THE CAPE GOOSEBERRY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 21 April 1919, Page 220

THE CAPE GOOSEBERRY.

By

W. H. TAYLOR,

Horticulturist.

The Cape gooseberry {Physalis edulis) is botanically a perennial plant, though it does not always behave as a perennial in New Zealand, and for practical purposes it is not profitable to treat the plant as being perennial. - The course of cultivation is as follows : Sow the seed in boxes in autumnMarch if in the open air, April if in frames ; prick off the seedlings into other boxes and keep them away from frost; plant out in spring when frosts are past, in an open situation, full exposure to sunlight being necessary to secure best results. The soil should not be overrich with nitrogenous manures, but phosphates and potash are necessary. Liming the soil previous -to planting is useful. With regard to planting, various plans are adopted. I recommend planting in clumps of three, placing a plant at each angle of a triangle the sides of which measure about in., the clumps to be 5 ft. apart. Planted in this manner the growths lock together and wind will not affect them. A good crop should be obtained the autumn after planting. The following spring, when frosts are past, the plants should be cut down to within about 6 in. of the ground. Frost may have killed most of the branches, but they should not be cut off till the time indicated, as they protect the base of the plants from frost. When the cutting-down is done new shoots will usually have started from the bottom, and these should be left. Strong growth will soon be set up, resulting in large clumps by autumn, when the heaviest crop will be obtained. When this (the second season’s) crop is over the plants should be destroyed and a new start made. Many of the plants die after the second crop. It is a good plan where Cape gooseberries are grown commercially to start a new lot. of plants every year, so that each year there will be a second-season crop (which is the heaviest) as well as a first-year crop. As regards yield there are many circumstances which will cause variations in the weight of crop.' It depends largely on securing a good variety, which may be possible only by selection. f . The Cape gooseberry is not subject to any special disease. In hot and dry places red spider sometimes attacks the foliage, but such attacks are not general.