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

30 Nov 16, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
Glenn today I bought seeds at Bunnings - in the Johnsons "world kitchen" brand.
10 Nov 16, Shirley Hardke (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought a plant at Bunnings and it had fruit but died - seeds germinated and my second plant had heaps of fruit but they always fell off before fully ripe. My plants don't grow high but my Mum's used to be 100cm and never wilted as mine did. She kept the fruit in onion bags hanging on her patio until she had enough to make jam. I plan to do the same as i have enough fruit now. My problem is that my plants whither and die, look more like a ground cover in height while my Mum's were tall and lived on from year to year.- are there different kinds of Cape Goosberries
10 Feb 17, Otzi (Canada - Zone 2b Sub-Arctic climate)
Cape Gooseberry's can dry off in drought and or heat bursts and don't like wet ground, rather moist free draining. water daily in heat. Excess or even any fertiliser can reduce blooms. seems these plants thrive on neglect. Just keep moist. My problems start when I try to improve things, or if you prefer, when I think I'm helping. And now early Feb (Melb) the plant is well done.
31 Oct 16, elizabeth (USA - Zone 5a climate)
can you plant the seeds from the fruit?
29 Jun 19, S (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I brought some Uchuvas (the fruit of physalis peruviana) back from Colombia this past January. Maybe 10. I just put them barely under some soil in a pot. took me a little bit to sort out that they liked the sun but not direct, so I found a shaded area along the house and watered everyday. have a pretty good sized bush now, with a consistent roll of flowers, the first waves of which are now uchuvas growing in their lanterns.
04 Aug 21, Faith (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I have them on a full sun spot, does that reduce the yield of the fruit? I grew them last fall( overwinter in the house). I moved them outside this May or June. It just started to flowering now.
29 Sep 21, A Herb Tinkerer (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Last week of September, right now is the peak Poha time for SE Wisconsin, the fruits started being picked late August, from seeds started indoors mid April - not too early. Hopefully the '38 degrees or below' won't arrive to kill off the plants for a few more weeks. It's a great ending for this summer. I've been growing these for over 10 years, each year trying something new. My first seeds back then, which I no longer grow, was the variety was (?)
27 Oct 16, Michelle (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi. I have one cape gooseberry fruit, husk dry. Di I plant it whole or open it and spread seeds?? Important that it grows as it is a treasure my grandson was given at school in gardening class. Thank you.
26 Sep 16, claire labelle (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
where can i get seeds to grow in Canada
04 Jul 17, Bea (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I just bought a packet of the fruit and then squished the seeds of one berry onto paper towel, then folded it up and stored it. This was in winter. Around April I sowed the seed and it all came up and grew very well. I now have plants about a foot tall. Very healthy and easy to grow. I am treating it just as I would a tomato plant and it's growing wonderfully.
Showing 271 - 280 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

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put GardenGrow in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.