Cape Gooseberries

Thanks DRB. Sorry to be a pain - can you explain further about cutting back branches and shoots. New to this. Pruning, pinching is something I must get to grips with. Any seasoned gardening would have a fit if they saw my tom plants, cucamelon and cucumber. Unconsciously (lack of knowledge), I have taken a very much 'do your own thing little plant' approach. I was just excited to be growing something.

 

Hi @GYO newbie what @DRB means is count from main trunk on a branch 3 leaves, cut off what growing past that, regarding tomatoes remove the yellowing leaves from the base, cut cleanly with a knife or secateurs, later in the season, more leaves will need to be removed to aid ripening. If you have any banana skins put them in the area of the toms, helps with ripening.

 

So how would it work with these? These are the cape gooseberries. After these I have toms, melons and apple trees (dwarf) to tackle. When should a prune brand new dwarf apple and pears. Internet confusing me.

Believe it or not I am very bright - just this eludes me.

 

Think we thought they were bigger, keep growing on.

 

Oh dear - did I big them up??!!??.

When I do 'move them on and 'pinch/prune' - where should they be grown. Outdoors? Grow home?

I tried to understand the pinching thingy and gave some of my toms a hair cut. No idea if I was doing it right but they are thinned out now.

 

Hi
They look very good plants. looking at then I would cut after 5-6 leaves on main branch. This will encourage side shoots lower down. Cut these side shoots after about 3 leaves See below
If you leave them they become very leggy the first year OK?

 

Also meant to say put them out in a south facing aspect. They like alot of sun. Also I found fruits tastier than those grown in greenhouse and ripened as quick.

 

Ahhhh thanks. Brill. Even I can follow that. Does the same apply for toms, melons etc?

The drawing is great. As for a sunny aspect out doors - not a problem. I have a south facing rear garden.

Wonderful. They just need to grow a tad more!!!

 

So for the last week my cape gooseberry plant has kind of been dropping the husks. Isnt this a little too early? I thought the growing season is longer. The husks are turning pale and crispy and falling off. The berries inside are marble size and a yellowy orange.

I tasted one and I really didnt like it at all. It wasnt sour and it wasnt sweet. I have heard that the taste of them isnt to everyones liking so I am assuming this is what they mean.
Mine have been in my conservatory all the time.

 

Never found them to actually drop the fruit, it usually stays attached even when ripe.

 

Am I seeing Jacaranda seedlings there?

 

Yea, I have 3 of them, I sowed them last March, hoping to get some sort of bonsai going and maybe one day see them flower.

 

I grew them for quite a few years, outside in summer, fairly dry and cool in winter.
Only got flowers on the year I didn't cut back before bring under cover.

Never really thought of them as bonsai potentials.

 

STUPID QUESTION ALERT. Hi - the cape gooseberries I am 'trying' to grow, do I keep the plant for next year like strawberries or at the end of the season do they go in the compost like tomatoes?

Depending on your answer will depend where I pot them on to. All week they have been out during the day and in a plastic grow home by night. First night out tonight - grown quite a bit since my last pictures.

 

You can cut them back to about 12ins and keep dryish and frost free over the winter.
You often get a stronger plant in year two.