Cape Gooseberry / Inca Berry over winter

[emarisa28]

Happy Monday peeps! I have followed the advice and have dug up my cape gooseberries and brought them indoors for the winter
They are between 18" - 30" high and seem ok. I did this about a week ago and have to confess i was a little rough digging it up but figured as they are so big if a couple of the finer roots got damaged it would be ok
Some of the lower leaves are starting to turn yellow, but near enough all of the leaves seem ok. Is this normal. Does this naturally die back over winter?

[veggiechicken]

Mine are flowering at the moment and usually fruit over winter. Then the stems die back and new ones grow, either from the base or as side shoots on old stems.
I keep mine in a bucket which moves in/out of the GH with seasons.
Its as tough as old boots.

[emarisa28]

Do your bottom leaves go yellow? I read somewhere it will last 2 seasons but judging by your post it lasts longer. My one is pretty tall for somthign that was 2" high in May.....how much taller ha ha xx

[Snadger]

There are different types. I've grown them to 2 metres high other types only grow to one metre.

[emarisa28]

There are different types. I've grown them to 2 metres high other types only grow to one metre.

I bought 2 difference types. Strangely the one that was tallest over most of the summer is only just over knee height and the smaller one is now chest height. Im 5,7
So, to answer my question, do your lower leaves turn yellow at all over winter? Am i expecting it to due back at all? Or does it just stay like this over winter now its indoors?

[veggiechicken]

I had one plant for about 5 years and it grew to the roof of the GH. It was grown from supermarket fruit.
The leaves probably go yellow - I don't take any notice of it until its ready to pick the fruit.

[4Shoes]

Coming into this thread after having missed the beginning. Cape Gooseberry - Physalis peruviana?

Didn't know you could overwinter. Mine are sitting next to an almost empty Polytunnel, so have the space to put them under cover. Do they just need taken inside to prevent worst of cold and Ice, or should I put them into the Byre (more protection, less light)?


could wrap with that fabric if required.

Have 4 post with some fruit on them. Every time I pass, I pick up a few.

[Snadger]

Physalis edulis were the ones I grew. They were grown n a greenhouse in a large pot. I just left them there and they sprouted again the following year.

[veggiechicken]

Something to read if you're bored

My adventures with Physalis https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...lis_92888.html

[Baldy]

I'd probably need to spray weedkiller on mine in the unheated GH to get rid of it - to say that it has a lack of attention from me would be an understatement.
Its the big version I've got - its quite the thug...

[4Shoes]

Coming into this thread after having missed the beginning. Cape Gooseberry - Physalis peruviana?

Didn't know you could overwinter. Mine are sitting next to an almost empty Polytunnel, so have the space to put them under cover. Do they just need taken inside to prevent worst of cold and Ice, or should I put them into the Byre (more protection, less light)?


could wrap with that fabric if required.

Have 4 post with some fruit on them. Every time I pass, I pick up a few.

Moved them inside last night. They are not looking their best. Some branches dying back, so a wee prune called for.

[4Shoes]

Moved them inside last night. They are not looking their best. Some branches dying back, so a wee prune called for.

Just found a packet of Physalis Alkekengi in my seed box. Couldn't have read the packet when I bought it and just assumed they were the fruit - There is a warning on back - "CAUTION: Harmful if eaten"

VC
Still to read through the other thread . expect it already says they are poisonous

[DannyK]

VC
Still to read through the other thread . expect it already says they are poisonous

Per RHS Toxicity May cause digestive upset if ingested: the ripe fruit is edible but the calyx surrounding it, the unripe fruit, and all other parts of the plant are toxic. I seem to remember reading somewhere that it's a bit of a thug.

Like Baldy I have triffid self sown ones which have been growing in frost free GH for many years which are hacked back to accommodate cacti. Just have a rampant fuchsia procumbens to sort out now.

Two out of three variety Goliath survived last winter in 3 lt pots in GH but did b all. Will put in flower buckets next year.

Have also got four pruinosa, sown this year, growing very well in 1.5 lt pots. Will pot up to 3lt shortly.