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As anyone grown Cape gooseberrys outside? I am growing mine in a pot and I read that they can be overwintered. The downside of a pot is that it limits growth, the upside is that I can move it undercover over the winter. Outside it could reach some 6 foot but I am not sure it could be cut back hard, dug up and over wintered in a big pot? Any ideas?
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Not tried them myself Andy but think you would be lucky to get one to 6 ft. around here. They are frost tender & I think you would be better keeping it in a pot as they like well drained soil (but plenty of watering) & thrive in poor conditions without the need for feeding etc. & putting it in your greenhouse over winter (as long as it stays above freezing in there). I think it could make 2 or 3 ft in a large pot but you could always get another one & try one outside as well & cut it back & pot it up as you said as an experiment. Lots of people grow them just as a annual to save the problem of overwintering.Into every life a little rain must fall. -
I've only ever grown them as annuals, but this year I have some inside and some out. The ones indoors are happily fruiting, while those outdoors look far from happy, I have to say, despite being in a nice warm spot against a sunny wall. That's not to say you shouldn't try though!Resistance is fertileComment
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Like you Paul. our ones under glass are going great guns whilst the outdoor ones are not happy bunnies.Comment
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Cape gooseberry outside
About three years ago I had a go at growing cape gooseberries outside. It was more than a success as they grew over ten feet high and overtook much of my small garden and next door. I grew them on a two feet high raised bed agaist a brick wall. The soil wasn't particular special and not much care was provided..........it was a jungle!!!! so much that I had to refrain myself to grow them again, but it was lovely first thing in the morning eating them.......I think that I will grow them again!!
Regards
Don Vincenzo
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Wow Don, you obviously have a nack for growing them!
Does it extend to runner beans o and if so can you show me the trick?
Shortie
"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding CarterComment
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Cape gooseberry outside
Nothing special. At the end of the growing season I used to put on that raised bed old compost from the green house, plants etc........like you would use a compost bin, left uncovered and when whatever plants are ready to plant out I clean the raised bed of uncomposted material and weeds and plant whatever. It cound be that the brick wall benefits from the sun and storage the heat during the day and release it during the night. In the same spot I grew very successfully running beans, snakes of Sicily, tomatoes. I wish I took some photos of the cape gooseberries but I was thinking that It was normal at that time to grow that much. Right now I have asparagus in the same bed.
Regards
Don
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Snakes of Sicily sound interesting Don? What are they?~
Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.
~ Mary Kay AshComment
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Snakes of Sicily
Snakes of Sicily belong to the cucurbities family, climbing plants and reach well over 10 feet giving the right attention. At maturity is not unusual for the fruit to reach 6 feet, the taste is superior to curgettes and the plant is beatiful. I have some photos but I do not know how to attach them to this reply. But also I have lots of seeds to give away together with growing and cooking instructions, if this is required please PM me. I would say 50 packets consisting of 20/25 seeds to give away. It would be fun comparing next year crop.
Don Vincenzo
Last edited by Shortie; 14-07-2006, 06:51 AM.Comment
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Ooo... sounds lovely Don, thanks. I'll PM you later for your address if that's okay and send a SAE to you.Shortie
"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding CarterComment
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It will be a pleasure
Regards
DonComment
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Don the Snakes Of Sicily sound wonderful. I would love to try growing them. I will send you a PM so that I can send a SAE.[Comment
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I've jsut had a look on Google for Snakes of Sicily with no success. You've obviously got xsomethign really unusual there Don. I'd like to take part in your grow and compare, too. I see the protocol is to send you a PM (my first one!) here goes...Comment
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Don - if you find you're sending your address to lots of people, you can always address it to more than one person - just to save you repeating the same PM over and over!Last edited by Shortie; 14-07-2006, 12:22 PM.Shortie
"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding CarterComment
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The problem I am having the most with mine is that being in a pot it dries really, really fast
. Keeping it in the greenhouse means that I come home to find it dropping and have to keep dunking it in a bucket of water for a few hours so perks up.
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