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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05 Mar 14, sue (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
bought 2 plants in local nursery. getting nice lot of fruit
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08 Feb 14, Sid and Barbara Dyer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can you tell me where I can purchase Cape Gooseberry's plants...I would like 4 of them if I have to order...Eating fresh as well as it also makes a great Jam.
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13 Sep 15, Ted Dahms (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sid and Barbara Try Turners Garden Centre, Rochedale 4123 Regards Ted
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30 Aug 14, sue (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought my gooseberry plants from Bunnings last year.
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19 Jan 14, Sid Dyer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where can I buy Cape Gooseberry' Plants OR Seeds in Australia...They are 'YUM" Barbara D.
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19 Jan 14, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Eden Seeds have Cape Gooseberry seeds
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18 Jan 14, Roslyn campbell (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Dear Brad Did u get an answer to yr query as to why you r getting no fruit? I am having the same problem
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09 Jan 14, ray obrien (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
where can i please buy some cape gooseberries or some seeds we live on bribie island just 1 hr north of brisbane and our email is [email protected] and our phone is [07] 3408 8787 thank you i think they are the nicest fruit
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10 Jan 14, Nina (Australia - temperate climate)
I never liked this fruit as a child but now I'm crazy about them :) Did you have any luck getting seeds? If not, I can post you some (next time I buy the dried Inca berries - or if you can get the dried fruit, save your own) ... or if you happen to be in Sydney I'll dig you up a plant. Mine are still small and not yet fruiting.
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04 Apr 14, Venus Law (Australia - temperate climate)
Nina! I looking for cape gooseberry seed too... I have plenty of Husk Tomato seed...I lived in Sydney as well.. Can we exchange it. Venus
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Showing 281 - 290 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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