Giant Cape Gooseberry Mix Seeds
Giant Cape Gooseberry Mix Seeds - Physalis peruviana - Inca Berry, Goldenberry, Northern Pineapple
Inca Berry, Goldenberry, Northern Pineapple
- Hardy to Zone 10
Full Sun
- Germination Tested November 22, 2024: 100%
- 40-50 seeds per packet
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Cape Gooseberry is a delicious fruit native to South America. It is also called goldenberry, Peruvian groundcherry, Inca berry, aguaymanto, uvilla or uchuva. I find these to be much tastier than regular ground cherries (eg Aunt Molly's). They taste like a sweet and tropical pineapple with hints of vanilla. They barely have any tartness like regular ground cherries.
In the winter of 2023/24, I sourced as many giant and extra sweet varieties of cape gooseberry that I could find from around the world. I grew them altogether, and they produced the largest and tastiest berries I've ever eaten. One of the largest berries was 12.3 grams!
These berries require a long season, so I'd only recommend them for folks with long seasons and/or greenhouses. On Vancouver Island, I start these earlier than my tomatoes around early February, and plant out in my unheated greenhouse in April/May. The plants will have ripe berries from late August-October
The round orange fruits grow inside a papery husk. You can tell they are ripe when the husk (calyx) turns tan and papery. Wait until they are fully ripe to eat and they will have a very sweet, tropical fruit flavour with a hint of vanilla. You can even leave them on the counter for a few days or several weeks for an even sweeter taste.
These fruits will actually last for several months in their papery husks on the kitchen counter without any preservation. They make a delightful tropical treat in January!
A shared some with a friend this summer who is an avid foodie and world traveler. He knows the best restaurants in every major city in the world. He said this was the best thing he'd eaten in years!
Cape Gooseberries are fabulous eaten fresh off the plant, as a garnish on fancy desserts, in baking (think cape gooseberry upside down cake), salsa, jam, cocktails, fruit salad, or dried. I like to think of them as "northern pineapples" because they can be used somewhat like a pineapple substitute.
Unlike regular ground cherries that are low growing, Cape Gooseberry is tall (up to 8 feet), which makes picking the fruits much easier. It produces a lot of biomass (leaves and stems) which is helpful for composting in the permaculture garden. Don't give them the most nutritious soil so they put more energy into berries and less into leaves.
I grow these as annuals, but a friend of mine has overwintered them successfully in Victoria, BC by adding a foot of straw mulch for winter.
Growing Instructions
Growing Instructions
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We ship seeds via Canada Post within Canada for $6 to $8 depending on weight, and Internationally for a flat rate of $20*. Shipping costs to the US will include the cost of a phytosanitary inspection and certificate, as well as tariffs.
Live plants, bulbs, and bulbils can only be shipped within Canada.
Shipping fees listed here are in Canadian dollars, and may change without notice.
Shipping in Canada
We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-3 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally orders take longer, especially to the Eastern provinces and rural areas.
Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery.
Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.
Shipping to the US
Shipping charges to the US will also now include a government phytosanitary inspection and certificate. This will be bundled into the shipping cost. We ship via Canada Post, and any applicable duties will be calculated at checkout. So far (as of Sept 1, 2025), it's looking like there are no duties charged on seeds.
Please expect delays for US shipping, as during busy times it can take up to 2 weeks for us to book a phytosanitary inspection.
Shipping Internationally
International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.
International shipping countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.
This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page
Please reach out if your country is not on this list, email us and we will try to arrange an alternate shipping option.
Return Policy
If you have any issues with your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will do our best to make it right.
Ecologically Grown
Ecologically Grown
Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
