Fruiting crops
Cape gooseberry
Fruit that ripens inside a drying papery husk.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Sep–Nov
Core months: September, October, November
Temperate
Sow · Aug–Dec
Core months: August, September, October, November, December
Subtropical
Sow · Jan–Mar, Jul–Dec
Core months: January, February, March, July, August, September, October, November, December
Tropical
Sow · Mar–Aug
Core months: March, April, May, June, July, August
Possible / shoulder months: January, February, September, October, November, December
Arid
Sow · Aug–Sep
Core months: August, September
Possible / shoulder months: March, October, November, December
Getting started
Start seed in warmth or sow into warm soil after cold risk has passed; harden seedlings before planting out.
The right conditions
Choose full sun, fertile free-draining soil and reliable moisture.
As it grows
Water consistently while establishing, keep weeds down and provide support where the mature habit needs it. Watch for local pests and remove damaged growth.
Ready to harvest
Collect ripe fruit when the papery husk dries.
Plant guidance: Desk-reviewed; not field-tested. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.