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  
                  T T  
                  P P  

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in Australia - cool/mountain 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
31 Aug 14, Anitha (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi can I have some fruit for seeds too....
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18 Aug 14, Ruth (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all, Is it true that all parts of the Cape Gooseberries (including the unripe fruit) are toxic? There seems to be conflicting info out there. I started some seeds from the Diggers Club undercover over a month ago, just sprouting now, so will plant out against a fence to keep away from frost. - Melbourne has had more frost than last year. Great germination rate so 20 was probably too many but looking forward to my first harvest. Awesome site by the way. Just found it today...
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25 Aug 14, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I believe the unripe fruit are toxic to animals.
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29 Jul 14, Julie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They handle light frost well. Only leaf damage and kept on growing. These are also excellent chicken treats to keep them away from your valuable veggies.
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09 Jul 14, Glenda (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just purchased some gooseberry seeds which I will plant in August. I live 40 kms west of Bundaberg in Qld. My question is do they require a lot of watering?
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29 May 14, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
I just received seeds from rangeview seeds and have sown them. Will grow them in my greenhouse for a start
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23 May 14, Frank - Albany WA (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
grows well in well tilled free draining soil . I have a few plants which are growing voraciously one close to 2mts high which i have to prune every 3-4 weeks. I like to go out and just pick and eat 10 -20 'berries' straight off the bush- different flavors depending on the ripeness f the berries.
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18 May 14, Carolien (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Can I grow cape goose berries from cuttings or only from seeds??? Thanks
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07 May 14, Allie (Australia - temperate climate)
I just bought seeds from Fair Dinkum Seeds (fairdinkumseeds dot com). Now to try growing them...
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30 Apr 14, Cher (Australia - tropical climate)
They are so very hardy and tolerant of weather extremes. I've grown them in many areas of Australia, mostly Queensland, and my latest offerings have just survived a drenching from cyclone Ita and are looking great. The harvest is always eaten straight after picking!
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Showing 401 - 410 of 558 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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