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                  
        T              
        P              

(Best months for growing Cape Gooseberry in USA - Zone 5a 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 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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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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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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Showing 491 - 500 of 558 comments
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Have a cape gooseberry going on 3 summers now. Not much fruit in first year, bucket load in 2nd summer, now bucket loads in 3rd summer. Red spider mites would attack it from about March through to start of winter, but we just cut it back to about 20cm from base and the spider mites disappear heading into the winter. Noticed about a month ago after the hot weather hit, that alot of new flowers would just fall off at the slightest touch. Put this down to lack of water, so we placed sugar cane mulch to about 6 inches thick and out to a radius of about a meter, then stretched shade cloth over the mulch and pegged down (to keep the blackbirds from destroying the mulch). Under the mulch cover we also placed weaper hose and had this going for a few hours each day, and problem soon resolved with loads more flowers and setting fruit.

- Brad

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