cape gooseberry plants for sale

Bring the Exotic Flavors of Cape Gooseberry to Your Garden

If you’re looking to add a unique and tasty fruit to your garden, you’ll want to consider growing cape gooseberry plants. Though not yet mainstream these exotic berries are gaining popularity at specialty grocers and backyard gardens for their sweet-tart flavor and high vitamin C content.

In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about purchasing and growing cape gooseberry plants for sale. Read on to learn cape gooseberry facts, growing requirements, and where to buy plants for your own harvest.

What is Cape Gooseberry?

Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) is a relative of the tomatillo that originates from Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Also called goldenberry or Peruvian groundcherry, the fruit is enclosed in a papery husk resembling a Chinese lantern.

Unhusked berries keep up to 3 weeks at room temperature. Inside, the small, spherical, orange-yellow fruits resemble cherry tomatoes. Their flavor is often described as pineapple-meets-mango with a hint of vanilla.

Cape gooseberries supply vitamin A, vitamin C, phosphorus and calcium. The tart sweetness makes them ideal fresh snacks, salads, desserts, chutneys and more.

Plants yield dangling, lantern-shaped pods holding up to 300 tart-sweet fruits per season With proper care, each cape gooseberry plant can produce up to 8 pounds of fruit!

Cape Gooseberry Growth Requirements

• Climate: Cape gooseberries thrive in warm, humid climates with daytime temperatures of 70-80°F. Provide afternoon shade in zones warmer than 90°F. Plants are damaged below 30°F and killed below 25°F. Grow as an annual in cooler climates.

• Sun: Full sun to partial afternoon shade.

• Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic soil enriched with compost. Avoid wet, poorly drained sites.

• Water: Keep soil consistently moist, providing 1-2 inches per week. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to avoid wetting foliage.

• Fertilizer: Apply balanced fertilizer monthly during growth and fruiting. Avoid high nitrogen formulas that reduce fruiting.

• Support: Sturdy cages, stakes or trellises to support tall, sprawling plants.

Where to Buy Cape Gooseberry Plants

Cape gooseberry is still considered a specialty crop, but its popularity is rising. Here are some top suppliers offering plants for home growing:

• Specialty nurseries – Check with local nurseries specializing in unique edibles. Cape gooseberries are often sold as starter plants in spring.

• Online specialty stores – Retailers like Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and Burpee offer a limited selection of potted plants delivered bare root.

• Etsy sellers – Several Etsy shops sell potted cape gooseberry plants when in season. Just search “cape gooseberry plant”.

• Local gardeners – Connect with community gardeners or check garden forums. Some offer divisions or cuttings for trade.

If starter plants aren’t available, cape gooseberries are easy to grow from seed. Expect seeds to produce fruit within 100 days. For best germination, sow indoors 8-10 weeks before your last expected frost.

How to Grow Cape Gooseberry

Follow these tips for successfully growing cape gooseberries in your garden:

Site Selection and Soil Prep

• Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid frost pockets or areas prone to flooding.

• Amend soil with aged compost or manure 2-3 weeks before planting. Cape gooseberries thrive in soil with a pH between 6.2-7.0.

• Space plants 2-3 feet apart in rows 3 feet apart. Wide spacing allows air circulation and prevents fungal issues.

Planting and Support

• Harden off seedlings or young plants before transplanting them outside after your last spring frost date.

• Carefully tease apart tangled roots before planting at the same depth plants were growing in pots.

• Install 5-7 foot stakes or cages at planting to support each plant’s vigorous growth habit.

Care and Maintenance

• Apply mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and reduce weeds. Leave space around stems to prevent rot.

• Water plants 1-2 inches per week, allowing the soil to partially dry between waterings. Avoid wetting the foliage.

• Fertilize plants monthly with a balanced 10-10-10 or tomato fertilizer to encourage fruiting.

• Prune plants to 2-3 main stems for better air circulation and light penetration.

Harvest and Storage

• Cape gooseberries ripen to a deep golden orange/yellow color. Harvest when fruits detach easily and papery husks are dry.

• Store intact, husked fruits in a single layer in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Freeze extras by spreading in a single layer on a tray before transferring to bags.

• To use, simply peel off the papery husk. Rinse and enjoy fresh, or cook as desired.

Ideal Cape Gooseberry Companion Plants

Here are some great options for companion planting to optimize growing conditions:

• Beans – Cape gooseberries thrive next to pole bean teepees or trellises. Beans provide nitrogen while using different nutrients.

• Marigolds – The roots exude a substance that deters nematodes which can plague cape gooseberry.

• Basil – Its pungent scent confuses pests. Plus it enhances fruit flavor when harvested together.

• Borage – Planting borage nearby improves cape gooseberry growth and flavor. Its flowers are also edible.

• Petunias – These pretty annuals repel aphids, tomato hornworm and asparagus beetle.

Common Pests and Diseases

When provided ideal growing conditions, cape gooseberries are relatively trouble-free. But here are some potential problems to watch for:

• Aphids – Check developing buds and undersides of leaves for these tiny sucking insects and their sticky honeydew deposits. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control light infestations.

• Cutworms – These caterpillars chew through plant stems at the soil line, killing seedlings. Apply diatomaceous earth around plants as a barrier.

• Whiteflies – Clouds of tiny white insects indicate whiteflies. They stunt plants and spread disease. Use yellow sticky traps and insecticidal soap.

• Alternaria and other fungal diseases – Water carefully to prevent foliage wetness that encourages fungal problems. Improve airflow and avoid crowding plants. Apply neem oil or copper fungicide sprays preventatively.

• Sunscald – Fruit exposed to intense sun may develop bleached spots and flavor loss. Light shading during peak sun prevents issues.

By selecting resistant varieties, practicing good cultivation habits and applying organic controls promptly when needed, you can avoid serious issues.

Tasty Cape Gooseberry Fruit Recipes

Once your cape gooseberry harvest arrives, enjoy these refreshing recipes:

• Cape gooseberry agua fresca – Blend fruit with water, lime juice and sweetener. Strain and chill for a refreshing drink.

• Gooseberry salsa – Mix diced gooseberries with red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime. Serve with chips or grilled fish.

• Gooseberry chutney – Cook chopped gooseberries, sugar, vinegar, spices and onions until thickened. Perfect with Indian dishes.

• Gooseberry pie – Make a classic double crust pie, or opt for a crumb topping. Sweeten cooked fruit with sugar to taste before filling the pie shell.

The Sweet Taste of Success!

Adding cape gooseberry plants to your edible garden is sure to bring some exotic excitement. Though the plants require warm conditions and a long growing season, they yield abundant fruit perfect for snacking and cooking.

With their low-maintenance growth habits and disease resistance, cape gooseberries are easy to incorporate among other garden plantings. Train them up teepees and trellises to save space while creating vertical interest. For gardeners seeking unique and appealing fruits, cape gooseberries are a delicious option worth trying!