cape gooseberrys

[alan42]

hi all
just joined this forum and looking forward to spending some quality virtual gardening time with all of you, my question is has anybody grown this fruit what are its likes dislikes please, i have 15 plants under glass about 2 inches tall in a tray, what should i do next, can they be grown outdoors or must it be under glass.
many thanks
alan

[alan42]

[Brogusblue]

Hello

I grew one outside last year mine and mine fruited last year we had a couple of pounds of fruit from it, it grew massive last year 3x3ft it swapped my poor gooseberry bushes, I have very chalky soil if i have a bit more space i would grow it again.
Cheers
Brogusblue

[jennym]

Don't know where you are but they grow outside ok here in sunny Essex. Hope you've got enough room for 15 plants, some of mine beat the size brogusblue states, so be prepared! They don't seem to be too fussy abiut anything really, I grow them on heavy clay and don't feed or water them once they are outside.

Forgot to say, size depends on variety, some are quite dwarfing, like peruviana.

[Marymary]

I grew one too for a couple of years in a big pot - trouble was no one liked the taste much.  :(

[Curryandchips]

I tried them last year, but got a very poor crop. Sowed some seed again this year, got about eight tiny plants currently in the greenhouse. If I have space which is probable, then I will give them a second chance ...

[lin]

I love them... grow them indoors and transplant out when high enough and sturdy enough, probably in a week or two.

You get loads of fruits and they are lovely in a fruit salad or just on their own with yoghurt... or cooked, but my favourite thing is just to keep eating them while I am down the plot!

The good thing I have noticed is that the slugs and creepies seem to ignore them and loads of them drop on the ground but because they are in their little crinkly cases, nothing seems to damage them... and they don't seem to rot either. So all in all I am a definite "for" when it comes to these little golden goodies!! Lin

[alan42]

many many thanks for the replys, i have loads of room 4 allotments at the moment so i will grow them all on and hopefully have enough for familly and friends.

[Rhys]

hi all
just joined this forum and looking forward to spending some quality virtual gardening time with all of you, my question is has anybody grown this fruit what are its likes dislikes please, i have 15 plants under glass about 2 inches tall in a tray, what should i do next, can they be grown outdoors or must it be under glass.
many thanks
alan

I grew 1 plant last year in my polytunnel for the first time and had a wheelbarrow full of fruits. They do grow massive and needs some support or the branches will break.

[Rosyred]

I grew them last year, plants were alot bigger this time last year. Didn't get a good crop and they started fruiting too late. I notice they need alot of room really.

[Amazin]

Mine are coming into their third year growing outdoors in buckets. Tough little b*ggers!

;D

[Biscombe]

3rd year! tell me more?? mine came too late last year, the harvest wasnt great and they took up far too much room, BUT I would be tempted into growing them in pots and over wintering them, do tell..................

[dtw]

I grew some last year, but they just tasted like tomatoes, maybe they weren't ripe.
Are they meant to taste sweet?

[saddad]

I had a friend grow one in a 8x6 cold greenhose once... by the end of the season he couldn't get in it!
;D

[Jeannine]

Is it too late to plant these and does anyone have a few for swaps please XX Jeannine

[Biscombe]

I'll have a look J

[Amazin]

Jeannine,

Seeds on way.

Biscombe,

I would be tempted into growing them in pots and over wintering them

That's exactly what I did! I grew them in the obligatory Morrisons black buckets. When they'd finished, I simply put on my pith helmet, took my machete to them, wrestled them into a sheltered spot and left 'em to fend for themselves. The following year  I just added some fresh soil and they came back with a vengeance. This year they started new growth in March - I've alerted the Forestry Commission...

;D

[Jeannine]

Wow and golly gee. some of these seeds are for the school kids, do you think we could teach absailing in them as an added bonus.

Amazin. thank you so much XXX Jeannine

[Biscombe]

Absailing!!!  ;D I think youre on to something!! Al going to find my seeds and give them a go again Amazin....

[alan42]

wow many thanks again for the replyes, i am now looking at my 2 inch seedlings and thinking wow you have some growing to do lol. with refrence the tast of them the packet says they should taste like pineapples is this right ?.

[jennym]

...the packet says they should taste like pineapples is this right ?.

There is a variety that does taste like pineapple, I grew it last year - that one is a dwarfing type, it got to about 2 ft in height and tended (without support) to flop and spread horizontally, so when you do plant them out, allow about a metre diameter circle for each one.