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
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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I bought a plant at Bunnings and it had fruit but died - seeds germinated and my second plant had heaps of fruit but they always fell off before fully ripe. My plants don't grow high but my Mum's used to be 100cm and never wilted as mine did. She kept the fruit in onion bags hanging on her patio until she had enough to make jam. I plan to do the same as i have enough fruit now. My problem is that my plants whither and die, look more like a ground cover in height while my Mum's were tall and lived on from year to year.- are there different kinds of Cape Goosberries

- Shirley Hardke

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