know how long will take from seed to fruit. Have fun !!!

- Adela

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