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

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16 Sep 14, Dan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hey, i just picked up a packet of seeds from a nursery called 'golden berry' i know their known by alot of names but that seems to be the one sold in packets. Bunnings sometimes stocks them as 'Cape Gooseberry seedlings' hope that helps
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31 Aug 14, Alva (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
We live in a black frost area. Hot wet summers and dry cold winters.
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30 Aug 14, Gwenneth (Australia - tropical climate)
Can you prune this plant after fruit has finished?
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14 Dec 14, Kay (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I wish to know the same thing. It is December in Brisbane. I got a reasonable crop. Those bugs attached but no matter how prolific they are I am like a terrier as I am determined not to lose the bush like I near did a previous season but it has left the bush big and rangey. It is just starting to bear some fruit but I would love to prunit6 it but I am not game unless I kill it.
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10 Sep 14, Crinia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I prune mine back hard whenever they get too leggy. Best to prune at the end of fruiting season. I put some in the poly house over winter and they have shot back fine. The two I left out in the frost as an experiment have not regrown.
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26 Nov 14, Stuart (Australia - temperate climate)
many years ago when i lived in England we grew goosberries in the back garden then lived through cold,frost,snow,you name it they were fine,alas i`m not sure what type of goosberry they were.
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09 Sep 14, Lisa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I gave mine a hard pruning after it stopped flowering/fruiting last year and it's now sprouting again. I live in Tasmania so kept it in my hothouse in a pot over winter.
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24 Aug 14, Amanda Mac (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am interested in purchasing some cape gooseberry seeds. I am on the northside of Brisbane. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
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25 Aug 14, Emily (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a cape gooseberry in my garden (north brisbane) if you would like to take some fruit for seeds
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31 Aug 14, Anitha (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi can I have some fruit for seeds too....
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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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