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 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
31 Aug 12, Melody (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Qld and you can often find the seeds you want on ebay or other seed selling sites. Be aware they cant always send to all states! Goodluck
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30 Aug 12, june rissman (Australia - temperate climate)
Could you give me any idea where I can buy gooseberry plants or seeds. Thankyou.
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18 Sep 12, Felicity (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi June, I bought my first gooseberry plant this year at Bunnings. I think it was about $4 Good luck :)
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08 Sep 12, June (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
HiJune, I have just bought a plant from my local Big W store, $9. 95.
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02 Sep 12, Fiona (Australia - temperate climate)
Diggers club have Cape Goosberry seeds - bought some on the weekend haven't planted them yet so hopefully they are not too hard to germinate.
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08 Jul 19, Kenneth Cross (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can anyone advise on the prevention of damage to the fruit by a fruit borer (tomato borer i think)?
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31 Aug 12, Kate (Australia - arid climate)
I got mine, as well as some Tomatillo seeds, from australianseed . com
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02 Jul 12, Hilton (Australia - temperate climate)
SATOOZ has Cape Gooseberry seeds available, too - they're on the web .Got Cape Goosberry going well in Melbourne
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26 May 12, Nikos Nianiop (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi,i wanted to ask you how many years the plant lives? how many gram per plant is produced? What about distances between plants? What about cold winter under -10 celcious . I can grow it at 2 different palces . At Ionanina city we have a lot of rains at the spirng low temperanture at the winter but not to much hot at the summer. Opposite at the town of Karditsa we have less rains , mpre hot days at the summer and not to much at the winter. Also Karditsa is nearer to the see level comparing to Ioannina at 490 m high. Sorry for my bad Enghlish. I hope you can helpnig and if you can to suggest me a good suplier of seeds
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27 Jul 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yassou Nikos. You treat the Cape Gooseberry the same as Tomato. Same conditions, same soil, same same. Hope this helps.
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Showing 341 - 350 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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