Physalis peruviana (Cape Gooseberry)

[NarnianGarden]

One more question... if there are several Physalis varieties around - p. grisea and p. peruviana for example -, do they cross-pollinate? to complicate things further, I also have some purple physalis gooseberry seedlings - wonder if they all produce ...

[joseph]

I grew Physalis peruviana this summer. I grew about 8 seedlings in a pot and transplanted them to the garden as a clump. They grew into a bush about 3 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter.

The berries are just now starting to ripen. It's about a month after our fall frosts typically begin, and there hasn't been any frost yet. One plant has produced more fruits than all the rest of the plants combined. I'm keeping seeds from everything that produces a fruit, just in case the plant uses self-incompatibility. I'm keeping fruits from the most productive fruit separate.

I really like the taste.

Here's what some of the fruits looked like:

[PhilaGardener]

Those look great, Joseph!