Common name(s) | Gooseberry |
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Plant Care | ![]() Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day. ![]() Frost Sensitive Frost Sensitive – Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost. ![]() Low Watering Low Watering – Requires Little Water. ![]() Moderate Maintenance Med Maintenance – Requires moderate maintenance. ![]() Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
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Botanical name | Physalis edulis |
Foliage | It has grey-green velvety heart-shaped leaves on ribbed purplish hairy stems. |
Fruit | Bears globular fruits, each enclosed in a bladderlike husk which becomes papery on maturity. |
Soil conditions | Well-drained, light and sandy. |
Planting instructions | Grow from seed in trays. Scatter seeds evenly over the surface of the soil. Cover the seeds with a fine layer of soil 5mm in depth. Alternatively, use vermiculite as a covering. Press down to keep the seeds in place. Water well. Keep the tray in a warm, sheltered position for germination to take place. Transplant seedlings, when they are about 10cm tall, into well-prepared garden beds. Space them 90cm apart. |
Interesting planting ideas | Beans, Tomatoes, chives and tansy are listed as companion plants for Gooseberry and they help deter the gooseberry sawfly. |
Interesting Info | Gooseberries are a good source of vitamin C and vitamin B3 |
Common pests and diseases | Prone to powdery mildew and soft brown scale. Also, root rots and viruses if on poorly drained soil or if carried over to a second year. |
Harvest | They take approximately 180 days from sowing to harvest. |
Yield | A single plant can yield up to 300 berries per plant. |
Physalis edulis (Gooseberry)
- Botanical name: Physalis edulis
- Common name(s): Gooseberry
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Plant description:
Cape gooseberries, well known in South Africa, quick-growing annual or perennial that originates in South America. Bushes can reach a height of about 1m.
Family: Solanaceae.
Synonym:
Botanical Pronunciation:
Physalis edulis requirements and features
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Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.