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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24 Sep 16, Fiona Waddell (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I ve just discovered we have a cape gooseberry plant growing behind our shed... it has randomly appeared and is almost a metre high. None of the fruit have grown any bigger than a $2 coin and havent ripened. It is currently in the ground but I was wandering if I should move it? To full sun or whether i should collect the dropped fruit for seeds?
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22 Sep 16, sharyn (Australia - temperate climate)
i bought small plants very cheaply at caboolture sunday markets.
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19 Sep 16, Leonie (Australia - tropical climate)
We have trouble with beetles (similar to lady birds) eating the leaves of our gooseberry bushes. They can strip all the leaves overnight. I thought I maybe be able to put an old mosquito net over the plant to protect them from the beetles but am concerned about the flowers pollinating. Do you have any suggestions.
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01 Sep 16, Suzanne (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Phil, I have the same problem, Ive been growing Physalis Cape Gooseberry for 3 years in full sun in a pot in the Hills District of Sydney and they never ripen. I feed the soil in the pot and give away lots of seedings that perform a lot better. My grandmother had a huge bush and we had absolutely amazing cape gooseberry jam - also in Northern Italy they pull back the husks to look like wings leaving a long stalk on the ripe berry and dip the berry to half cover in chocolate and they are very expensive to buy and taste delicious... I too would love to have a solution to the half-ripening and still small when they drop off, berries. Let me know if you have an answer.
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11 Oct 16, James (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Suzanne, I am by no means an experienced Cape Gooseberry grower, but I have had more success with ripening by treating the plant a little meaner. Don't feed your plant, too much nitrogen makes it grow leaves and the leaves prevent ripening I have found. James
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30 Jul 16, Glenn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live in North Lakes, Brisbane and would like to get hold of some seeds or seedlings or a plant. Does anyone know where I can get them from
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18 Nov 16, Simone (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Glenn Ebay has seed supplier in SA. Littlebee*2010 Simone
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20 Nov 16, Amy Robertson (Australia - temperate climate)
Also try Greenpatch seeds, they'll post a small plant, mine are doing great from them.
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25 Oct 16, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Glenn, Cape Gooseberry seeds are readily available in Tasmania. If you provide details, I will send you a packet. Regards.
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30 May 18, Sue (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Could you let me know where I could buy some seeds?
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Showing 171 - 180 of 393 comments
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Search -- edible.co.nz Full sun Shelter from winds and tolerates moderate salty marine conditions. Are frost tender and grows as an annual in colder regions. In warmer areas they will grow for several seasons producing seedlings to continue the plants. Frosts can burn the plants but will recover unless the frost was hard. Prune back after all frosts have passed. Cape Gooseberries will grow in a wide range of soils and pHs. Soil must be well draining. Plants will handle periods of drought but too much moisture could encourage fungal problems. Plant in early spring as this will help with an earlier fruit set, space 0.5-1.5 apart. In most situations Cape Gooseberries do not need any fertiliser. Unneeded fertiliser could result in lots of vegetation and little fruit. Pinch out new shoots to encourage bushy growth. Prune back hard in spring to encourage new growth for fruiting. Pests Very few problems unless the soil is too wet and causes fungal problems and rot. ------------------------------------------- if you are going to fertilise only put small amounts on. A 9L water can with a tablespoon or two of fertiliser - with a low N% with some P and K. Don't use the tomato fertiliser - far too much N. A suggestion - a little manure or compost mixed into the soil - compost or mulch around the plants will help cool the soil down in summer - also you will save water by doing this. With your high temperatures I would suggest you make a shade cover for summer - in Australia we have shade cloth - 50-70-90%. Find some cheap wood off cuts and make a frame - then nail the shade cloth to it. Or some black poly pipe about 25mm thick and make an arc over the plants. By the article the plants should only grow to a meter or so high.

- Mike

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