Vegetables – CAPE GOOSEBERRY (PHYSALIS PERUVIANA)
Part of the nightshade family, this tall growing herbaceous plant 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 climates therefore is not fully cold hardy and will only over-winter in milder areas in a sheltered warm spot.
These fruits can be enjoyed fresh or cooked. PLEASE NOTE: unripe fruit, leaves, and flowers should not be consumed as they are poisonous.
Cultivation advice Vegetables – CAPE GOOSEBERRY (PHYSALIS PERUVIANA)
- 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.
