Your comments and tips

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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