One of the more young berry varieties is the jostaberry, which can be cultivated in mild locations without any major problems in any garden. With us you will learn everything about the right planting, care and use.

Currant
Jostaberries look like big blackcurrants or small gooseberries

What does a Jostaberry look like? What conditions does it impose on the location? When should you cut the so-called yokeberry and can you multiply it yourself? We give you the answers and the best tips for everything to do with the yolk.

Jostabeere: origin and properties

The Jostabeere (Ribes x nidigrolaria) was bred several times: in 1922 in Müncheberg, in the mid-1950s in Dresden-Pillnitz and parallel a third time in Cologne-Vogelsang. The breeders sometimes used different species as parents, but they all called the result Jostabeere or Jochelbeere. In fact, the various species hybrids are similar: in terms of appearance and taste, they all stand between the parents, the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) and the gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa ) and some related wild species. Jostabeere is also known by names such as bastard currant, rigatze or yogurt berry. Like its parent plants, the special berry belongs to the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae).

Their typical characteristics appear to be a mixture of black currant and gooseberry: the jostaberry bush grows about 2 m high and just as wide, is thornless and produces fruits that look like oversized black currants or small gooseberries with a translucent , deep black-purple fruit skin appearance. New shoots arise either at the base or at mid-height. Their three-lobed, rounded and notched leaves are also a reminder of their family affiliation. However, you will look in vain for the typical smell of blackcurrants. The flowers are similar to those of the gooseberry, solitary or in pairs on short shoots on perennial wood and appear in striking purple between April and May. The flowers are self-fertile: You don't need a second variety in the area for optimal pollination.

The flowers of the jostaberry stand alone and are conspicuously purple

The tastiest jostaberry varieties

Even though the cranberry has not been around for long, a number of varieties with different properties have become established in recent years:

  • Jostabeere ˈJostaˈ: The best-known variety is characterized by strong, rather upright growth. Their fruits are ripe from the end of June and taste sweet and sour with a strong aroma. It tastes very good raw from the stump, as well as jam or jelly. It is resistant to currant gall mite, gooseberry powdery mildew, columnar rust and leaf fall disease.
  • Jostabeere ˈJochelineˈ: A variety that flowers late and ripens later, producing fruits with an intense currant aroma. Suitable for locations prone to frost. Weak-growing shrub with high susceptibility to powdery mildew and columnar rust, less susceptible to currant gall mite infestation.
  • Jostabeere ˈJograndaˈ: Small, very robust variety with large, late-ripening berries. Flowers late and is therefore particularly suitable for frost-prone locations. Slightly susceptible to powdery mildew, columnar rust and the currant gall mite.
  • Jostabeere ˈJostineˈ: A very vigorous variety with a rather upright habit and early flowering with medium ripening of the berries. Rather low yield with smaller berries that have a particularly intense aroma. Broadly tolerant to powdery mildew, columnar rust and currant gall mite.
  • Jostabeere ˈRiköˈ: Vigorous, very robust variety with relatively large berries from Hungary. Higher susceptibility to powdery mildew and columnar rust. No problems with the currant gall mite.
Jostaberry
In contrast to black currants, jostaberries do not hang in panicles

Planting wildflowers: location and procedure

As far as its cultivation is concerned, the jostaberry is similar to the blackcurrant in many respects. The most important thing is to choose the right location so that the shrub can grow optimally. A place with a lot of sun is advantageous for the ripening of the fruit, but windy and frost-prone locations should be avoided. In places prone to frost, there is a risk that pollination of the early blossom will not occur and that it will trickle down. The jostaberries ˈJograndaˈ and ˈJochelineˈ are particularly suitable for such locations, as they bloom relatively late. In the process, individual flower approaches are rejected because they are notwere pollinated by insects. Even when the fruit is full, the jostaberry reacts sensitively to wind. The demands on the substrate are lower: A medium-heavy, humus-rich, nutrient-rich and slightly acidic soil already offers optimal conditions.

Jostaberry
The jostaberry shrub grows easily in a bright, sunny spot and produces well

The best time to plant the jostaberry is in late autumn, once it has lost its leaves. A planting hole should be dug about 2 to 3 m away from other plants to give the jostaberry enough space for he althy growth. The size of the planting hole is always based on the root ball of the shrub and should be dug up to twice the size of the root ball. The plant can then be placed in it and the planting hole filled with soil. The Jostabeere should be planted about as deep as it was previously in the pot - but the Jostabeere can also be planted a little deeper. Immediately after planting, the three to five strongest shoots should be selected as the main shoots and left on the bush. The remaining shoots are cut out completely and the selected main shoots of the jostaberry are shortened to about 30 to 40 cm, or two to three eyes. Finally, the plant should be watered thoroughly to ensure good soil contact and thus he althy growth.

