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            

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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.

Your comments and tips

04 Jul 17, Bea (Canada - Zone 6b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I've been growing ground cherries for a few years in Halifax. I bought the seed from Annapolis Seed. It is a milder, paler version of cape goose berries. They are good but not as tasty as CGBs. It grows in a husk exacty as CGB but the fruit is very pale, not at all orange like CGB. This past winter I bought some CGB fruit from Pete's fruitique and kept the seed from one berry. It germinated and grew VERY well. Today, July 3, I have a ground cherry and cape gooseberry growing in pots side by side. The CGB has darker green leaves and is a larger plant. The ground cherry has lots of flowers and a few emerging husks. Haven't noticed flowers on the CGB yet. Keeping my fingers crossed they will appear soon and bear lots of fruit. As far as I'm aware, both of these plants are annuals, not perrenial. As is the Sunberry (called Wonderberry in UK). I got this seed from Annapolis Seed too. My first time growing it, but supposed to be similar to blueberries. The plant is only about a foot tall but bushy with lots and lots of flowers.
15 Mar 18, Christie Chaplin-Saunders (Canada - Zone 6a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I have 36 tiny Inca berry seedlings emerging from little peat pellets as of today (March 15). I wonder how large they are likely to get before I can transplant them to a cold frame in about eight weeks? In particular, what size pots should I buy for them? Advice will be appreciated!
26 Sep 20, Monica (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I grew sunberries a few years ago. Quite prolific. Birds ate a lot, and a lot self seeded and troubled me as weeds for several years... I am a bad weeder! They are no match for a real wild blueberry as I'd hoped. I grew tomatillos, and ground cherries in different years. Could not eat the tomatillos fast enough, and we had other garden items that tasted better! But the ground cherries didn't produce much and we liked them. Go figure. I know they grow around here, northern Nova Scotia. I am going to try cape gooseberries.. looks like a strong and productive plant. Thanks to all for info posted here.
07 Aug 18, Christie Chaplin-Saunders (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
My Inca berries have flower buds now...
25 Aug 18, George (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Is it little too late now to only have a few developing fruit? I've read that fruit takes 60 days to mature on the plant.
22 Sep 18, ruby (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I have Physalis plant & it is just loaded with fruit not ripe yet, I had to bring in the house as was getting to cold outside. My plant is about 40 inches tall with the pot. I need to know how to treat the plant as I want the fruit to ripen They are very delicious. Red Deer AB Canada Help PleaseRuby
29 Sep 18, promila Relan (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I bought cape berries from farmers market in Calgary Alberta, I remved the seeds from the caper berries. It was in July.--too hot outside. So I kept the tiny pot inside and re potted them as needed. It was very easy. Now I have three plant in three pots about 18 inches tall.and I am waiting for summer- Now I need to know will I have fruit if planted outside and when. I also want to know the precautions necessary to be successful. I do love gardening
12 Mar 19, Vertical Gardener (Canada - Zone 8a Mild Temperate climate)
In case anyone is still searching, West Coast Seeds in BC offers cape gooseberry seeds. I've had success with their seeds, as well as seeds purchased through eBay from various sellers. Once you have berries you'll never have to purchase seeds again. In fact, I have to cull plants that self-seed each spring from the prior year's crop.
08 Jul 19, Dave Bailie (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I have some Inca Berry plants started & an ready to move them outdoors ( late because of the very poor June we had here in NB , Canada ). I would like to plant these in a bed that will be permanent and have a few questions I would appreciate help with.I have a good size lot so have several different locations in mind depending on soil & sun conditions required. 1/ Would it be best to have full sun or should the plants have partial sun? 2/ Will these plants over winter in my climate ? If they will would a location with slow drainage bee okay or should I select a site that has good drainage. 3/ When making a bed should I add compost , lime, etc to the soil ; what would best benefit the plants ? I look forward to hearing back from you. Sincerely, Dave Bailie in Sackville,NB
28 Jul 19, Rick Hand (Canada - Zone 6a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
This is my first year growing Inca Berry and after a tough start to germinate, I had one plant that grew. It's in a pot because I'll bring it in during the winter because it would probably die in zone 6a (Halifax, NS). The plant wants full sun and is tolerant of dry conditions with good drainage. I've used sand with soil and gave it an early feeding of chicken manure. It produced lots of flowers from the beginning and fruit is now hanging from the branches (late July) from a plant that's about 30 cm high.
Showing 11 - 20 of 32 comments

Can anyone tell me how and where I can get the Cape berries in the United states? Is it possible to buy the plant? Thanks, Jennifer

- Jennifer Sandler

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