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      
                T      
                  P P  

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in South Africa - Summer rainfall 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 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 100 - 150 cm 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.
  • Cape Gooseberry plant
  • Flowers
  • unripe fruit

A straggling bush up to one metre tall that bears yellow fruits inside a brown papery envelope. It is perennial. The cape gooseberry is related to tomatillo, ground cherry and husk tomato, all in the genus Physalis.

Cape Gooseberry is very easy to grow and as the fruit are popular with birds the plants can be easily spread around the garden. If you have plenty of room then plants grow better with 1.5 m of space. Spacing closer works but you may get less fruit.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Cape Gooseberry

The berry is the size of a cherry tomato, is very aromatic and full of tiny seeds. They are delicious eaten fresh or can be made into jam. They can be added to salads, desserts and cooked dishes, they are delicious stewed with other fruit, especially apples. They also go well in savoury dishes with meat or seafood. Can be preserved dried as 'Inca Berries'

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for South Africa | for all countries
03 Jun 12, Tessa Cairns (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
My Cape Gooseberry bush is almost 2m tall, very healthy and full of fruit. But it wont ripen. I planted the bush in about March and it was about 30cm tall at the time. now we are in June- going into winter. Is it to cold for the fruit to ripen, or must I be patient? And should I cut the hieght down a bit?
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09 Nov 12, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
be patient with ripening and ease up on the watering.a good shake of the bush and the ripe ones can be collected off the ground.I cut mine back to about knee height leaving at least 3 or 4 side shoots on each stem .
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18 Jun 12, Deona Spies (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Tessa, I have a similar problem. Lots of fruit that are not ripening. I'd also like to know if I can treat the plant as a perrenial and cut it back now (June) or should I pull it up and plant new ones in spring?
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09 Jul 12, Lionel (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where did you get your seed from? Some seed sold commercially give this problem. Maybe it is time to name and shame these seed companies.
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11 Jul 12, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It grows well as a perennial. I've kept it going over a couple of years with frost protection in an Australian mountain region, until drought killed it!
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26 Jul 12, Tony Edwards (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Hello all my first foray into planting Cape Gooseberries a few questions: 1. What is the ideal soil type for the Cape Gooseberries? 2. Should one first plant seeds into trays? Good Gardening Greetings!
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27 Jul 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
G;day Tony. i know my climate is different to yours, but I treat Cape gooseberries the same as tomatoes. They often need staking like tommies, and the same fertilizer and conditions as tommies. Chicken manure diluted into a soup works wonders just watered down and poured around the roots every month or so. You should get a massive crop where you are. Mildew can really attack if you water the foliage too much, but if you water at ground level, shouldn't be a problem. They make great Salsa.
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05 Sep 12, Pieter Booyse (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am looking for cape gooseberry seeds in South Africa. Any contacts please. thanks
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01 Oct 12, natasja (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Pieter, I don't know where you are from, but bought my gooseberry seeds from builders market in Bloemfontein, it is seeds from Mayford seed company I'm sure you will be able to buy them even from your local supermarket? Hope it helps! You can also google heirloom seed company in south africa they sell online!
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08 May 13, Peter Combrink (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I took the seeds from a berry and planted it. Growing properly and lots of trees.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 48 comments
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Florida are in zones 8 to 10. North of Florida is 8, south is 10. You can get around 70 seeds from a single fruit. Prepare 1cm of top soil, then space the seeds 1cm apart on top of the soil and cover with sprinkles of soil, just to cover the seeds. Water with mist and keep it moist. Plants will emerge in 3 to 7 days at 70F. I got 40 plants growing from one fruit's seeds in July 2018. The plant is a tropical grower. I kept 20 in a pot to take inside during winter and transplanted 20 around my house. I will have to transplant from the pot onto individual pots as they are crowding my starter pot. Good luck on your growing.

- RobertC

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