Falkor Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 (edited) I have just been to collect some excess veg seedlings from a very nice freecycler and now have a fair few Cape Gooseberry seedlings sitting on my desk. Anyone have any experience in growing these? I will pot on tomorrow but beyond that I have no idea? How big do they get? Do they need to stay inside or can they go outside? How muc fruit from one plant? Any special requirments? Any ideas on what to do with the fruit? I will be googling but thought you all may be able to offer your wisdom! Also the freecycler wants 18 eggs a week from me!!!! She is currently buying 18 eggs for £1.60 so I assume they are caged birds? What should I charge her? Edited May 2, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 18 eggs for £1.60?? i would say definitely battery eggs What about £1.50 for 6, that's what I charge Sorry can't help with the cape gooseberry/physalis. Think they are very tender though, so best keep them in a little longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 I had a Cape Gooseberry a couple of years ago and it didn't survive an Oxfordshire winter. So I'm not a fan. Maybe others have had better experiences ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I bought one from a garden centre this spring & its grown on beautifully in the greenhouse, & looks as healthy as can be. It will stay in the greenhouse as it says on the instructions that came with it, plus it needs some cane support. As for the eggs, what a cheek! Your hens eggs are worth between £1.20 & £1.50 per HALF dozen. You need to set a price & tell her thats what they sell for, as they are fresh & wonderful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I grew them in our last house, but not here. I was told they were quite rampant once they took hold (bit like mint) and so they were shoved in a small area by our garage - a small patch of soil surrounded by concrete! We didn't stay long enough to find out whether they sneaked anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshinesupernova Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 No idea on the plants - fancied growing those myself but totally ran out of room for this year. As for the eggs - I'd have thought £1 / 6 would have been fair. Round here is very rural and loads of people have chooks - so I can only get 60p > 80p for 6 - and thats putting at least 1 white and 2 blue in the box with the cream coloured eggs. When work gets a bit busier (very quiet as we're out of season at the moment), I'll take excess to work and aim for £1 / 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 mine grow pretty big....a good three or four feet high outside. They are frost tender....I've never heard of one surviving outside in a british winter They need a long hot summer to produce ripe fruit....usually cropping in late September and I grow mine as I would grow tomatoes, hardening off well before planting out, feeding once in flower, protecting against frost. I don't bother pinching out though. And, I should warn you....the taste of freshly picked cape gooseberries is a million miles away from the insipid ones you get in the shops Next year you'll be growing loads I bet (I think I might be addicted ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted May 4, 2009 Author Share Posted May 4, 2009 mine grow pretty big....a good three or four feet high outside.They are frost tender....I've never heard of one surviving outside in a british winter They need a long hot summer to produce ripe fruit....usually cropping in late September and I grow mine as I would grow tomatoes, hardening off well before planting out, feeding once in flower, protecting against frost. I don't bother pinching out though. And, I should warn you....the taste of freshly picked cape gooseberries is a million miles away from the insipid ones you get in the shops Next year you'll be growing loads I bet (I think I might be addicted ) 3-4 feet each!!!!!?????? I have just potted up about thirty seedlings.....I will have a cape gooseberry field if I plant all those!!! Me thinks some are going back on freecycle!! SO I will work on the basis that they are tomatoes thanks......if I bring them in over winter will they produce fruit again next year or do i need to start again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 I have never tried to overwinter them.....my husband threatens divorce every spring when seedlings fill the house, if I brought them back in for the winter he's go spare! worth a try though.....if it works you'll be eating cape gooseberries all year As to the size, like tomatoes different varieties give different sized plants. I wouldn't put them on freecycle just yet....wait till they start growing too big. You may have littluns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
