Nearly there :)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/ninnyscrops/DSCF1592.jpg)
Ninny
Mmm, looking good, one of my favorites :)
That looks ready, Ninny.
Enjoy!
I'm growing one for the first time. How do i know when the berries are ready? I've read that they drop to the ground and then you still have to wait until they are an orange/ yellow colour?...is this right?
they are ready as soon as the the casing turn to the colour of the one in pic.. ;)..or you can see through that the berry is yellowy orange...the one in pic looks like its ready to melt in mouth ;)
I usually find the outer covering turns dry (drier) and from green to a yellow shade. I then have a wee peek inside the cover and if the berry is any shade from yellow to orange, I eat them - unless my 4 year old daughter get there before me!
Yours looks perfect!
I'm trying to ripen up 10 for the show but gave in last night. It was lovely.
I'd also read about them falling to the ground before they could be eaten too, hence the waiting.
Ninny
Quote from: Ninnyscrops. on August 14, 2010, 20:05:02
I'm trying to ripen up 10 for the show but gave in last night. It was lovely.
I'd also read about them falling to the ground before they could be eaten too, hence the waiting.
Ninny
Cape gooseberries do not fall down. You are thinking of Ground cherries which fall down when they are ready. Ground cherries are much smaller, both the plants and the fruits, but they are also in papery cases.
Thanks for explaining galina. In that case I shall pick the ones that are ready and hope a few more ripen up in time.
Ninny
Quote from: Ninnyscrops. on August 15, 2010, 10:10:43
Thanks for explaining galina. In that case I shall pick the ones that are ready and hope a few more ripen up in time.
Ninny
Did you get enough for the show? Mine are only just ripening now. Split the first yummy berry with DH, but there are loads more to come.
Yes, they ripened in time but I couldn't use them for the 10 berry category as they had to have been grown outside and my two plants are in the greenhouse. I used them instead in the floral art :)
Still picking them too!
Ninny
Mine are just becoming ready for eating, i intend to grow a few more next year. I think it helped this year keeping the plant smaller more like a bush than a triffid. I've had to keep an eye on it and take off all the growing tips and sideshoots, i'm left with maybe 40 fruit.
I prefer ground cherries all round - easier, earlier, more prolific, less maintenance and I even prefer the flavour.
The cape gooseberry is one of the few fruits I find overpowering - normally I'm dead against blandness in food but there are limits - the heavy, heady flavour of cape gooseberries reminds me of organic solvents that should be in a fume cupboard. I can feel a headache coming on just thinking of them.
Cheers.
How different taste is ;D I much prefer Cape Gooseberries, I just love the sweet zangy hit everytime I pop one in my mouth. They store for ages too. Ground cherries are much quicker into harvest, but I find them a little insipid and sickly after eating a few!