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Jostaberry
Jostaberry

Jostaberry

12 ReviewsAsk Questions

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Description

A gooseberry and currant cross! The rich berry taste is reminiscent of gooseberry with a kiss of black currant. Deep-red, almost-black fruit is high in vitamin C and forms in large clusters, ideal for juices, jams and jellies, and fresh-eating. Cold-hardy plants are long-lived, thornless, and productive once established. Debuted in 1977. The name “jostaberry” itself is a combination of the German word for blackcurrant, “Johannisbeere” and for gooseberry, “Stachelbeere”. Disease-resistant to American gooseberry mildew, black currant leaf spot, white pine blister rust, and big bud gall mite. Ripens in July. Self-pollinating. (Ribes × nidigrolaria)

Jostaberries are available only during the spring ordering season.

Characteristics

Bloom Color Purple, Red
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Medium
Pollination Self-pollinating
Ripens/Harvest July
Shade/Sun Partial Shade - Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy, Sandy
Soil Moisture Well Drained - Average Moistness
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 6.5
Taste Tangy-sweet
Texture Firm
Years to Bear 2 - 3
Zone Range 4 - 7

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 4 - 7
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Pollination

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Tags

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Questions & Answers

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Browse 4 questions Browse 4 questions and 18 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
Prolific fruit bearer, and delicious. They make fabulous jellies, wines, dried snacks, & of course, fresh off the plant eating! Grown jostas for years, and it's a favourite berry in my home.
nathan s on Jun 16, 2019
I wanted a sweet yet tart but not overly tart gooseberry
Seth G on May 13, 2019
Prolific fruit bearer, and delicious. They make fabulous jellies, wines, dried snacks, & of course, fresh off the plant eating! Grown jostas for years, and it's a favourite berry in my home.
nathan s on Jun 16, 2019
Recommended by my mother-in-law
Theresa P on May 26, 2019
I wanted a sweet yet tart but not overly tart gooseberry
Seth G on May 13, 2019
Because I???ve never heard of them, and have never tried any of the berries that were combined to create this one. We thought it would be a fun addition to our growing berry patch, and to have something new for our kids to try.
Megan N on Apr 27, 2019
Interesting fruit to add to my edible landscaping
Michelle B. on Mar 18, 2019
I'm slowly building up my edible landscape, and I think this plant is beautiful. I'm also very interested in tasting the berry.
Carolyn W on Jun 13, 2018
Thorn-less and sort of like a gooseberry. Should be good for eating fresh or used in jams or wine. They might mix well with my elderberries.
EUGENE M on May 31, 2018
High in vitamins and easy to care for.
KARL G on May 19, 2018
Have two already. We love them and want more.
ADAM R on Dec 24, 2017
This Jostaberry, along with Goji, blueberry, and strawberries, will make a awesome multi-fruit jam
CHRISTOPHER C on Mar 20, 2017
I have had red currant bushes and I was looking to expand the flavors of my homemade pies and jams. More disease resistance and easy care appealed to me.
BRIAN R on Mar 25, 2016
Cross sounds interesting
Walter H on Mar 11, 2016
I've done well with gooseberries. I thought I'd try this interesting hybrid!
Chris D on Mar 7, 2016
Recommended by my mother-in-law
Theresa P on May 26, 2019
Because I???ve never heard of them, and have never tried any of the berries that were combined to create this one. We thought it would be a fun addition to our growing berry patch, and to have something new for our kids to try.
Megan N on Apr 27, 2019
Will this plant cross pollinate with black currant or gooseberry?
Troy H on Nov 13, 2017
BEST ANSWER: They are all three in the Ribes genus, but only a black and red jostaberry combination will cross-pollinate. They must be two of the same species.
Do they have fruit on new or old wood?
Terrie M on Nov 8, 2018
BEST ANSWER: We've only had our jostaberry for two years, but have had a gooseberry for over twenty. And since a jostaberry is a cross between a gooseberry and a couple of different kinds of black currants, the cultivation is the same. Berries grow on canes that are a year old, not new. After a few years you remove the cane as its productivity declines. We just got a few jostaberries last summer, but they were delicious.
Looking at this and the gooseberries- would they work in a raised bed or would they do better in the ground?
GoodSeedGarden on Apr 10, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Either will work. Jostaberries grow best with a soil pH between 6.0-6.5. Ideal soil is fertile, loamy and well drained (but will not dry out). They like moist, but not water-logged, soil. A raised bed will require more water because it will dry out faster.

Customer Reviews

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4.1 / 5.0
12 Reviews
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Growing well in partially shaded area
Keeping the rabbits/deer from eating the leaves on the year old Jostaberry has not been a problem. I simply mix my own "repellent" of 1 dozen raw eggs to one gallon of water with a tablespoon of garlic powder in an old laundry detergent bottle. Shake like crazy and let sit in a sunny spot outside for a week to ripen. The animals do not like the smell, humans don't either. Apply again after rain. The scent has a residual to it that humans cannot smell but the animals can. No more deer eating my Jostaberry leaves. Have not had long enough for fruiting so I cannot comment yet but the bush is doing well here in southeaster Wi.
May 12, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
not full sun.
I would not put the jostaberry where it gets full sun! of my 5 plants i lost 2 that were full sun while the 2 that have only sunlight for 3/4 hours are doing great. they all had water. The other was in full shade - doing great but died from fire blight.
August 5, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Didn't survive Georgia heat
This Jostaberry is rated for zone 7 (we are in 7B), but it didn't survive the summer once the temperature got into the 90's, even though we planted it in part-shade.
May 11, 2016
Jostaberry
The Jostaberry survived a very harsh winter and soaking spring here in Maryland. It leafed out well and is going strong.
May 12, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Outstanding!
Received my Stark Bro's package today, and was quite excited about the Jostaberry. What a beautiful root stock ( large, happy, and healthy)! I have currants and gooseberries, and I can't wait for Jostberries! I highly recommend this plant. Outstanding for $11.99! THANK YOU!
February 19, 2016
Growing well!
Our Jostaberries have thrived. They arrived as healthy plants and have taken off in their second year. They are full of berries now, and I look forward to harvesting them in the summer.
May 5, 2017
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Jostaberry status
This is our second year with the jostaberry plants and they're really beginning to grow quite well. We had to fence them in due to deer pressure . Hopefully this year we'll get some fruit. It appears that you need full son for this plant.
May 19, 2017
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Small but healthy
1 year old bush is about 24" tall, no signs of bloom yet, probably next year or 2 before I get any fruit. However, it was healthy looking from the start. Not cheap.
May 22, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Very nice
After the first year of rooting in they really take off
May 5, 2018
Purchased
 over 2 years ago
Didn't survive
Died out in a first year. I had better luck with their other plants though.
April 19, 2017
Purchased
 over 4 years ago

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