Summary: Plant Jostaberry:

  • It is best to plant the jostaberry in late autumn, as soon as it has lost its leaves.
  • Plant at a distance of 2 - 3 m from other plants.
  • Dig a planting hole twice the size of the root ball.
  • Put the jostaberry in the planting hole and fill it up with soil.
  • Select the 3 - 5 strongest shoots as the main shoots and cut back the remaining shoots close to the ground.
  • Shorten the main shoots to about 2 - 3 eyes or 30 - 40 cm in length.
  • Water the plant thoroughly.
Jostaberry
Jostaberries usually hang singly or in pairs on the shoot

Planting jostaberries in pots: If you don’t have a garden, you can also plant jostaberries in pots on the balcony or terrace. Since the plant is a shallow root, a sufficiently large bucket should be chosen because of the wide root system. A nitrogen-rich soil is advantageous for cultivation in a pot, as the young plant is optimally supplied from the start and can develop he althilycan. The jostaberry also has an increased nitrogen requirement compared to other berries. For example, thanks to its high compost content, our nutrient-rich Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil contains all the important nutrients that young plants need in the first few months after planting and is also able to store a lot of water thanks to the coconut fibers it contains. It is best to cover the soil surface with a layer of mulch to retain moisture in the soil.

The right care

With a few simple steps, the Jostabeere can easily be brought through the year. The right water and nutrient supply is particularly important. But also pruning and pest control should not be neglected to keep the plants he althy and productive.

Watering and fertilizing

Especially during persistent drought, penetrating watering of the soil is important for an even yield. The soil should not dry out between waterings, but should remain moist as evenly as possible. Applying a mulch layer of grass clippings, compost, pine bark or leaf litter can reduce evaporation so the soil stays more evenly moist. Our Plantura organic pine bark, for example, decomposes slowly, so you rarely have to re-mulch. The sustainably produced pine bark still looks attractive in the bed for a long time.

In order not to damage the bush, jostaberries are best harvested by hand

In order to conserve the nutrient resources of the soil, the first fertilization is necessary at the latest two years after planting due to the high requirement of the jostaberry. It is advisable to use an organic long-term fertilizer that supplies the plant with nutrients over the entire vegetation period. Jostaberries are sensitive to chlorine and have an increased need for potassium for the he althy development of their fruit. Due to the early growth, the first fertilization should take place at the beginning of February. We recommend using a primarily organic long-term fertilizer for this, such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer. This is particularly gentle on plants, soil and garden animals and is made up of natural raw materials. This actively conserves resources and saves energy during production compared to mineral fertilizers.

Cutting Jostaberry

Pruning the plant is part of the regular care of the fully grown jostaberry. Once the jostaberry bushis about four years old, older shoots can be cut back to the ground with sharp pruning shears so that only six to eight strong main shoots remain. Perennial shoots are particularly important for fruit formation and should remain on the plant, while branches that are too old can be cut out without hesitation. When pruning, old shoots with gray bark are removed so that the shoots remaining on the bush are no older than three years. In addition, weak branches can be removed annually. The best time for this is immediately after harvest or alternatively in late winter, just before the new shoot begins.

Tip: In contrast to other currant bushes, the currant does not necessarily have to be pruned annually, as it develops its fruit on short shoots on perennial wood. However, pruning every year promotes a good yield and makes harvesting easier.

Jostaberries fruit on perennial wood and should therefore be pruned with care

Pruning the standard Jostabeere tree: Regular pruning of standard Jostabeer trees is important to maintain their shape. All hanging branches should be cut first, as well as upright, bare branches. For the aesthetics of the tall tree, all protruding branches should also be shortened so that they end evenly with the other branches. To cut the Jostabeere high stem, you should always make sure you have sharp and clean pruning shears to minimize the risk of disease infection.

Josta
After the jostaberry bush has been harvested, it can be pruned

Summary: Caring for Jostabeere

  • Water the jostaberry during the growing season so that the soil is always slightly moist.
  • A mulch layer can improve the soil climate and reduce evaporation.
  • Fertilize the Jostabeere after 2 years at the latest with a high-quality long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer.
  • The plant should be thinned out in late winter after harvest or before the start of vegetation: The shoots should be 1, 2 or 3 years old, older shoots are removed close to the ground.

