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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30 Jul 13, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
After problems initially getting them established-they are now taking over the garden-presumably the recent years of unusual rainfall have helped! They are now becoming very straggly with less fruit-should they now be hard pruned and fertilised? Help! Kris
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12 May 13, Leilani Garland (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My cape gooseberry bush has lots of developing fruit but leaves are drooping. help!
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24 Mar 13, Patti (Australia - temperate climate)
My Cape Goosberry bushes are approx 2mtrs tall, but no fruit. Am I supposed to trim them back in autumn for new growth in spring or do I just leave them and they will fruit sometime??? Pse help.
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21 Mar 13, David @ Port Sorell, Tasmania. (Australia - temperate climate)
When is the fruit fully ripe,at the moment the outer casing is dry/brown but the berry in some cases is yellow with a blend of green.
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07 Mar 13, brenton (Australia - temperate climate)
where in Adelaide can I buy seed or plants please
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03 Feb 13, jovany (Australia - temperate climate)
Does this plant grow well in northern florida
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08 Dec 12, Graham (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Remove 3-lined beetles by hand, also under the leaves look for small yellow eggs and black lavae. I have also painted the underside of affected leaves with Neem in the hope that any grubs or eggs missed will not survive. Appears to be working well. Don't use Neem in middle of the day.
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26 Nov 12, irene (Australia - temperate climate)
is there anyone who can answer my question regarding my cape gooseberry dropping its fruit before they are ripe and why have the leaves gone yellow and dropping..does it need fertiliser or whats the problem...
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01 Dec 12, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi irene, I am in the same boat as yourself and have just done plenty of searching only to find very little. I did find out they really don't like or need any fertilizers and just to make sure the soil is very well draining. Mine is ina pot which I had purchased as a young plant and have had plenty of fruit still but I think I will re pot it into better soil.
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25 Mar 13, Trevor (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Darren/Irene. These plants do much better in soil rather than in pots. I have just moved from Adelaide. The plant I had there was about 7yo and would reach in excess of 5mts before I had to prune it so could put car in shed. It was growing on north side (outside) of a shade house and got morning sun till about 2pm. It liked LOTS of water, and produced loads of fruit. Fruit is ripe when it falls from vine when lightly touched. I found no need to fertilise it. Good luck. Trev.
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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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