In the U.S. Johnny's sells the variety Goldie. Baker Creek Seeds sells cape gooseberry seeds. T&T seeds and Greta's Organic Seeds, both in Canada, sell Cape Gooseberry and the ground cherry variety Cossack Pineapple, respectively. Cape gooseberry and ground cherry are related but not the same. Cape gooseberry requires a longer growing season and has larger fruits. If you want to start seed now, I suggest starting either Goldie or Cossack Pineapple. Another common variety of ground cherry is Aunt Molly's, but I am not sure what seed company carries it. Cape gooseberries are also more finicky to germinate than ground cherries. Use bottom heat for germination (85 degrees). Ground cherries take 4-6 days and cape gooseberries 7-10 days. This post was edited by Slimy_Okra on Sat, Apr 26, 14 at 17:25

You should be able to plant all winter in your location. The soil will stay a lot warmer than the air, and roots continue to develop and establish much of the winter. It's quite incorrect to think that the roots of woody trees and shrubs (or much of anything) stop growing in the fall and winter. Even deciduous trees that are fully dormant should be planted in the fall/winter in your climate. The roots will grow! You probably have several months of establishment time ahead of you, until the soil gets cold enough at root level to slow down growth. By that time, unless your trees are extremely large, they should be fully established. As a matter of fact, fall is THE ideal time for planting in warm climates. The top growth slows down so that the plant can concentrate on root development. It's a good thing. It used to be common knowledge; I wonder why it isn't anymore. Your trees should be well established by the time hot temperatures roll around in the spring of next year. The last thing you want your new trees to experience is bud break, new growth, and hot temperatures on a root system that isn't developed yet. Be sure to follow proper planting methods...dig the hole no deeper than is needed for the rootball to sit at soil grade or higher....but two to three times wider. Do NOT add soil amendments of any kind into the hole or mix with the backfill. Use the native soil. Mulch with a 2 to 3 inch layer of something organic like pine straw, bark chips, etc. but do not pile the mulch up against the trunk. Be sure to keep the root ball watered and moist. Fall is the time for planting in all warmer climates. Actually, this is true for anyplace where the soil doesn't freeze solid. Don't trust information you get from HomeDepot. Once year, I over heard a clerk telling a customer that she could plant the cut Christmas tree she had just purchased in the ground after the holidays. A CUT Fraser Fir! Lordy.

Hi Jo, It is much warmer here in Oklahoma than where you live in NJ. I scattered California poppy & Shirley poppy seeds last week and they are up and growing! I also planted Tidy Tips and some other Spring flowering plants, and they are up too! I am just thrilled! No two gardens are ever the same and neither are planting & blooming times and conditions in different locations; Nor are they in the same town or even in the same neighborhood. If you still have snow on the ground, then it is not too late where you live to plant poppies IMHO. Give it a go! ~ Annie

I would place about 1/2 the seeds in the freezer for 2-3 weeks, then plant them. If they don't grow, you still have seeds for planting in the fall. It's worth a try.