Vegetables – CAPE GOOSEBERRY (PHYSALIS PERUVIANA)

Description

Vegetables – CAPE GOOSEBERRY (PHYSALIS PERUVIANA)

Vegetables – CAPE GOOSEBERRY (PHYSALIS PERUVIANA) . A tall growing herbaceous plant that can reach 1.6m and flowers in Jul / Aug producing round yellow Orange berry fruits with a very sweet flavour.  The variety originates from warmer climes therefore is not fully cold hardy and will only over-winter in milder areas in a sheltered warm spot.

Cultivation advice 

• Sow in early to mid spring under cover in fine potting compost with a minimum soil temp of 70F.
• Sow thinly and barely cover the seed, germination in 7-10 days.
• Prick out to individual pots when large enough to handle and gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions after all danger of frost has passes.
• Plant out to growing position in a sheltered position in full sun preferably in poorer sandy well drained soil to encourage fruit production and stake as required.
• The plant is naturally bushy, however by pinching out growing tips this will encourage a more dense growth.
• The fruits are encased in a paper like husk which should be allowed to fully dry prior to harvest.