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12-07-2006, 11:22 PM
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 Cape gooseberry outside As anyone grown Cape gooseberrys outside? I am growing mine in a pot and I read that they can be overwintered. The downside of a pot is that it limits growth, the upside is that I can move it undercover over the winter. Outside it could reach some 6 foot but I am not sure it could be cut back hard, dug up and over wintered in a big pot? Any ideas?      |
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13-07-2006, 01:39 PM
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| Not tried them myself Andy but think you would be lucky to get one to 6 ft. around here. They are frost tender & I think you would be better keeping it in a pot as they like well drained soil (but plenty of watering) & thrive in poor conditions without the need for feeding etc. & putting it in your greenhouse over winter (as long as it stays above freezing in there). I think it could make 2 or 3 ft in a large pot but you could always get another one & try one outside as well & cut it back & pot it up as you said as an experiment. Lots of people grow them just as a annual to save the problem of overwintering.
__________________ Into every life a little rain must fall. |
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13-07-2006, 03:01 PM
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| I've only ever grown them as annuals, but this year I have some inside and some out. The ones indoors are happily fruiting, while those outdoors look far from happy, I have to say, despite being in a nice warm spot against a sunny wall. That's not to say you shouldn't try though! |
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13-07-2006, 07:39 PM
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| Like you Paul. our ones under glass are going great guns whilst the outdoor ones are not happy bunnies.
__________________ Kindest regards, David. http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/ updated lots - Sunday 28th at 1640hrs |
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13-07-2006, 10:33 PM
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| Cape gooseberry outside About three years ago I had a go at growing cape gooseberries outside. It was more than a success as they grew over ten feet high and overtook much of my small garden and next door. I grew them on a two feet high raised bed agaist a brick wall. The soil wasn't particular special and not much care was provided..........it was a jungle!!!! so much that I had to refrain myself to grow them again, but it was lovely first thing in the morning eating them.......I think that I will grow them again!! Regards Don Vincenzo  |
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13-07-2006, 10:43 PM
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| Wow Don, you obviously have a nack for growing them! Does it extend to runner beans o and if so can you show me the trick? 
__________________ Shortie "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter |
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13-07-2006, 11:02 PM
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| Cape gooseberry outside Nothing special. At the end of the growing season I used to put on that raised bed old compost from the green house, plants etc........like you would use a compost bin, left uncovered and when whatever plants are ready to plant out I clean the raised bed of uncomposted material and weeds and plant whatever. It cound be that the brick wall benefits from the sun and storage the heat during the day and release it during the night. In the same spot I grew very successfully running beans, snakes of Sicily, tomatoes. I wish I took some photos of the cape gooseberries but I was thinking that It was normal at that time to grow that much. Right now I have asparagus in the same bed. Regards Don  |
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13-07-2006, 11:09 PM
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| Snakes of Sicily sound interesting Don? What are they? |
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13-07-2006, 11:34 PM
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| Snakes of Sicily Snakes of Sicily belong to the cucurbities family, climbing plants and reach well over 10 feet giving the right attention. At maturity is not unusual for the fruit to reach 6 feet, the taste is superior to curgettes and the plant is beatiful. I have some photos but I do not know how to attach them to this reply. But also I have lots of seeds to give away together with growing and cooking instructions, if this is required please PM me. I would say 50 packets consisting of 20/25 seeds to give away. It would be fun comparing next year crop. Don Vincenzo  Last edited by Shortie; 14-07-2006 at 06:51 AM. |
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14-07-2006, 07:00 AM
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| Ooo... sounds lovely Don, thanks. I'll PM you later for your address if that's okay and send a SAE to you.
__________________ Shortie "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter |
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14-07-2006, 07:20 AM
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| It will be a pleasure Regards Don |
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14-07-2006, 09:03 AM
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| Don the Snakes Of Sicily sound wonderful. I would love to try growing them. I will send you a PM so that I can send a SAE.
__________________ [ |
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14-07-2006, 11:39 AM
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| I've jsut had a look on Google for Snakes of Sicily with no success. You've obviously got xsomethign really unusual there Don. I'd like to take part in your grow and compare, too. I see the protocol is to send you a PM (my first one!) here goes... |
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14-07-2006, 12:22 PM
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| Don - if you find you're sending your address to lots of people, you can always address it to more than one person - just to save you repeating the same PM over and over!
__________________ Shortie "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter Last edited by Shortie; 14-07-2006 at 12:22 PM. |
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14-07-2006, 02:26 PM
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| The problem I am having the most with mine is that being in a pot it dries really, really fast  . Keeping it in the greenhouse means that I come home to find it dropping and have to keep dunking it in a bucket of water for a few hours so perks up. |
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14-07-2006, 03:39 PM
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| Gardenfan/Andy, Have you thought about sinking the pot into your border in the garden instead of keeping it in the greenhouse? That way you wouldn't have to water it as much & in the winter you could just lift it & store it indoors if you want to keep it for next year.
__________________ Into every life a little rain must fall. |
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14-07-2006, 04:12 PM
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| Shortie, many Thanks for your advice......good job I didn't mention the giant Jersey cabbages growing against this magic wall. I have some photo to show and also some seeds to give away...but not at the moment. Regards Don |
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14-07-2006, 04:13 PM
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| I know it's warmer here most of the time but I grew them successfully from seed 2 years ago and planted them against a warm south-facing wall in the garden - too much fruit, I didn't know what to do with them all! They died back and I cut them down to the ground for the winter, and came back just as strong last year. However early this year we had some bad frosts and I lost the lot - left them for ages and then grubbed them up, but one I missed, and it is now about a foot high and growing like crazy again...they seem to be indestructible! |
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14-07-2006, 04:34 PM
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| Quote:
If you've got more seeds to offer later in the year, why not post them in the Swap Shop when you're ready for everyone to see?
__________________ Shortie "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter |
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14-07-2006, 04:45 PM
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| Hi Shortie I was referring to the giant jersey caggages or walking sticks. I will try to work out how to use this computer and its bit and bits in orderto post some photos.....I am still try to find out how to work my video recorder!!!!...... Don |
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14-07-2006, 04:59 PM
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| Don - thank you for your offer. I will certainly PM you. Do you think they will grow ok in the greenouse here? Although I do grow great courgettes in the polytunnel. |
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14-07-2006, 11:10 PM
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| Hi SueA, Not sure if Manchester weather would suit them out doors, they seem to do best under glass but being in a pot dry out very quickly. I have moved them outside for now while we have a run of good weather to enjoy the sun. Anyone recommend anything for feeding (any special formulas) and duration (everyday etc)? |
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17-07-2006, 03:32 PM
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| Hi Gardenfan, From what I've read & what Don Vincenzo & Jersey Jan say in this thread it seems cape gooseberries thrive on neglet & don't need feeding at all! I think if you feed them you will get lots of lush leaf growth but not many fruits as they prefer to grow on sandy soil but you need to water them especially when the fruits are ripening. Have a look at this website I found on them, it's American I think but still relevant to us. www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/cape-gooseberry.html
__________________ Into every life a little rain must fall. Last edited by SueA; 17-07-2006 at 03:34 PM. |
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19-07-2006, 10:21 AM
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| I grew some last year but sowed them a little late, a friend suggested that i overwinter them in the greenhouse. out of 6 plant only 2 survived but this year they have gone MAD. I've planted them in my polly tunnel (i didn't have a pot big enough)and now got loads of fruit coming, the plants are about 3/4ft tall and at least that big round!!! They do seem to thrive on neglect but they don't like to get too cold over the winter. But if they do survive winter you seem to get lots more fruit and they fruit over a much longer time. |