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

24 Apr 15, hilary mcglew (Australia - temperate climate)
I would like to know what I am doing wrong. fruit appears but falls when only small before maturing?
04 Apr 15, Auriga (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Rosemary. Golden Berry (Cape Gooseberry) can ben pruned hard. I have just recently pruned all the older branches off the plants. The young green shoots at the base have grown and flowered. I prune any branches that grow out (horizontal) as once they get bigger they get heavy with fruit and leaves they are the first to break. I do not spray Golden Berries as I have only ever found one pest that attacks them (Tobacco Slug Beetle) and I control these by picking off the beetles and any leaves with slugs. With the weather staring to cool off I haven't seen any pests over the last few weeks and wouldn't expect any before spring. Enjoy your Goden Berries!
11 Apr 15, Rosemary (Australia - temperate climate)
Much appreciated look forward to reaping the rewards
02 Apr 15, Rosemary (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a nice looking gooseberry, planted a couple of months back. Should I prune the very low branches they lay on the ground. Do I spray plants to stop bugs now or wait until bugs appear
26 Mar 15, seanne (Australia - arid climate)
My Cape gooseberrys were doing the same. As I'm trying to make a small yard edible Forrest I planted them under a pear with more potting mix and cow manure. Now they are lush green & growing fast. Mine however get a small water every day through summer in the morning and now our seasons changing every 2nd day.
07 Mar 15, Pat (Australia - temperate climate)
All my cape gooseberrys grew really well and then the top leaves all started to fall off and now most of them are just sticks with new growth coming from the base. They have had the same care all along. Do you know why this may be? They are planted in all different areas of the garden.
27 Dec 14, John (Australia - temperate climate)
HELP The leaves on my Cape Gooseberry bush are turning yellow. Any suggestions why and any cure?
29 Oct 14, Margaret (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
can I grow these in southern Manitoba in my garden as a peranial or can I grow it in a container as an annual
29 Oct 14, Greg (USA - Zone 6a climate)
Hi, would I be able to grow cape gooseberries in Zone 6A? Thanks
21 Jun 15, Dawn Phillips (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I'm in Ohio and my gooseberry bush loves this weather. Cold winters and warm summers. They are good grown in sun and partial shade.
Showing 371 - 380 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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