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
S S         S S S S S S
T T T           T T T T
P P P         P P P P P

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 100 - 150 cm 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
04 Jul 15, Anna Spence (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Nova Scotia Canada..... Hi can I get these plants or seeds in Nova Scotia ? . Would love to grow them. Could you please let me know where I could purchase plants or seeds. Thankyou !
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07 Oct 14, christine (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi there! Have been given one cape gooseberry fruit to enable me to grow from seed. My question is...ought I to wait till the yellow fruit dries totally before putting into soil or can I simply put the whole fruit into a plant pot and hope for the best??? I am keen to get it underway???
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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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25 Mar 14, Pierre (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I am in Nelspruit,will Gooseberry grow here and can it be a profotable thing to plant? +- 4 ha Thank you
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08 Feb 14, Joy Smith (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
I have large health looking plants but they are not bearing fruit. They were self sown seedling which I planted out but they are just not bearing fruit. I always had an abundance of fruit from the parent plants. can you explain what the problem is.
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14 May 17, Hans (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Please ent me information of the pros an d cons of goose berries
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06 Aug 13, Pam Oosthuizen (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Can I trim back the leggy branches after the Fruiting season?
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05 Sep 12, Pieter Booyse (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am looking for cape gooseberry seeds in South Africa. Any contacts please. thanks
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14 Aug 13, Lizelle (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
By far the best seed supplier is Livingseeds.co.za. They send the seeds to wherever you are, give excellent advice and the best service around.
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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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Showing 31 - 40 of 48 comments
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How I got my Cape Gooseberry to grow from a cutting..The cutting I managed to get was about 3cm long. It was the tip of one of the branches. When I got it home after a 30 minutes car drive, I let the cutting soak in cool tap water for a couple of hours. Then I put the cutting into a small pot with 3/4 of soil. I then put 3 small stakes about 15cm above the pot level wedged around the edge of the pot. Then I use a clear plastic bag and covered the pot. I made a small hole in the bag for ventilation and also for watering the pot without having to take the plastic bag off. keeping it moist but not damped I noticed the cutting was getting bigger and side shoots began to show. When it got to about 15cm tall I transplant the gooseberry into a glasshouse. about 3 months later the gooseberry plant is over 1.5metre tall and has dozens of side shoots over a meter tall. It's like going wild in my glasshouse. And yes, the tree is loaded with fruit but not riped to pick as yet. Since my cape gooseberry took off and produced many side shoots I've been making more cuttings. Now I don't know what the hell I am going to do with all the new plants I've made. So it is very easy to grow Cape Gooseberry from cuttings as long as the cutting has a tip or a nod/ bud where branches or new side shoots going to come out of. Anyone in the Canberra area wanting a cutting or small Gooseberry tree let me know.

- Canh

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