Physalis peruviana is the plant and its fruit, also known as Cape gooseberry (South Africa), Inca berry, Aztec berry, golden berry, giant ground cherry, Peruvian groundcherry and sometimes simply Physalis. It is indigenous to South America, but has been cultivated in England since the late 18th century and in South Africa in the region of the Cape of Good Hope since at least the start of the 19th century. Physalis peruviana is closely related to the tomatillo, also a member of the genus Physalis. As a member of the plant family Solanaceae, it is more distantly related to a large number of edible plants, including tomato, eggplant, potato and other members of the nightshades. Despite its name, it is not closely related to any of the cherry, Ribes gooseberry, Indian gooseberry, or Chinese gooseberry. The fruit is a smooth berry, resembling a miniature, spherical, yellow tomato. Removed from its bladder-like calyx, it is about the size of a marble, about 1–2 cm in diameter. Like a tomato, it contains numerous small seeds. It is bright yellow to orange in colour, and it is sweet when ripe, with a characteristic, mildly tart flavour, making it ideal for snacks, pies, or jams. It is relished in salads and fruit salads, sometimes combined with avocado. Also, because of the fruit's decorative appearance, it is popular in restaurants as an exotic garnish for desserts. A prominent feature is the inflated, papery calyx enclosing each berry. The calyx is accrescent until the fruit is fully grown; at first it is of normal size, but after the petals fall it continues to grow until it forms a protective cover around the growing fruit. If the fruit is left inside the intact calyx husks, its shelf life at room temperature is about 30–45 days. According to analyses by the USDA, a 100 g serving of Cape gooseberries is low in calories and contains modest levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B3, while other nutrients are at low levels. Basic research on the cape gooseberry has provided preliminary evidence that its constituents, possibly polyphenols and/or carotenoids, may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The crude extract of the fruit-bearing plant has in vitro evidence for activity against markers of inflammation and lung cancer. It has also shown possible properties in vitro against diabetes and hypertension mechanisms. Some withanolides isolated from the plant may have anticancer activity. In folk medicine, Physalis peruviana is thought to be a medicinal herb to treat diseases, none of which has been confirmed in human clinical trials as treatable by Cape gooseberry or its extracts. In South Africa, cutworms are the most important of the many insect pests that attack the Cape gooseberry in seedbeds; red spiders after plants have been established in the field; and the potato tuber moth if the Cape gooseberry is in the vicinity of potato fields. Birds eat the fruits if not repelled. In South Africa, the most troublesome diseases are powdery mildew and soft brown scale. The plants are prone to root rots and viruses if on poorly drained soil or if carried over to a second year.

Seeds per pack - 50 Seeds

Country of Origin - Proudly produced in South Africa by Sandveld Organics

Certified Organic by - KIWA BCS ÖKO-GARANTIE GmbH

About the producer - Seeds for Africa and Sandveld Organics have entered into an exclusive strategic partnership to offer a large range of South African grown certified organic seeds. Sandveld Organics are an organic farm in Lamberts Bay on the Cape West Coast. Founded in 1998 Sandveld Organics has achieved and maintained organic certification with KIWA BCS ÖKO-GARANTIE GmbH since 1998. Sandveld Organics are the ONLY South African company growing certified organic seed.

Cape Gooseberry - Physalis peruviana - Organic Heirloom Fruit - 50 seeds

Prickly Pear - Opuntia ssp - Organic Heirloom Fruit - 5 seeds

R28.00

Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus, is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. The fruit of prickly pears, commonly called cactus fruit, cactus fig, Indian fig or tuna in Spanish, is edible, although it has to be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption. If the outer layer is not properly removed, glochids can be ingested, causing discomfort of the throat, lips, and tongue, as the small spines are easily lodged in the skin. Native Americans, like the Tequesta, would roll the fruit around in a suitable medium (e.g. grit) to "sand" off the glochids. Alternatively, rotating the fruit in the flame of a campfire or torch has been used to remove the glochids.

Seeds per pack - 5 Seeds

Country of Origin - Proudly produced in South Africa by Sandveld Organics

Certified Organic by - KIWA BCS ÖKO-GARANTIE GmbH

Prickly Pear - Opuntia ssp - Organic Heirloom Fruit - 5 seeds

Prickly Pear - Opuntia ssp Mixed - Edible Fruit - Succulent Cactus Fruit - 5 Seeds

R27.00

Strawberry Spinach - Chenopodium capitatum - Exotic Native Amnerican Vegetable / Herb / Fruit - 20 Seeds

R20.00

Strawberry Spinach is one of the best-kept secrets of the herb world. A native American plant, this self seeding annual sets tiny, deliciously tender leaves that can be cooked like spinach or used fresh in salads. It also sets small red fruits in late summer and autumn that taste a bit like mulberries and are lovely fresh or cooked. You can use almost the entire plant instead of just one part, and Strawberry Spinach draws out this pleasure by setting new leaves all season long. Snip off just what you need at the moment, and harvest more later! The foliage is slender, deeply lobed, and appears in rosettes along long, slender stems. The berries are edible as well. Quite small, they resemble raspberries more than strawberries. The berries arise at the base of each stem, and a plant in full fruit is a glorious sight. Grow Strawberry Spinach in full sun (direct-sowing the seeds works best) and rich, fertile soil. It reaches about 45cm high and 30cm wide, and needs no staking or supports. Easy and trouble-free, it's an exciting new addition to the herb garden, vegetable patch, or even the flowering annual flower bed.

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