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 20, Reda Soliman (USA - Zone 5b climate)
Can I plant golden gooseberry fruit at Illinois ZIP Code 60007
28 May 20, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Have a look at this page www.gardenate.com/plant/Cape Gooseberry?zone=14
01 May 20, Wilma (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I have been successful with planting my own gooseberry plant from seeds. Mind however not a bush but long stem which need support. How can I "train" or prune it into a bush.
14 Apr 20, Tina Christopher (Australia - temperate climate)
While leaning over the gooseberry plant , I started coughing And difficult in breathing , can you get a reaction of this plant
08 Apr 20, Hugh Thenasia (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
50cm between plants is not even close to sufficient IMHO. I have 2.5m between plants and can only just harvest comfortably...
09 Apr 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Never grown them but 50cm sounds far too close. If like tomatoes then 90-100 cm should be sufficient. The further apart the more soil the plant has to draw nutrient from and then the bigger the plant in size. I have zucchini plants approx 1.2m across, nothing growing near them.
07 Apr 20, Charlene (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi, Do they prefer sunlight, shade or semi shade?
08 Apr 20, Hugh Thenasia (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Bright sunlight is best and no need to water heavily. ;-)
08 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Most vegetables need a fair amount of sunlight, that is one of the main ingredients for them to grow. Some only need 4-6 hrs, some 6-8 hrs. Try growing something in shade and see how it grows. Read up on the internet how many hours of sun plants need.
02 Apr 20, aileen cooke (Australia - temperate climate)
last time... the fruit failed to mature and some leaves went yellow and fell and the branches became straggly now it's autumn.it has bulked up. it's having another go...with flower. I love the plant. where am I going wrong?
Showing 81 - 90 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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