Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) - Seeds
15 Seeds
€2,20
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Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) - Seeds
€2,20
Pickup available at Bei der Kirche 3
Usually ready in 24 hours
For orders of €10 or more, you can choose a portion (15 seeds) of Cape gooseberry as a free gift!
The Cape gooseberry, often simply called Physalis, is a true highlight for any garden. Anyone who has harvested ripe, bright orange berries fresh from their own bush will not want to miss out on the intense, sweet-tart, and wonderfully exotic taste. In my own cultivation, it has proven to be a vigorous and high-yielding plant that feels particularly at home in a large container on the balcony or terrace.
Scope of delivery: 15 / 50 seeds each
My experiences and tips for sowing
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Pre-cultivation: I recommend starting the seeds indoors from February to April at the latest.
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Sowing depth: Only cover the seeds very lightly, about 0.5 cm deep, with seed starting soil and press down gently.
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Germination temperature: Consistent warmth of 22 to 25 degrees Celsius is extremely important for successful germination.
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Germination period: Usually, the first seedlings appear after 2 to 3 weeks.
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Moisture: I keep the substrate consistently slightly moist, but strictly avoid waterlogging.
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Planting out: Young plants should only be moved permanently outdoors after the "Ice Saints" in mid-May.
Location and care
The Cape gooseberry loves full sun. The more light and heat it receives, the sweeter the fruits become. I like to plant them in really large containers. A volume of at least 20 to 30 liters is ideal, as the plant grows enormously, can reach a height of 1.5 to 2 meters, and has a very high water requirement on warm days.
When it comes to fertilizer, absolute caution is required. I now refrain from later fertilizing, as the plant sometimes does not tolerate it well at all. Moreover, too much nitrogen often only results in the plant becoming huge but producing almost exclusively meter-long foliage and hardly any blossoms. Instead, I simply plant it directly into good, high-quality soil – that is quite sufficient as a base for the entire season.
Very important: Unlike tomatoes, the Physalis must never be pruned! The blossoms and later the fruits form directly in the forks of the shoots. Anyone who removes shoots here is cutting off their own harvest.
Harvest and important note
Harvesting should only take place when the parchment-like lantern enveloping the fruit is completely light brown and dry, and the berry inside has turned a deep orange color.
Attention: The Physalis is a nightshade plant. All green parts of the plant as well as unripe, greenish berries contain toxic solanine and must not be consumed.
Overwintering
Although it is often grown as an annual, the plant is actually perennial. I prune my plants back vigorously before the first frost and overwinter them in a bright, cool place at about 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. In the following year, they will sprout much earlier and provide an even richer harvest.