How to Grow Jostaberries UK
On this page
In the UK, jostaberries go in the ground early November to late February.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: planting early November, and that same window applies across all 4 regions covered here.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.
Jostaberry (Ribes x nidigrolaria)
2 sources cited · Verified
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Plant |
|---|---|
| Southern England | early November to late February |
| Midlands | early November to late February |
| Northern England | early November to late February |
| Scotland | early November to late February |
Southern England - detail & sources
Both RHS and BBC Gardeners' World state propagation is by hardwood cuttings taken during dormancy (late autumn to late winter); applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions.
Midlands - detail & sources
Both RHS and BBC Gardeners' World state propagation is by hardwood cuttings taken during dormancy (late autumn to late winter); applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions.
Northern England - detail & sources
Both RHS and BBC Gardeners' World state propagation is by hardwood cuttings taken during dormancy (late autumn to late winter); applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions.
Scotland - detail & sources
Both RHS and BBC Gardeners' World state propagation is by hardwood cuttings taken during dormancy (late autumn to late winter); applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions.
Quick Facts
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
Harvest & Storage
Pests
Jostaberry Photo Gallery
Plan your Jostaberries planting
When to sow and plant Jostaberries depends on your own frost dates. Check the UK vegetable planting calendar. To work out where it fits in your beds, sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner.
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
Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.
Growing Jostaberry in another region
Planting dates, frost timing and local advice differ by country. Use the guide for where you garden.
References
-
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.
-
Deciduous, vigorous, spineless, 2-5yrs to maturity. Hardiness H5 (-15 to -10°C). Soil: chalk/clay/loam/sand, moist but well-drained, acid/alkaline/neutral. Full sun or partial shade, south/east/west-facing, sheltered. Height 1.5-2.5m, spread 1-1.5m. Propagate by hardwood cuttings in dormancy. Pests: birds (fruit). Diseases: generally disease-free, resistant to gooseberry leaf spot and gooseberry mildew. Hybrid of gooseberry and blackcurrant, not native to GB/Ireland, family Grossulariaceae. Self-fertile, crops July-August, eaten fresh or in desserts/preserves. Grow as blackcurrants -- see blackcurrant cultivation page for more detail.
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant jostaberries in the UK?
In Southern England, from early November. In Scotland, wait until early November. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the rule for woody fruit is to plant while the plants are dormant, not into frozen or waterlogged ground.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — planting at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
Get the UK Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions
How this guide is put together
The growing data on this page — planting windows, pests, diseases, soil and site requirements — comes from named horticultural sources, listed in References below, checked against RHS and Met Office guidance. An automated pipeline assembles that verified data into the page you're reading: it selects which facts to lead with and builds the surrounding prose and layout. It does not invent a date, a source or a number — where a verified value for a field isn't available, the page leaves it out rather than guessing. A person reviews and publishes each page; nothing goes live unverified.
Last verified 2026-10-25
Plan Jostaberries by month
The months this guide gives for sowing or planting, each with the full list of jobs for that month in the UK:
More from the same group (fruit & berries):
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Keep going
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.