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 S S S S
T T T           T T T T
P P P         P P P P P

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - sub-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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15 Aug 13, John (Australia - arid climate)
Hello - 4 stakes on the ground in a square around the bush - each stake about 450mm - 600mm apart and wind some cord (not string) around it to form a "cage" will do the trick - with about 250mm between each horizontal cord so you can reach into the plant. Any stems that protrude can be pushed back in.
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15 Aug 13, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I live near Brisbane Qld Each year after all the gooseberries are picked I cut them down to about 50-100mm high. They regrow from this fairly quickly. If they seem to be getting high and straggley you can cut them back by about half (about 30mm high) and end up with a shorter but thicker bush ( and more gooseberries ) Plenty and regular water but not waterlogged and a frequent dose 10-3-6 fertilizer
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15 Aug 13, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello - if you know anyone with any bushes just get 4 or 5 of the gooseberries, squash them and put them in the garden with a light covering of soil - they will spring up very soon. Thats how I keep about 8 plants growing all year. When you have picked all the gooseberries, cut the bush down to about 50-100mm high and it will sprout up again, year after year if the frost does not kill it off.Usually they will self seed from the gooseberries that fall off and are not picked up.
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11 Aug 13, robin doyle (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
do you have to have two gooseberry plants to pollinate each other ? thanks
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20 Aug 13, Danielle (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Robin, Cape Gooseberries are self-pollinating, so you only require one plant. If you have the room to grow two though, I'd recommend it as they're very tasty!
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10 Aug 13, Raupechen (Australia - temperate climate)
What a lovely plant! Just wonder if anyone can spare a few (10 will be enough, love gardening but small yard) Cape Gooseberry seeds, I am happy to send over stamps or pick up from S E Melbourne area. Thanks.
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05 Aug 13, Elaine (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a gooseberry bush pop out of nowhere and it has a few gooseberries on it. Now I have purchased seeds and I am hoping to plant them soon. Hope they will grow well. I am in the northern beaches of NSW just up from Manly - hope it will grow well.
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05 Aug 13, Evelyn (Australia - temperate climate)
My plants have got lots of fruit developing, but there seem to be clusters of red dots on the tips of the leaves and the leaves are going yellowish. It doesn't seem to be affecting the fruit. Also cobwebs on the ends of the stems. Does anyone have any idea what my red menace is and how I should treat it? Thanks.
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18 Aug 13, Danielle Jones (Australia - temperate climate)
It sounds like your cape gooseberries have a spider mite infestation. I usually just remove the affected parts of the plant or wash the mites off (if it's warm enough for the plant to dry off quickly) but if you don't object to using chemicals, I'm sure you'd be able to find something at your local garden store. Good luck!
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01 Aug 13, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
Cape Gooseberries have grown wild on my Central Coast NSW property for over 100 years. My grandmother made jam from them, sometimes with passionfruit. They tend to come up anywhere, the plants aren't eaten by the cattle, they don't get any fertilizer but bear well. Full sun seems to suit them here. Rats and King Parrots love them so you need to be vigilant but I don't begrudge the beautiful King Parrots taking a few.
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Showing 311 - 320 of 393 comments
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Search -- edible.co.nz Full sun Shelter from winds and tolerates moderate salty marine conditions. Are frost tender and grows as an annual in colder regions. In warmer areas they will grow for several seasons producing seedlings to continue the plants. Frosts can burn the plants but will recover unless the frost was hard. Prune back after all frosts have passed. Cape Gooseberries will grow in a wide range of soils and pHs. Soil must be well draining. Plants will handle periods of drought but too much moisture could encourage fungal problems. Plant in early spring as this will help with an earlier fruit set, space 0.5-1.5 apart. In most situations Cape Gooseberries do not need any fertiliser. Unneeded fertiliser could result in lots of vegetation and little fruit. Pinch out new shoots to encourage bushy growth. Prune back hard in spring to encourage new growth for fruiting. Pests Very few problems unless the soil is too wet and causes fungal problems and rot. ------------------------------------------- if you are going to fertilise only put small amounts on. A 9L water can with a tablespoon or two of fertiliser - with a low N% with some P and K. Don't use the tomato fertiliser - far too much N. A suggestion - a little manure or compost mixed into the soil - compost or mulch around the plants will help cool the soil down in summer - also you will save water by doing this. With your high temperatures I would suggest you make a shade cover for summer - in Australia we have shade cloth - 50-70-90%. Find some cheap wood off cuts and make a frame - then nail the shade cloth to it. Or some black poly pipe about 25mm thick and make an arc over the plants. By the article the plants should only grow to a meter or so high.

- Mike

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