I have grown Cape Gooseberries (Physalis peruviana) for the first time this year. I treated them like tomatoes ie started the seed indoors and then planted out the young plants when no more frost was likely. The soil is clayey with liberal homemade compost and some manure. They get reasonable light but certainly not sun all day. They appear unaffected by any pests or diseases in my climate and have grown into 2.5 - 3 foot tall bushes. I have them about 2 feet apart. They do not sprawl particularly although I have given most of them a few twiggy prunings to relax against if necessary. They are flowering well and have many fruits forming. The gamble is whether they will ripen before the weather becomes too cool, gloomy and damp. Verdict - in my climate it is easy to grow the plants but the fruit crop is touch and go. I am curious as to whether it will overwinter for me as it is a perennial. I rather doubt it.

I used to have these in my garden. We called them husk tomatoes because of the papery shell that encased the fruit. When they turned a yellowish color or dropped off the vine, they were ripe. The fruit is sweet and very good. My mother made jam with these. Inevitably, some of the fruit stayed on the ground, and every year they reseeded, so you'll only have to plant them once. I believe Thompsen & Morgan may carry these, and sometimes you may find the seeds in your local garden center.

SUCCESS!!!!! After my second try, and a very hot summer, I am now seeing the fruits of this wonderful labour. And, what a wonderful fruit. I've got about 8 or 10 berries, so far, but there are many, many, many more to come. If we can hold out 2 more weeks, I should get at least a pie and a bit of jam. They are soooooo good. One of my sons tried one yesterday and thought it a bit on the sour side, but I'm finding them really nice. They are forecasting a bit of cooler weather for this weekend, with the possibility of snow. That's really early for us. It will be such a shame if we get an early killing frost. It is supposed to get really warm again after this cool spell. The weather has been so hot this year with many, many days above 30C. Summer 2005 only had a couple of those really hot days. Definitely, this year, I will be covering the gooseberries with my frost blanket. I was away for 2 1/2 weeks in late August and my tomatoes have bushed out of control. Not sure how many I'll get but I have to find them first. All in all, it's been a good summer with lots of learning going on this year. Hope all in kiwi country is going well. Thanks for all of the help in getting me familiarized with a new yearly "must have". BTW, you were absolutely right about the pansies. I'm not sure I ever want to see another one. Although, my self seeded space was very pretty and fragrant, it became a nightmare of pansies everywhere throughout my garden. I am going to be pulling for years to come. LOL Shauna

Hi Lucy You can always buy the seeds online, as plants are impossible to locate in mainstream nurseries. Try www.greenharvest.com.au www.possumpages.com.au/newgipps They should be able to post to NZ. I grow them in pots and move them under glass for the winter months. While we don't get frosts here in melbourne, they do like warmth. LOL Iain