Yellow Cape Gooseberry Seeds

Cape gooseberry (Physalis) suits beginners and families who want a fun fruit to grow. Plants are easy but sprawling, so give them space or a cage.

1. Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep in a seedling tray and keep warm and moist.
2. Transplant at 4–6 leaves into a large pot, polybag or bed, 60–90 cm apart.
3. Support the branches with stakes or a tomato cage to keep fruit off wet soil.
4. Harvest when the husk turns dry and straw-coloured and the berry inside is golden — ripe fruits often drop on their own.

Tip: eat only fully ripe berries; unripe green fruit and the leaves should not be eaten. In very hot spells fruit set may slow down, so mulch well and water regularly.