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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
03 Jun 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Phil Try fertilizing with liquid Potassium (available from Bunnings) Potassium promotes the growth of fruit and flowers and should make the fruit ripen properly. I spray most of my fruiting plants and my flowering plants (roses etc ) regularly with liquid potassium for great results.
Reply or Post a new comment
28 May 18, Kingy (Australia - temperate climate)
My berries won’t ripen either! I will try the potassium... Thank you! Would love anymore tips too! :)
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Aug 18, Robert (Australia - temperate climate)
How did you go with the liquid potassium? . I also have many berries thaf are not rippening.
Reply or Post a new comment
17 May 16, Lyn Teaf (Australia - temperate climate)
I have some gooseberry fruit and would like to know if I have to dry them out so the seeds are dry or can I plant the whole fruit. I live in Perth.
Reply or Post a new comment
29 May 16, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Perth (hills) and have just potted on a few dozen small plants that I grew in a large foam container from seed. I had a mixture of dried seeds and seeds still inside the soft fruit (I wanted to see which would work best). All the seeds have germinated I literally have a few hundred seedlings. I am now in the process of seeing which growing conditions are going to work best up here. I think I will plant the seeds directly into the ground next time.
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Apr 16, Mitch Orchard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We have successfully grown a number of Cape Gooseberry plants in our school garden (located at Bundarra - NW NSW). We are currently harvesting the fruit and the yield is fantastic.
Reply or Post a new comment
29 Mar 16, Paula Kreger (USA - Zone 3a climate)
Can I grow the Cape Gooseberries in my zone?---zone 3.
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Mar 16, Richard de Losada (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I have a question if these can grow in an exotic greenhouse !!! please send me any info that you might have !!! Thanks for your time..
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Mar 16, Jeanne (USA - Zone 4b climate)
Could the golden berry be planted in containers?
Reply or Post a new comment
24 Mar 16, Sandi Inch (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
would I be able to grow gooseberries on my window sill as I live in a flat. I have planted seeds and have a plant come up which is 3 - 4 cm in height....... will it survive?
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 311 - 320 of 558 comments
See comments for all plants

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

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.