Jostaberry Growing Guide

Ribes × nidigrolaria

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Well-drained soil with plenty of well-rotted organic matter.

Position

Full sun to partial shade. Like currants and gooseberries, jostaberries make good bushes for garden boundaries. Unlike gooseberries, they have no thorns.

Frost tolerant

Developed in Germany, jostaberries are extremely cold hardy.

Feeding

Topdress with well-rotted organic matter in spring along with a balanced organic fertilizer. Keep the root zone mulched to retain soil moisture.

Spacing

Single Plants: 4' 11" (1.50m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 4' 11" (1.50m) with 4' 11" (1.50m) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Plant in mid spring while dormant. Incorporate plenty of well-rotted organic matter into the planting hole.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Each winter, remove the oldest canes from established plants, and clip of damaged or drooping branches. Healthy jostaberries will bear for ten to fifteen years or more.

Harvesting

Harvest when fruits turn blue-black and are firm. Freezes well.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Jostaberry

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail