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

28 May 18, Kingy (Australia - temperate climate)
My berries won’t ripen either! I will try the potassium... Thank you! Would love anymore tips too! :)
26 Aug 18, Robert (Australia - temperate climate)
How did you go with the liquid potassium? . I also have many berries thaf are not rippening.
17 May 16, Lyn Teaf (Australia - temperate climate)
I have some gooseberry fruit and would like to know if I have to dry them out so the seeds are dry or can I plant the whole fruit. I live in Perth.
29 May 16, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Perth (hills) and have just potted on a few dozen small plants that I grew in a large foam container from seed. I had a mixture of dried seeds and seeds still inside the soft fruit (I wanted to see which would work best). All the seeds have germinated I literally have a few hundred seedlings. I am now in the process of seeing which growing conditions are going to work best up here. I think I will plant the seeds directly into the ground next time.
28 Apr 16, Mitch Orchard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We have successfully grown a number of Cape Gooseberry plants in our school garden (located at Bundarra - NW NSW). We are currently harvesting the fruit and the yield is fantastic.
29 Mar 16, Paula Kreger (USA - Zone 3a climate)
Can I grow the Cape Gooseberries in my zone?---zone 3.
28 Mar 16, Richard de Losada (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I have a question if these can grow in an exotic greenhouse !!! please send me any info that you might have !!! Thanks for your time..
26 Mar 16, Jeanne (USA - Zone 4b climate)
Could the golden berry be planted in containers?
24 Mar 16, Sandi Inch (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
would I be able to grow gooseberries on my window sill as I live in a flat. I have planted seeds and have a plant come up which is 3 - 4 cm in height....... will it survive?
08 Mar 16, roger baddeley (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Perth and want to find out where I can buy Cape Gooseberries.
Showing 311 - 320 of 557 comments

Is it little too late now to only have a few developing fruit? I've read that fruit takes 60 days to mature on the plant.

- George

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