Jostaberry

Name: Jostaberry
SKU: 7818
Availability: InStock

Small Pot

$11.00

Categories: Cold Hardy Fruit Bushes, Fruit Bushes for USDA Zone 3, Fruit Bushes for USDA Zone 4, Fruit Bushes for USDA Zone 5, Fruit Bushes for USDA Zone 6, Fruit Bushes for USDA Zone 7, Jostaberry, Shop for Fruit Bushes by USDA Zone, USDA Zone 8

Jostaberry Planting Instructions

Pick the spot: choose full sun for best growth and fruiting, although light afternoon shade is fine in hotter areas. Make sure the soil drains well and is not a low spot that stays wet.
Water the pot first: soak the small pot so the root ball is evenly moist before planting.
Dig the hole: dig a hole about 2 times wider than the pot and about the same depth as the root ball.
Improve the planting area (optional but helpful): mix a little compost into the loosened soil you removed, especially if your soil is sandy or poor. Avoid heavy fertilizer in the hole.
Remove the plant: slide it out of the pot. If roots are circling the outside, gently tease them apart, and rough up the outer layer of the root ball.
Set planting depth: place the plant so it sits at the same soil level it was in the pot, or 1 inch deeper if it seems a bit root-bound. Keep the crown just at or slightly below ground level.
Backfill and firm: refill the hole with your soil mix, gently press to remove air pockets, and shape a shallow watering ring around the plant.
Water deeply: water slowly until the soil is soaked several inches down. If the soil settles, add a little more soil to maintain the correct planting height.
Mulch: apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the plant to hold moisture and reduce weeds. Keep mulch a couple inches away from the main stems.
Spacing: plant jostaberry about 4 to 6 feet from other shrubs so it has room to mature and you can access it for pruning and harvest.
Aftercare (first month): keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feel dry, more often during hot or windy weather.
First-year pruning basics: focus on root establishment. Remove only broken or dead stems at planting time. Starting the next late winter, prune to open up the center and encourage a mix of new shoots and older fruiting wood.

Description

Please Note: Plant will be removed from pot for shipping.

Jostaberry – The Thornless Super-Hybrid

Experience the best of two berry worlds with the Jostaberry. A complex cross between a black currant and a gooseberry, this robust shrub combines the vigorous growth and rich flavor of the currant with the large fruit size of the gooseberry. Best of all, unlike its gooseberry parent, the Jostaberry is completely thornless, making harvesting painless and easy.

This is a fast-growing, long-lived shrub that is highly resistant to common berry diseases like powdery mildew and pine blister rust. It produces glossy, deep-purple fruit that is loaded with Vitamin C and antioxidants.

Flavor Profile & Uses

Taste: A unique tangy-sweet blend. The flavor starts with the tart kick of a gooseberry and finishes with the deep, musky sweetness of a black currant. The sweetness intensifies the longer the fruit stays on the bush.
Fruit Size: Large, round berries (larger than currants, slightly smaller than gooseberries).
Kitchen Use: Excellent for jams, jellies, pies, and fruit wines. When allowed to fully ripen to black, they are delicious eaten fresh.

Plant Characteristics

Hardiness Zones: 3–8 (Extremely cold hardy).
Growth Habit: Upright, multi-stemmed shrub. It does not require a trellis but benefits from spacing to allow airflow.
Mature Height: 4–6 feet tall and wide.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade (Full sun yields the most fruit).
Pollination: Self-fruitful (Single plants will produce fruit, though planting multiple can increase yields).

Growing & Maintenance

Planting Your Bare Root Bush Soak the roots for a few hours before planting. Choose a location with protection from strong winter winds if you live in a very cold climate. Plant the bush slightly deeper than it grew in the nursery to encourage new shoots to emerge from the base.

Soil Requirements Jostaberries prefer cool, moisture-retentive, and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. They thrive in a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Mulching around the base is highly recommended to keep the roots cool and moist.

Watering These plants have moderate water needs but dislike dry soil. Ensure consistent watering during the fruit-forming stage in early summer to prevent the berries from splitting or dropping prematurely.

Pruning Pruning is best done in late winter while the plant is dormant. Remove any broken or crossing branches to open up the center of the bush to sunlight. Jostaberries bear fruit on older wood (2–3 years old), so avoid pruning out all the older canes. Aim to keep a mix of new and old wood for a steady harvest.

Would you like me to create a comparison chart showing the differences between the Austin Dewberry and the Jostaberry for your customers?