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

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31 Jul 13, (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Buy a punnet of gooseberries at any grocery shop that sells them and open one. Squeeze the small pips out into a planter with prepared potting soil and water generously. You will be amazed at how fast your seeds will take root. Harvest 14-18 weeks, depending. On climate. Gooseberries like hot humid weather.
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29 Oct 14, Greg (USA - Zone 6a climate)
Hi, would I be able to grow cape gooseberries in Zone 6A? Thanks
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21 Jun 15, Dawn Phillips (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I'm in Ohio and my gooseberry bush loves this weather. Cold winters and warm summers. They are good grown in sun and partial shade.
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14 Nov 15, David (USA - Zone 4b climate)
I remember these when a child living in South Africa. Living now in USA Maine zone 4b will they survive if I bring the inside for the winter? Really would like to grow some.
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26 Mar 16, Jeanne (USA - Zone 4b climate)
Could the golden berry be planted in containers?
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28 Mar 16, Richard de Losada (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I have a question if these can grow in an exotic greenhouse !!! please send me any info that you might have !!! Thanks for your time..
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29 Mar 16, Paula Kreger (USA - Zone 3a climate)
Can I grow the Cape Gooseberries in my zone?---zone 3.
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31 Oct 16, elizabeth (USA - Zone 5a climate)
can you plant the seeds from the fruit?
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29 Jun 19, S (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I brought some Uchuvas (the fruit of physalis peruviana) back from Colombia this past January. Maybe 10. I just put them barely under some soil in a pot. took me a little bit to sort out that they liked the sun but not direct, so I found a shaded area along the house and watered everyday. have a pretty good sized bush now, with a consistent roll of flowers, the first waves of which are now uchuvas growing in their lanterns.
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04 Aug 21, Faith (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I have them on a full sun spot, does that reduce the yield of the fruit? I grew them last fall( overwinter in the house). I moved them outside this May or June. It just started to flowering now.
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Showing 11 - 20 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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