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
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • 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

03 Jun 17, dogs1 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My gooseberry bushes are growing thick and with vigour The green envelopes some with no fruit or with small specks or green undeveloped fruit inside.What am i doing wrong.Ample water. could there be too much Raised garden bed.disapointment !
09 Jun 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
Undeveloped fruit is normally an indication of lack of pollination which is an increasing problem. Perhaps include as many flowering 'daisy' type plants to encourage bees and other pollinating insects.
23 May 17, Anabela C. Tortorell (USA - Zone 7b climate)
I live in Georgia, USA and returned from a visit to Portugal in January, 2017 and one of my cousins who lives in the area of Arganil (North Portugal) gave me a few very ripe Cape Gooseberries to try. I planted the very ripe fruits in some potted soil once the weather was warm enough outside and kept it moist, and sure enough I have quite a few seedlings which are ready for transplant to my garden. So buy some Gooseberries, let them ripen, plant a few crushed fruits to release the seeds and be patient. So give it a try and good luck!!
28 May 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Anabela, It's good to hear some successes and good results from gardeners. More food bearing trees and shrubs should be planted as it is fun to just go out and pick something that you've grown yourself. Keep it up!
23 May 17, Marilize du Toit (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
When do I prune a gooseberry bush. We live in the southern Cape so winter rainfall area. bush has just become overgrown
24 May 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
If you get frosts in your area it would be better to prune them after frosts have finished. Cutting them back now would promote some new growth which could be damaged by frosts.
22 May 17, Wilgara (Australia - temperate climate)
At what time would you plant the seeds Johnno? I have a hot house. This plant was a gift to me and I just harvested the seeds from the last fruit which was about the size of a large pea. It is still in the pot. Many thanks. Wilgara
24 May 17, Jonno (Australia - temperate climate)
You would normally plant the seeds from August through December but you could start them in June or July in a hot house ready for a good start in spring.
13 May 17, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
In Nov 2016 I posted that I'd bought seeds of the Johnson World Kitchen brand. I sowed them straight into the ground. I am now (in May) harvesting big cape gooseberries which are great. Very easy to grow, I use composted horse manure/kitchen scraps and they seem to love it.
02 May 17, Elizabeth Medgyesy (USA - Zone 5a climate)
My two year old Cape Gooseberry plants have big strong shoots that have tiny plants along them. I'd like to cut them and transplant them to get more of this delicious berry. Any suggestions on how and where to cut the plant and then transplant the best way?
Showing 231 - 240 of 557 comments

Hi Rosemary, I bought two cape gooseberries only a few months ago and planted them in my n. facing Adelaide Hills food garden. They have grown like crazy and are loaded with fruit...trouble is I just cannot remember where I got them...but I buy seedlings at Heynes Norwood, or Crafers garden centre sometimes and only once recently at Cleland nursery in Stirling. they are as tall and wider than staked tomatoe bushes with a fruit for every leaf!

- Caroline Johnson

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