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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08 May 13, Peter Combrink (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I took the seeds from a berry and planted it. Growing properly and lots of trees.
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01 Oct 12, natasja (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Pieter, I don't know where you are from, but bought my gooseberry seeds from builders market in Bloemfontein, it is seeds from Mayford seed company I'm sure you will be able to buy them even from your local supermarket? Hope it helps! You can also google heirloom seed company in south africa they sell online!
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31 Aug 12, Melody (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Qld and you can often find the seeds you want on ebay or other seed selling sites. Be aware they cant always send to all states! Goodluck
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30 Aug 12, june rissman (Australia - temperate climate)
Could you give me any idea where I can buy gooseberry plants or seeds. Thankyou.
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18 Sep 12, Felicity (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi June, I bought my first gooseberry plant this year at Bunnings. I think it was about $4 Good luck :)
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08 Sep 12, June (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
HiJune, I have just bought a plant from my local Big W store, $9. 95.
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02 Sep 12, Fiona (Australia - temperate climate)
Diggers club have Cape Goosberry seeds - bought some on the weekend haven't planted them yet so hopefully they are not too hard to germinate.
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08 Jul 19, Kenneth Cross (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can anyone advise on the prevention of damage to the fruit by a fruit borer (tomato borer i think)?
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31 Aug 12, Kate (Australia - arid climate)
I got mine, as well as some Tomatillo seeds, from australianseed . com
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26 Jul 12, Tony Edwards (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Hello all my first foray into planting Cape Gooseberries a few questions: 1. What is the ideal soil type for the Cape Gooseberries? 2. Should one first plant seeds into trays? Good Gardening Greetings!
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Showing 491 - 500 of 556 comments
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Hello George Cape Gooseberries planted in the ground need little or no extra Nitrogen fertiliser otherwise they will grow too much vegetation with very little fruit. Just before or at flowering time you should add Phosphorus - I add half of the recommended amount every 2 weeks. Phosphorus increases the number of flowers. After the fruit starts to form I start adding small amounts of Potassium to the soil or watering with a liquid Potassium - the liquid Potassium is absorbed quicker. Potassium is responsible for making the fruit sweeter or with flowering plants ( roses etc.) the flowers bigger and more colourful. It is a very common mistake that Potassium makes more fruit and flowers - it's Phosphorus that does that. I have been growing Cape Gooseberries for at least 35 years this way so I know by experience and I have experimented with these fertilisers. I also grow not only the usual citrus (10 dwarf trees in pots and some in the ground), bananas, figs, but other fruit like Star Fruit, Dragon Fruit , Black Sapote and I always use the same fertilising procedure with very good results. I grow my Cape Gooseberries in the vegetable garden - 3 plants in a row with 4 x 1.8 metre stakes and thin rope wound aroud the 4 stakes to keep the plants from spreading out over the garden.

- John W

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