Jostabeere does not bear fruit or does not bloom

If the jostaberry does not bear fruit or does not bloom, there can be several reasons. It often has these causes:

  • Freshly planted: In the yearAfter planting, the jostaberry often does not yet bear any flowers or fruit - there is no need to panic, the shrub will produce flowers and fruit as early as next year.
  • Late frosts: If late frosts occur during the sensitive phase of flower formation, it may be that the flowers have frozen and the jostaberry will not bear fruit - as soon as frosts are announced, the jostaberry should be protected by covering it with fleece or brushwood.
  • Possible pollination: If the weather is too cold, it can happen that pollinators such as bees and bumblebees fly little or not at all and the jostaberry was not pollinated.
  • Wrong location: The jostaberry will not grow well in a location that is too dark or too windy and will not develop flowers or fruits - you should transplant the jostaberry.
Cold and snow usually do not damage the jostaberry, only late foxing can damage the blossom base

Common diseases and pests

In general, the jostaberry is very robust and is only attacked by diseases and pests in extremely rare cases. Most varieties are just as tolerant of diseases such as gooseberry powdery mildew and leaf fall disease as they are of currant gall mite. Only aphids can attack the jostaberry, but if the infestation is weak, you can wash it off the plant with a jet of water. If the infestation is severe, see this article for methods to successfully control aphids.

If the Jostaberry shows yellow leaves, this is usually due to excessive fertilization or too high a chloride content in the fertilizer. In this case, fertilization should be discontinued for a longer period and switched to primarily organic fertilizers.

Ripe jostaberries show a deep blue to black color

Propagating Jostabeere

In principle, jostaberries can be propagated in two ways: by cuttings and by layering. We would like to briefly introduce both variants to you:

Propagating jostaberries by cuttings: Propagating jostaberries is quite easy by cutting cuttings. Between September and April, about 15 cm long sections of the annual wood can be cut out of the bush. Above all, strong, he althy shoots from the outer area are particularly suitable as sticks, as they have received a lot of light during their development and have not had to grow excessively in length. The sticks can then be cut up to half in oneplugged into a pot filled with soil and watered thoroughly. The he althy root development of the cuttings can be promoted by using a high-quality seeding soil such as our Plantura organic herb and seeding soil, since the specifically reduced nutrient content also stimulates root growth and thus ensures vital plants. In addition, we do not use peat in our growing soil, which protects the environment. In a warm, bright place with about 12 to 16 °C, the cuttings can finally form roots before they are planted out the following year.

Propagating Jostabeere using planters: Another easy way to propagate Jostabeere is to use planters. The best way to do this is at the beginning of the growth period in spring, by guiding individual shoots to the ground in an arc and fixing them to the ground about 30 to 50 cm below the tip of the shoot with a stone, a piece of wood or wire. The shoot can then be covered with soil. By autumn, the sinker forms roots and begins to provide itself with water and nutrients. The layering plant is finally separated from the mother plant and planted separately.

Tip: If the bark of the lowered shoot tears, that's no problem. Roots are even formed particularly quickly at the wound.

Harvest Jostaberries

In the case of early-ripening varieties, the harvest can begin around mid-June. However, it is important to ensure that not all the fruits are harvested from the bush at the same time, as they only ripen one after the other. The jostaberry harvest period extends over several weeks. Jostaberries grow particularly firmly on the bush and should therefore be picked with care so as not to damage the plant. It is therefore best to harvest them individually and by hand.

Jostaberries ripen one after the other and are therefore not all ripe for picking at the same time

Ingredients and Use of Jostaberries

Jostaberries taste similar to blackcurrants, but are significantly sweeter. The berries can be eaten raw or processed. Jostabeer jams and jellies are particularly popular, as are Jostabeer schnapps, liqueur and juice. Jostaberries are great for freezing or canning for later consumption or processing. When picked, jostaberries can only be stored for a short time and should therefore be used as soon as possible. However, they can remain on the bush without hesitation for two to three weeks, even when they are fully ripe.without sacrificing quality or spoiling.

Jostaberry
Jostaberries taste delicious and are he althy not only raw, but also as jam

How he althy are jostaberries? Jostaberries contain a lot of vitamin C. According to studies, the daily vitamin C requirement can be covered with just 100 g of fresh jostaberries. If the berries are boiled down or processed into Josta jam, a large part of the vitamin C is lost. In addition, the berries are rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium. They are also said to have an antioxidant effect.

Does your heart beat for extraordinary berries? Then read our article about planting, pruning and caring for the exotic mulberry tree.

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