Grow Your Own Fresh Fruit!
Jostaberry is a cross between the black currant and gooseberry, but it is more vigorous than either parent. Thorn-free, disease resistant and self-pollinating! It looks just like a gooseberry until it turns nearly black & ripens. Excellent for eating fresh or as jam, juice, wine & in cordials. The first cultivar was made available to the public in 1977. Jostaberry plants are also resistant to troublesome pests and diseases – a trait of its hybrid vigor (outperforming its parents). Jostaberry plants are cold-hardy and grow well in northern gardens, even tolerating partial shade. The ripe fruit will hang on the bush in good condition through late summer, but is very popular with birds. The somewhat unripe fruit can be used in cooking recipes as a gooseberry. Like black currants the fruit freezes well, and like many other members of the Ribes genus it is rich in Vitamin C.
The fruit will be fully ripe when it turns to a dark blue-black and each fruit has a slight “give” to it. Lift up the end of the branch with one hand and pick the string of berries with the other hand. As the fruit does not seem to ripen all at once, several pickings may be required in July and August. Suggested uses for Jostaberries, are in pies, crumbles, ice creams, jams, wine and liqueurs.
