Cape gooseberry (physalis peruviana) production systems

Abstract

The management and fruit production of cape gooseberries (Physalis peruviana L.) was compared over a range of between-plant spacings from 0.2 to 1.8 m and under different combinations of cultural techniques, including the use of a polythene mulch, trickle irrigation, and planting in raised (20 cm) beds. The relative performance of cape gooseberry seedlings and cuttings was also studied. Plants propagated from cuttings were less vigorous, cropped earlier, and produced more and larger fruit than seedlings, but showed a higher incidence of fruit splitting and a lower soluble solids content. Fruit yield per plant was greatest at between-plant spacings < 0.6 m, but yields per planted m2were greatest at the closest spacings. Of the cultural techniques used, only the growing of plants through a polythene mulch resulted in consistently increased plant growth and higher fruit yields. © 1986 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.