Cape Gooseberry Seeds - Physalis Peruviana Seed

Cape Gooseberry Seeds

Flower Specifications

Season: Perennial

USDA Zones: 8 - 11

Height: 24 inches

Bloom Season: Spring to mid summer

Bloom Color: Yellow to purple

Environment: Full sun to partial shade

Soil Type: Very adaptable - sandy to clay, pH 5.1 - 6.0

Planting Directions

Temperature: 75F

Average Germ Time: 10 - 20 days

Light Required: Yes

Depth: 1/16 inch

Sowing Rate: 3 seeds per plant

Moisture: Keep moist until germination

Plant Spacing: 18 inches

Care & Maintenance: Cape Gooseberry

Cape Gooseberry (Physalis Peruviana) - Start Cape Gooseberry seed to grow this perennial plant that produces golden colored berries. Physalis Peruviana, commonly referred to as Cape Gooseberry, grows to approximately 2 feet tall and is is hardy to zone 8 but is frost tender. Cape Gooseberry plants are in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to November. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees and wind.

Cape Gooseberry, or also called Goldenberry or Peruvian Ground Cherry, will grow in a wide range of soils from light sandy soils to heavy clay soils. Goldenberry plants prefer soil types that are well-drained. Even if the soil is nutritionally poor, Cape Gooseberry will still grow well, and it prefers acidic soil. Physalis Peruviana is very adaptable and can grow in full sun to partial shade.

Start Cape Gooseberry seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the end of frost season. Cover the seeds with 1/16 inch of soil and keep the Physalis seeds moist. Transplant when temperatures are warm (after tomatoes are set out). The berries will ripen from green to golden yellow when ripe, and they will drop in their husks ready to be collected. Cape Gooseberry is known for its golden yellow, berries. You can use these fruits raw or cooked in pies, cakes, jellies, jams and as a raisin substitute also not as sweet. Goldenberry is considered to have a delicious bitter-sweet flavor.

Exotic Perennial Berry Plant

Cape Gooseberry (also known as Goldenberry, or Peruvian Ground Cherry) is a hardy fruit plant that produces a large berry resembling a miniature yellow tomato.

Exotic Perennial Berry Plant

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How to Grow

Gooseberry seeds should be planted when temperatures reach 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant grows in USDA zones 8-11, and is very adaptable within soil: it can grow in sandy or clay earth (as long as it is well-drained), with a pH of 5.1 - 6.0. It enjoys full sun to partial shade. Cut stems for drying as the calyces begin to color. Germination occurs in 10-20 days under proper conditions, and the plant can reach up to a height of 24 inches.

  • Environment: full sun to partial shade
  • Soil: sandy to clay w' pH 5.1-6.0
  • Sowing rate: 3 seeds per plant
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Plant Specifications

Cape Gooseberry is a perennial fruit-producing plant that grows in USDA zones 8 through 11. Its small berries are often used in cooking.

  • Fruit color: yellow
  • Fruit season: late summer to fall
  • Plant Height: 24 inches