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            
    T T T T T T        
    P P P P P P        

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - 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 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
11 Sep 20, Rodney Lewis (Australia - temperate climate)
Does the Inca berry tolerate lower temperatures throughout winter and frosts Being a perennial will it continue to grow and produce through the colder months
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Sep 20, Anonymous (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
If you can grow in a cool/mountain climate then it will tolerate winter temps. A perennial will generally have a growing time ,a fruiting time and a quiet time (winter).
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Jul 20, Brad (Australia - temperate climate)
If you're growing cape gooseberry through these colder winter months, keep an eye on the developing calyx (outer shell) around the fruit and make sure the flower petal has fully detached from the calyx. Sometimes the flower will get trapped in the end of the calyx and will develop mould, which might eventually lead to necrosis of the calyx itself and the developing fruit. Most times you can just gently tap the calyx to free the flower, but sometimes you may need to gently pry it with your fingertips.
Reply or Post a new comment
06 Jul 20, Miri (Australia - temperate climate)
How long do cape gooseberry live for?
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Jul 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It is perennial so will grow for a few years.
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Jul 20, Astrid (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
If well taken care of, more than 20 years.
Reply or Post a new comment
28 May 20, Reda Soliman (USA - Zone 5b climate)
Can I plant golden gooseberry fruit at Illinois ZIP Code 60007
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Apr 20, Tina Christopher (Australia - temperate climate)
While leaning over the gooseberry plant , I started coughing And difficult in breathing , can you get a reaction of this plant
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Apr 20, Charlene (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi, Do they prefer sunlight, shade or semi shade?
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Apr 20, Hugh Thenasia (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Bright sunlight is best and no need to water heavily. ;-)
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 31 - 40 of 393 comments
See comments for all plants

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

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.