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Cape Gooseberry

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Paull2 (U14064177) on Wednesday, 16th February 2011

  Last October, I was at a family 'do' at a local restaurant where, with the sweets, I think, were offered cape gooseberries (Physalis peruviana)
  as garnish I first assumed. Anyway, rather than eat it, I took one home and extracted some seeds (just like tomato) which I have just put in a propagator. Has anyone grown these plants, and with what experience?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by lilylouise (U3205282) on Wednesday, 16th February 2011

  I grow them every year! When the seedlings are big enough to handle prick them out into small pots then in a few weeks time harden them off . Don't put outside permanently until the frosts have passed. I just put 3 plants in about an 18 " pot with a wigwam of 3 x 5'-6' bamboo canes for support. Hope this helps !

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  Posted by Playingtimeaddedon (U14150224) on Wednesday, 16th February 2011

  There is a flower, whose correct name I cannot remember, but is often called the Japanese Lantern. The Cape Gooseberry is in the same family.
  
  An enclosed lantern-shaped flower is formed and inside is a small, round fruit, about the size of a blueberry forms. It starts off green, but as the outside lantern shape turns brown, so the fruit turns orange.
  
  It is not a particularly sweet fruit, and the flavour is not to everyone's taste.
  
  The plant will have plenty of fruit, and if you let them ripen, and do not collect all of the fruit, they will germinate and appear again next year.
  
  Always worth a try, and a hell of a lot better than the Huckleberries that I grew a few years ago! A definite case of 'instant yeuk!'
  
  

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  Posted by Paull2 (U14064177) on Thursday, 17th February 2011

  Thanks for that. I wasn't aware that they were climbers.I'll watch their progress with interest.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Friday, 18th February 2011

  No they are not climbers, just tall plants. Ridiculously easy to grow, though I kept mine in a greenhouse. There are two varieties (may be more) regularly offered, the other variety is to make salsas as found in Mexican cooking. The fruit are much larger and remain green.

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  Posted by lyndapet (U14790404) on Friday, 18th February 2011

  physalis edularis are the edible cape goosebery very similar to tomatoes for growing conditons.They are actually perennials if kept warm over winter
  .They also grow into very large bushes.I grow mine from seed saved from fruit as annuals and start them off in early march in a propagator.Give them a try they are deilcious

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