Cape Gooseberry

[binley100]

and I am blaming whoever put the seeds in the all in seed circle

[VirginVegGrower]

and I am blaming whoever put the seeds in the all in seed circle

Sounds good!

[Scarlet]

Hmm....think that may have been me

[chris]

I've never grown them as I've always thought they'd be a pain to germinate/grow. Looks like most of you grow undercover - but has anyone managed a decent crop outdoors?

[VirginVegGrower]

Hmm....think that may have been me

That is one brave admission

[Seahorse]

I have Chris, although from the above I'm guessing different varieties have different properties. I have probably 20 of them in my small front garden. They were here when I arrived, so I don't know what exact type they are. They grow along a south west facing wall but only get about four feet high at their biggest and don't bush out that much. Plenty of berries for jam though. They come back every year, even when I ignore them

[chris]

Do they take well from cuttings?

[VirginVegGrower]

Do they take well from cuttings?

Want to come and dig one up? I have two?

[chris]

I should have read this thread before last weekend

[Scarlet]

VVG, how much room have you got? I planted 4 in the back of an 8ft wide green house. They all grew tall (5/6ft) and bushy but as the growth is quite soft I tied the branches onto canes that kept them within a 3ft block. They were manageable and as VC said you can chop bits off if its not going where you want it.

[veggiechicken]

I wrap string round them and bundle them up to keep them under control!
Don't be afraid of them, VVG, they're pussycats really

[Scarlet]

That is one brave admission

Actually I can pass the buck. VC is to blame!! I had seeds last year for a pot variety and VC sent me some of her large growing ones - big is beautiful! much better use of GH space IMO than growing melons. I had a fabulous crop.

[VirginVegGrower]

Actually I can pass the buck. VC is to blame!! I had seeds last year for a pot variety and VC sent me some of her large growing ones - big is beautiful! much better use of GH space IMO than growing melons. I had a fabulous crop.

I might have known

They are in a 3 x 6m polytunnel, although they have 2' between them - not much space given the proportions listed - but they are set forward as I thought they were a tad vine like. The carrots behind them will be out by the time they become giants I suppose. Oh well! Comme si, comme ca as they say

[BertieFox]

These are horribly spreading plants in a tunnel. I made the mistake of growing them once, then discovered I didn't really like them. But they keep coming back every spring shooting up from roots in the paths where they seem to have got. They spread all over the staging and get tangled up with the tomatoes and peppers and things. You can cut them back but they are a real nuisance. It's one of those fruits which some people love but most dislike. I always find I take a taste and think 'what a wonderful flavour', only to be hit by an 'after taste' which is almost 'chemical'. I could never eat more than one fresh off the bush, unlike raspberries and blackberries where I could finish off most of the bush.
Have you ever noticed in those 'posh' restaurants where they put one, still in its 'wrapper', round the edge of the dessert plate, how most people end up leaving them untouched.
I guess I am so bitter about it as they LOOK as if they should taste wonderful given those gorgeous orange berries, but turn out to be a real disappointment! :]

[RedThorn]

See? Now I personally fall in the love camp. Fresh in a compote in a preserve in jam loves them I does