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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17 Apr 21, Snow (Australia - temperate climate)
Hey Tony I read in an article that you don't need to fertilise Gooseberry plants. It says that it pushes out leaf growth but at the cost of fruit. I would try laying off the fertiliser unless absolutely necessary.
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01 Mar 21, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
It says here plant spring and harvest 14-16 weeks later - summer. Depending on your soil I would give it a fertiliser hit in spring and water it regularly. One good fertilise when it starts to have new growth in spring. If it is growing and growing into summer cut the water back. A plant's purpose is to reproduce itself- cut the water and fertiliser back to make it go to fruit and seed.
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22 Apr 21, Marguerite (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi I have several cape gooseberries in the garden all self sown from an original on I planted about 9 years ago which died last year. My soil is sandy and I completely ignore them except for an occasional drink in summer they thrive and provide a lot of fruit. they begin to gradually die back after about 4 years but if you cut out the old branches they will keep going . They make a very delicious jam.
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15 Feb 21, Sue (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Some of our cape gooseberries are growing elongated instead of round and the fruit is protruding through the end of the shell. The berries are still very green. Any idea what this would be please? The bush seems to be in good health.
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19 Feb 21, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
I watched Gardening Australia tonight on ABC TV - story on Tomatillo. There are 3 varieties/kind - one a medium size. one small and the third are bigger and push through the shell. Cape Gooseberry and Tomatillo are related so maybe this explains the concern you have.
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16 Nov 20, Sue Nicoll (Australia - temperate climate)
What causes cape gooseberry leaves to start turning blackish. Growing in large pot and has fruit on it. Seems healthy apart from the blackness on most of the leaves. We have a bore, not sure if this is causing the problem
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23 Dec 20, Brad (Australia - temperate climate)
conditions very close to a frost can cause blackening of the leaves. Cover the plants when you expect temperatures to dip below 2deg C during colder months.
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18 Nov 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Phone an agric company with an agronomist and ask them.
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04 Oct 20, Kahu (Australia - tropical climate)
Why has my cape gooseberry gone white.
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08 Oct 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Might have powdery mildew. Google it and do some research.
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Showing 21 - 30 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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