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Growing Cape Gooseberry Large Fruit Tomatillo in the Vegetable Garden

Start Cape Gooseberry Large Fruit seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost. Sow 0.12-0.25 inch deep in a warm seed-starting mix kept around 70-85 F and maintain even moisture. Seeds are small and may germinate slowly, often taking 1-3 weeks to sprout. Provide bright light and good airflow so seedlings grow stocky rather than leggy.

Transplant outdoors after frost danger has passed and nights stay above 50-55 F. Space plants 18-24 inches apart in rows 24-36 inches apart. Choose a sunny site with well-drained, moderately fertile soil and mix in compost before planting. Water regularly, especially during flowering and fruit set, and apply mulch to help conserve moisture and keep fruit clean. In most of the USA, it grows as a warm-season annual, even though cape gooseberry is technically perennial in frost-free climates.

Harvesting of Cape Gooseberry Large Fruit Tomatillo

Fruits are ready when the papery husks have turned tan and dry, and the berries inside are golden-orange. Many ripe fruits naturally drop from the plant when ready; gather them from the ground or from a mulch layer. Slightly under-ripe berries whose husks have begun to color will continue to sweeten off the plant if kept dry at room temperature.

For best flavor, allow the fruit to fully color and develop its tart-sweet, citrusy notes before using. Like other nightshade relatives, foliage and unripe green fruit should not be eaten. Store ripe, husked berries in a cool, dry place or refrigerate for extended use in preserves, sauces, and desserts.

About Cape Gooseberry Large Fruit Garden Seeds

These cape gooseberry seeds produce compact, bushy plants that yield clusters of lantern-like husks hiding bright golden berries. Sometimes called Peruvian ground cherry, goldenberry, or giant ground cherry, this heirloom offers a distinctive sweet-tart flavor with hints of pineapple, mango, and tomato that works beautifully in both sweet and savory dishes.

Originating in South America and made famous around the Cape of Good Hope, cape gooseberries are versatile in the kitchen—use them fresh out of hand, in fruit salads, chutneys, salsas, and glazes, or cooked into jams and pie fillings. The plants are relatively low-maintenance once established, and often continue to bloom and fruit until frost.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Treat cape gooseberry much like a small tomato: start it warm, give each plant elbow room, and keep moisture steady while fruit is setting. Let the husks dry, and the berries turn deep golden before picking for the richest flavor."

- Jerry Sawyer, True Leaf Market Writer

Cape Gooseberry Large Fruit Tomatillo Seeds Per Package:

• 250 mg Packet - Approximately 65 Seeds
• 0.25 oz - Bulk - Approximately 1,875 Seeds
• 1 oz - Bulk - Approximately 7,500 Seeds
• 4 oz - Bulk - Approximately 30,000 Seeds
• 1 lb - Wholesale - Approximately 120,000 Seeds

Non-GMO Cape Gooseberry Large Fruit Tomatillo seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.