Cape Gooseberry

catlover28, Mar 12, 2:17pm
Who grows these! I bought a plant a few weeks ago. Its got new leaves forming every day but only one "lantern". Is that normal! Its my first time growing one.
stevee6, Mar 12, 2:25pm
It's young and getting late in the season, so maybe not this year. Give it some protection over the winter and watch it take off next year.
woollywoman, Mar 12, 4:54pm
I have about eight plants, they even give us fruit over autumn, winter but it takes about four weeks to ripen! It's a good idea to pinch out the tips when it gets to the height you want or it will grow tall and spindly and may even break. The pinching encourages it to be bushy. They will take over the garden if you let them! My kids love the fruit and check them everyday. Once they are growing, a water every now and then will do. They seem to do better when left alone.
woollywoman, Mar 12, 4:55pm
If it's only small, then yep, normal. Sorry to go on and on, these are one of my favourite plants!
diana96, Mar 12, 5:12pm
we are eating our now. they are huge this year.
thistle4, Mar 13, 11:38am
We are eating our berries now and this year is the best ever.We planted the plant 2 years ago in a pot and this year transferred it into the garden in an area with poor soil under a Japanese Cedar, it loves it there.
cantabman1, Mar 13, 7:55pm
From one plant abut 4 yrs ago, we now have 10 or more. They hate the cold winters, so you need to get them away from frost fall, or under shelter.
Birds have eaten some, and they are growing wild around our section.
Was thinking of sellingsome that ive potted up.
milkybar4, Mar 14, 6:45am
i've got one which i bought last year and it had truck loads of berries. it then died in snow but came back up again in spring/summer but only to a quarter of it's previous size and it's berry load has been pathetic. bit gutted cause i love them. I dont know if they normally die off in winter but obviously frost sensitive, just so you know : )
cantabman1, Mar 14, 7:01am
If you cut off a stem and plant it in soil, it will grow. They are very easy to cultivate.
mottly, Apr 16, 5:03am
I planted some seeds late last spring, my plants are around 2 feet high, no fruit, but they're really growing like crazy now.fingers crossed for next year.I hear they self sow ALOT!