Jostaberry

[Digeroo]

Due to big bud on my Blackberries I am thinking about getting a jostaberry.  Does anyone have any experience?  Where can I get one cheap.  They seem to cost a great deal more than a blackcurrant or gooseberry.

Though things would be ok for blackberries at new allotments but people have been bringing old bushes with them!!! ???

[Digeroo]

[saddad]

We can do you one ...
You do realise it is a monster... if left alone for two years it will be 8' in all directions...  :-X

[Digeroo]

That is huge I will have to think where to put it but have recently had to dig out all my balckcurrants.  I have a huge red currant which is about that size but has taken considerably longer to get that big.

[saddad]

As you say in the pm... they root like Blackcurrants, they all take.. How many would you like?  :)

[Vinlander]

Yes Jostas can reach 8ft and are quite happy and productive at that size - but you can also prune them like blackcurrants and then you've got a blackcurrant that's twice the size - so still big, but not outrageous.

There are some other differences. They aren't actually sweeter but they have less acid than blackcurrants and slightly earlier than most, so the pigeons will go for them big-time - as will any other fruit eaters.

You will probably need netting much more than you did.

The upside of this is that they are very nice raw with cream. The downside is that you need a lot more for a blackcurrant tart and they are much less good for making stuff like blackcurrant cordial - much less nice with pear juice (my favourite juice drink is frozen blackcurrant juice kept until September and tempered by fresh pear juice).

So - it's a good idea to have them, but keep a smaller number of blackcurrants too (get new ones - there may be some that are resistant - eg Ben Hope).

Cheers.

[jennym]

Jostaberries are fine, but rampant and root freely from cuttings. I prefer the flavour of blackcurrant, it's more intense.
One thing I would say, is that it can be possible to control the big bud on  blackcurrants. Now would have been a good time to have a close look at the bushes and pick or snip off any buds that are showing signs, and destroy the affected buds (off site). This helps to control the mite by reducing its numbers, as they start to hatch soon. Big bud mite carries reversion virus, but it doesn't mean that the bushes actually have the virus. By controlling the mites early on, you improve the chance of not getting the virus.

[saddad]

I've never had a pigeon problem with mine....  :-X

[phlips66]

i got given two small jostaberries early part of last year, and they put on some good growth already,they do get large so need space and to be kept under control,hoping for some fruit off mine this year

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've never had a pigeon problem with mine....  :-X

Mine are stripped by pigeons every year, though they do prefer the redcurrant. I've never used the berries as my daughter wouldn't touch them, but I may try again this year. I hope she's old enough not to subject us to cries of 'Is that a currant? Eeeurghhh!!!'

[Palustris]

They do make beautiful Jam too.