One of the most versatile yet understated vegie garden plants, the Cape Gooseberry produces a sweet fruit encased in a papery husk that turns brown to let you know when the fruit is ripe. Bush tucker food in areas around Cape York, it actually came to Australia from another Cape… South Africa. Producing fruit the size of a cherry tomato, eat fresh, preserve as jams and chutneys, or allow to dry in the husk like a raisin.
Plant in full sun in soil enriched with compost, well-rotted manure and dolomite. Plant at the same depth in the soil as it was in the pot. Water regularly during establishment. Reduce water during fruit development. Protect from wind. Prune back by at least half when fruiting is finished. Plant at 60cm spacings.