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 S         S S S S S S
T T T           T T T T
P P P         P P P P P

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - sub-tropical 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

30 Jul 13, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
After problems initially getting them established-they are now taking over the garden-presumably the recent years of unusual rainfall have helped! They are now becoming very straggly with less fruit-should they now be hard pruned and fertilised? Help! Kris
12 May 13, Leilani Garland (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My cape gooseberry bush has lots of developing fruit but leaves are drooping. help!
24 Mar 13, Patti (Australia - temperate climate)
My Cape Goosberry bushes are approx 2mtrs tall, but no fruit. Am I supposed to trim them back in autumn for new growth in spring or do I just leave them and they will fruit sometime??? Pse help.
21 Mar 13, David @ Port Sorell, Tasmania. (Australia - temperate climate)
When is the fruit fully ripe,at the moment the outer casing is dry/brown but the berry in some cases is yellow with a blend of green.
07 Mar 13, brenton (Australia - temperate climate)
where in Adelaide can I buy seed or plants please
03 Feb 13, jovany (Australia - temperate climate)
Does this plant grow well in northern florida
08 Dec 12, Graham (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Remove 3-lined beetles by hand, also under the leaves look for small yellow eggs and black lavae. I have also painted the underside of affected leaves with Neem in the hope that any grubs or eggs missed will not survive. Appears to be working well. Don't use Neem in middle of the day.
26 Nov 12, irene (Australia - temperate climate)
is there anyone who can answer my question regarding my cape gooseberry dropping its fruit before they are ripe and why have the leaves gone yellow and dropping..does it need fertiliser or whats the problem...
01 Dec 12, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi irene, I am in the same boat as yourself and have just done plenty of searching only to find very little. I did find out they really don't like or need any fertilizers and just to make sure the soil is very well draining. Mine is ina pot which I had purchased as a young plant and have had plenty of fruit still but I think I will re pot it into better soil.
25 Mar 13, Trevor (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Darren/Irene. These plants do much better in soil rather than in pots. I have just moved from Adelaide. The plant I had there was about 7yo and would reach in excess of 5mts before I had to prune it so could put car in shed. It was growing on north side (outside) of a shade house and got morning sun till about 2pm. It liked LOTS of water, and produced loads of fruit. Fruit is ripe when it falls from vine when lightly touched. I found no need to fertilise it. Good luck. Trev.
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