Jostaberry

Description

This superb rarity combines the large sweet fruit of the gooseberry with the taste and vitamin benefits of the blackcurrant. In addition it is extremely resistant to mildew, and most other diseases of this group of plants, as well as being self fertile, producing heavy crops of blackcurrant-shaped fruits which are indeed almost the size of gooseberries! (The boring bit!....This seldom-seen plant is a complex-cross fruit bush in the genus Ribes, involving three original species. The blackcurrant R. nigrum, the North American coastal black gooseberry R. divaricatum, and the European gooseberry R. uva-crispa.)

Sowing Advice

Sow seeds at any time of the year into a sandy compost, sprinkle with fine sand or grit, DO NOT COVER THICKLY. light is NEEDED to stimulate seed germination! NO artificial heat needed. Leave in a cool spot, keep moist, seed germinates slowly in natural temperature fluctuation usually in spring, whenever sown. Seeds are fresh but may take from 4-12 months to appear. DO NOT discard the seed tray, be patient. Pot on small plants.

Key Facts