How to Grow Jostaberries

At a Glance

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil texture	Chalk, clay, loam or sand (RHS)
Drainage	Moist but well-drained (RHS; BBC Gardeners' World agrees, not waterlogged)
Lifecycle	Deciduous shrub, self-fertile -- RHS confirms self-fertile bushes crop well, with more fruit possible via cross-pollination from a different variety.
Edible parts	fruit

Soil & Growing Conditions

Water: Water thoroughly after planting (BBC Gardeners' World)

Growth Stages

Stage	BBCH	Notes
Planting and establishment	0	Plant during dormancy, late autumn or spring; dig a hole twice the rootball's width and position the soil mark about 5cm lower than the surrounding soil, watering thoroughly afterwards (BBC Gardeners' World). Space plants about 1.5m apart with 1.8m between rows.
Vegetative growth	3	Vigorous, spineless deciduous growth, reaching about 1.5-2.5m tall and 1-1.5m spread (RHS). Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or compost and apply a general-purpose fertiliser in spring (RHS).
Flowering and fruit set	6	Self-fertile -- a single bush crops well, though cross-pollination from a different variety can increase yield (RHS).
Fruiting and harvest	8	Fruit ripens from light green through to dark reddish-black, ready to pick individually in late July to early August (BBC Gardeners' World; RHS). Protect from birds with reflective tape, CDs or netting.

Harvest & Storage

When to pick: Pick individually once fruit has turned dark reddish-black, late July to early August (BBC Gardeners' World). Eaten fresh or used in desserts and preserves (RHS); flavour is milder than blackcurrant, tasting more of gooseberry when underripe and more of blackcurrant once fully ripe.

Pests

Birds (fruit)

moderate

Aves

Named directly by both RHS and BBC Gardeners' World as the main threat to ripening fruit -- reflective tape, CDs or netting recommended.

What the research guides add

Jostaberry is a hybrid of black currant and gooseberry, and Colorado State groups it with those two for care.

• A fast-growing hybrid between the black currant and the gooseberry. With proper variety selection and care these fruits may be grown at elevations up to 10,000 feet. (Colorado State Extension)
• They grow best in full sunlight but tolerate partial shade, and produce best in fertile, loamy, well-drained soils with a pH of 6 to 7. (Colorado State Extension)
• They tolerate clay soils with higher pH and produce some fruit even in poor soils. (Colorado State Extension)
• Colorado State says best fruit set occurs when both black and red jostaberries are grown, and having more than one plant and plants of different varieties may increase yields. (Colorado State Extension)

Sources for this section

• Colorado State University Extension: Currants, Gooseberries, and Jostaberries

Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.

Sources

1. BBC Gardeners' World Magazine - How to Grow and Care for Jostaberry

   Cross between blackcurrant and gooseberry. Soil: rich, moisture-retentive, not waterlogged. Full sun ideal, crops even with half-day sun. Plant dormancy (late autumn or spring), hole twice rootball width, soil mark 5cm below surrounding soil, space 1.5m apart with 1.8m between rows, water thoroughly after planting. Size: vigorous deciduous shrub to 2m x 2m. Pruning: winter dormant, reduce stems by half taking oldest wood right back to ground, remove low sideshoots, prune tips for accessible height. Pests/diseases: generally disease and pest free, resistant to leaf spot and mildew affecting gooseberries; birds need protection (reflective tape/CDs/netting). Harvest late July/early August, individually picked, dark reddish-black when ripe. Propagation: hardwood cuttings in dormancy, 15cm sections, 10cm deep.

These source is specific to this region. The full list of 2 sources behind this guide (BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, Royal Horticultural Society) is in the references of our UK guide to jostaberries; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.