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

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03 Jan 16, Jess (Australia - temperate climate)
If you know anyone with a plant they are easy to grow from seeds or cuttings. Occasionally I see them at nurseries or even bunnings. Or apparently you can get them from The Lost Seed Company (though I haven't checked for WA restrictions). If you get stuck and if you're anywhere near Mosman Park I can give you a couple of little seedlings
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23 Jan 16, Sara (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Jess do you still have seedlings? I am growing my first ever gooseberry this year and it started off growing amazingly well. Very healthy, but I went on a holiday and when I came back it was overrun by red spider mites and is having really bad leaf curl now. Would be great to get hold of a couple of seedlings and give it a fresh start. Would be amazing if you could help me out. I live in Mosman too :)
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07 Sep 15, sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you plant the whole berry or try to extract the tiny individual seeds within it?
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29 Sep 15, jan furniss (Australia - temperate climate)
take the seeds out of the pod.
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06 Sep 15, 1st time veggie grower (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you cut/trim the cape gooseberry plant after fruiting and when is the best time to do this please? PS: My Dad's gooseberry jam is awesome.
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01 Sep 15, Margaret (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can buy beautiful organic non GM gooseberry seeds from Eden Seeds, an irreplaceable resource in our country.
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10 Aug 15, Kay Whitley (Australia - temperate climate)
When is the best time to prune your Cape goosberry bush I live 50 k North of Brisbane
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09 Aug 15, Helen Saunders (Australia - temperate climate)
Is facing West with full Summer sun good growing condition for cape gooseberry? Or can you suggest another not too high fruit bush ? Not higher than one metre as it would then block sun from enclosure garden where herbs etc are grown at our Community Garden. Thank you in advance Helen.
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03 Aug 15, Robyn (Australia - temperate climate)
We live in north Western Sydney and wondered where the cape gooseberry plant can be purchased from.
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17 Aug 15, Matt (Australia - temperate climate)
You can buy the seeds from bunnings. I bought mine the other day
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I live in Queensland- Brisbane northside and would like to get hold of some seeds or a seedling. Does anyone know where I can locate some close-by?? Thanks, Mel.

- Melody

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