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

22 Dec 13, vera (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We are living at the Mid North Coast and and this plant popps up at several spots in the garden, I completly neglect them, dont even water them. Plenty of fruit which my toddler demolishes daily. But we sometimes get an infestation of a yellow stripey beetle who mates on the leaves and severly damages some of the plants, any idea what that could be and how to treat it? cheers
26 Jun 14, Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
I think the yellow beetle is also known as the elm leaf beetle. I have a lot of plants and I get a plague of them in summer. I usually try and manually remove them because even though they are unsightly they actually prefer the leaves to the fruit so you can at least still get a crop. For this reason I don't spray them as they are a seasonal pest and aren't around in the cooler months. The plant does fine in cold weather even with frost and usually gives me a smaller winter crop although they take longer to ripen.
23 Apr 14, Elissa (Australia - temperate climate)
I got the stripy beetles too. Pyrethrum seems to get rid of them.
25 Nov 13, Brad Grinstead (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My plants are growing very well (here in Brisbane) Have been in the ground for about 3 months and have no flowers, no fruit and occassional leaf yellowing and dropping. I have sprayed and put fine netting to offer protection from possum attack...Have you solved your (similar) problem? Regards Brad
18 Jan 14, andrew shears (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Can you tell me where I can buy either young gooseberry bushes or seeds? refards andrew
22 Nov 13, divya (Australia - arid climate)
hi I am in Sydney right now I was looking for gooseberry for a long time I was very impressed to read that u have grown this plant which is so rare and very healthyI am going to shift to towoomba qld I was wondering if I could know where to get the fruit from or where to buy the plant and how to grow it. even if its available somewhere in Brisbane I am happy to go there and get it. thanks a lot regards divya
19 Jan 14, Jean (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have lots of plants I can give you some if you can come to North Lakes Qld.4509 E-mail me on: [email protected]
03 Jun 20, Leigh (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Jean, I also live in the Moreton Bay region and would like to grow some gooseberries as they were my Nannas best fruit for jam. Could you help me out? Thank you
06 Dec 13, Frank (Australia - temperate climate)
I got my seedlings from" Diggers" mail order and planted them in a shady spot last year at the wrong time. Early september this year when the sun started to reach them they have trebled in size to about 35cm and have bushed out. I believe the variety I got is called "Lion" or some such and I await their flowering. They are unlike the Cape Gooseberries I have seen photos of on the internet and are a little thorny.
19 Nov 13, Jennifer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'm growing my first bush and it has several fruit. How do you know when the fruit is ready to pick?
Showing 291 - 300 of 393 comments

We had a lovely Cape gooseberry plant growing in a pot and doing really well. Something over a week at nights has proceeded to demolish it first just the leaves then the unripe fruit then last night it has broken the whole plant and destroyed it...can you tell me if it would be possums or a rabbit maybe?

- Carol

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.