View Category:Cape Gooseberry
Cape Gooseberry is a South American perennial fruit related to the tomato. It has become naturalised in southern Africa, hence its common name. Unlike the tomato it will survive a light frost. The orange berry-like fruit form in the centre of a papery 'chinese lantern'. They are slow to ripen but keep for a long time. When grown in a polytunnel the fruit are available from August to April. Then I usually cut it back before it takes over the whole tunnel. They will also grow out doors.
The seeds need a warm place like a propogator, or kitchen windowsill, to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into 10cm pots when they have a couple of real leaves and keep them cosy until they are planted out in April (indoors) May (outdoors). Cape gooseberries are very vigorous plants and need to be cofined to where you want them by cutting back some of the new growth.
The fruits are ready to eat when the husk has become completely dry and the berries have changed from green to orange.
Category:Cape Gooseberry