Did you know that cement and concrete are not the same thing?
I had no idea. Anyway, I went to buy some (I thought I wanted one but actually needed the other), and walked past this plant. I had no intention of buying anything green at all, but I felt like a right goose after my cement/concrete faux pas, and it seemed rather fitting.
This, is a gooseberry. Never tried one. Never actually seen one either. No idea what they taste, look or smell like. But Gooseberry Jam seems to like them, and the name would suggest that you can make jam from them, so that sounds pretty good to me.
From what it says on the little ticket, they grow into a small bush, and like full sun.
So I thought I'd put it in a sunny spot big enough for a small bush.
15 comments:
Oh Ali, you goose! However, you will be queen of the gooseberry jam!
So what is the difference between cement and concrete?? I thought they were the same.
Oh I am so glad Judith. My brain still hurts, but I think that cement is an ingredient in concrete. And to make concrete you mix cement and sand and gravel.
I think.
Dear Ali - you make such a joyful noise! :-) The bearer of indifferent tidings I am though ... the 'Gooseberry' you bought is a Cape Gooseberry,both from South Africa and with a little capsule or cape around the fruit. It's a Solanaceae or Potato/Capsicum family. If it looks a bit like an Eggplant (Aubergine) that's because it is closely related. The real Gooseberry is a briar, a Rose-family member complete with prickles. The Cape Gooseberry will do well here although thrive more in the Summer than now. The fruit is ripe when it falls off the plant. Expect some tartness though, it's OK raw and probably is good in jams or just cooked and pureed. The real Gooseberry is marginal at best in Brisbane and if you want real briar fruit, go for the Raspberry which thrives here.
My memory-trigger for the difference between cement and concrete is: Darra Cement, Pioneer Concrete. One makes the dry powder (or used to) and the other makes it into a liquid to be pumped into buildings.
I'm glad Elaine was here before me because I was thinking that is a very odd looking Gooseberry!
The Cape gooseberry, goes by many names in different localities. According to Wikipedia, these include: Inca berry, golden berry, giant ground cherry, Peruvian groundcherry, Peruvian cherry (U.S.), poha (Hawaii), ras bhari (India), aguaymanto (Peru), uvilla (Ecuador), uchuva (Colombia). Just goes to show the ultimate usefulness of the "official" Latin-naming system. When one says "Pysalis peruviana", it describes the same plant everywhere. (I've always known it as "ground cherry".)
Gosseberries are very popular here in the UK. Try googling "Gooseberry Fool" for a nice recipe.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I love gooseberries! I grew up in the UK and have many memories of picking gooseberry jam (all furry and prickly!) and biting into its tartness, making a face and asking for gooseberry jam instead :)
HelenB, if this thing is also known as an Inca Berry, then I have just done the letter "I"!! And I have been struggling over it for ages!
Lol, Elaine I did know it was a cape gooseberry, I just had no idea that it wasn't the same thing as a gooseberry gooseberry! Oh dear... it seems there are quite a few things that I don't know.
Who would have thunk it?
I grew up with gooseberries in the garden - they were so sweet if you waited long enough for the capsule to split open. I don't know if you follow Kate in Tasmania, http://vegetablevagabond.blogspot.com/2011/06/and-winner-is.html on this link she shows how the plant grows right inside the little capsule - so cool! It is a summer fruit in South Africa, but I believe the plant should be a perrenial. You will probably have lots of gooseberries by the end of summer. What are you making with your concrete?
I thought a gooseberry was someone who acted as a chaperone for lovers, or a 'third wheel'. Like me...someone who gets in the way! :-)
Cape gooseberries grow brilliantly here (I'm on the Sunshine Coast) and make wonderful jam. They germinate really well from seeds - like paw paws, they come up in everything. Let me know if you would like some more seeds. If you like a rich jam add some whisky or brandy - very yum!
concrete's hard, cement is soft to start with, and gooseberries are yum. Now I think I've made a goose of myself too.
I have a gooseberrie growing as well. Got a clipping off a friend in our garden group. The fruit is very nice, the packaging even better. The children call them little presents. They have a paper thin wrapping that sort of pops and crackles as you open it.
Love a Good Gooseberry! Yes my Gooseberries are actually Cape Gooseberries, I did in fact name my blog after the Cape Gooseberries I had growing in my garden at the time but Cape Gooseberry Jam didn't sound as good for my Blog title! I must get ready to plant some seeds for next season. Hope yours grows well, they are yummy and tangy and the fruit cases are like pretty little lanterns. Hope you've had a good holiday. :)
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