Article submitted by Lucinda, free seeds on their way.

Last year I successfully grew cape gooseberries and found them incredibly easy.  I treated the seeds as I would tomatoes.  Started them off in Feb/March using a seed  compost, potted on as they grew.  Once the risk of frost was past I planted them into my raised beds.

They grew strong and bushy but as regards fruit they only really got going just at the end of the summer – think this was simply due to the lack of sunshine and warmth last summer.  I read that these are actually perennials so I decided to dig them up at the end of the summer.  I am overwintering them in my conservatory and they are looking lush and healthy.  I intend to plant them out again llate Spring and this time hope that I’ll get fruit fairly quickly.  I’ve noticed plants on other people’s allotments which are still going strong so they are obviously fairly hardy.

I've also been growing green tomatilloes.  I grew these in the same way as the cape gooesberries and these are actually part of the tomato family.  You need to have at least two to cross pollinate each other.  As with the cape gooseberries these just started to get going at the end of the summer.  I have however grown these before and during an average summer they do well.  I use these in yummy salsas to accompany salads and meats.  I know some people use them for chutneys.